Aussies in several states are being warned to brace for “extreme” weather across Christmas and Boxing Day.
Temperatures are set to soar in Melbourne to from a top of 30C to 40C between Christmas and Boxing Day, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning heat records could be smashed.
“Melbourne could be the warmest day for the first day of the Boxing Day test that we’ve seen on record,” the Bureau’s senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Fire danger ratings across Victoria are likely to increase to high on Christmas Day and extreme on Boxing Day. Impacted areas include Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central and West and South Gippsland.
The Boxing Day warnings come with the exception of East Gippsland, which has been issued a lower rating of “high”.
‘Extreme’ fire danger ratings have been issued as temperatures are set to soar on Boxing Day. Picture: Stormcast.
South Australia is also set to swelter through a heat spell, with a maximum temperature of 37C forecast for Christmas Day.
Extreme fire danger warnings have been issued for the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty Ranges and Yorke Peninsula on Christmas Day.
Temperatures are expected to drop to a high of 33C in Adelaide on Boxing Day, though extreme fire danger ratings remain in place across Flinders, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East on Thursday.
BUSHFIRE BURNS THROUGH CLOSE TO 44,000 HECTARES
Victorians have been urged to remain vigilant amid the heat as bushfires in the Grampians have burned through close to 44,000 ha as of Tuesday morning.
Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan is expected to confirm whether a total fire ban will be issued for the entire state on Tuesday, as people in affected areas have been urged to decide whether they stay or leave.
Nearly 44,000 hectares has been burned due to an out of control bushfire in the Grampians. Picture: Victoria Emergency.
Chief fire officer Chris Hardman earlier pleaded: “We don’t want anyone to die, we want everybody to come through this alive and well.”
“People don’t really know what 40-odd thousand hectares is, but it is a lot of fire on the landscape and when that weather changes on Boxing Day, the fire will move and it will move rapidly,” Mr Hardman said.
CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook urged those travelling on Boxing Day to download the VicEmergency app before leaving.
Residents in Bellfield, Bellfield Settlement, Flat Rock Crossing, Fyans Creek, Grampians Junction, Halls Gap, have been told it’s “not safe to return” to the area as of late Monday night, according to Victoria Emergency.
Residents have been told it’s ‘not safe to return’ as the Grampians bushfire continues to burn. Picture: Ocean Grove Fire Brigade/Hamilton Fire Brigade at Grampians fire.
A watch and act has also been issued for Barton, Mafeking and Watgani, Bellellen, Black Range, Great Western, Jallukar, Lake Fyans, Londonderry, Moyston, Rhymney, Willaura North, Lake Fyans and Pomonal.
“The situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be ready to act,” the alert stated.
There are relief centres open at Alexandra Oval Community Centre (1 Waratah Ave, Ararat) and Grampians Community Health (known as “The Shacc”, 22 Patrick Street Stawell), while a community meeting is set to be held at 11am at Moyston Hall at 12 Brooke St on Tuesday.
The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Ararat Rural City Council Facebook page and will also be shared to the Vic Emergency Facebook page.
Other areas, including Bornes Hill, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Grampians, Jimmy Creek, Karabeal, Mirranatwa, Strathmore, Victoria Point, Victoria Valley, Kia Ora, Willaura, Wartook, and Zumsteins have been urged to “stay informed”.
More to come…