<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/08/australia-heatwave-bushfires-victoria-catostrophic-conditions>
"Victoria’s Hume Highway was closed on Thursday and regional trains were
cancelled as firefighters from at least two states fought bushfires in the
worst heatwave to descend on Australia since 2019-20.
As Melbourne prepared for a forecast of 41C day on Friday, the acting premier,
Ben Carroll, described Victoria as “one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the
world”.
“There is also the real risk of heat-related illness throughout the state
tomorrow.”
The state health department urged Victorians “to be prepared – stay hydrated,
stay indoors as much as possible and make sure you check in on loved ones”.
Firefighters were preparing for catastrophic conditions across multiple
districts in Victoria on Friday, and extreme fire danger ratings for much of
South Australia and the NSW Riverina.
Fires were already burning in several states, with residents affected by
bushfires at Longwood and Walwa in Victoria warned to “leave immediately”.
Sarah Scully, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said severe
to extreme heatwave warnings remained in place on Thursday for every state and
territory except Queensland.
Some of the highest temperatures recorded by Thursday afternoon across
Australia included 48.2C at Wudinna airport on SA’s Eyre Peninsula, 45.9C at
Walpeup in Victoria, 45.6C at Paraburdoo, WA, and 45.9C at Hay in NSW.
Adelaide residents woke up to 31C on Thursday morning with temperatures hitting
43C in the afternoon, after the city reached a scorching 43C on Wednesday,
according to the BoM.
“The heat is intensifying right across southern Australia,” Scully said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
