Beaches will be busy on Tuesday. Photo / Damian Shaw, NewsWire
A blistering heatwave sweeping parts of Australia could send temperatures soaring to almost 50C on Tuesday, fuelling intense bushfires that have sparked urgent evacuation warnings.
The oppressive heatwave is expected to peak on Tuesday across South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW), with temperatures expected to hit 45C in Melbourne – marking one of the hottest days in almost two decades.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said the “very hot” conditions could potentially break records.
“We’re likely to see many locations approach or exceed, not only their January maximum temperature records, but some locations could possibly approach or exceed their all-time maximum temperature records,” he told NewsWire.
There are fears the scorching temperatures will worsen fire conditions in Victoria, where an out-of-control bushfire is putting more than 1000 properties at risk.
While there were no record-breaking temperatures recorded in Victoria on Monday, senior meteorologist Angus Hines warned it might be a different story on Tuesday.
“Many January temperature records in western and central Victoria, as well as southeastern South Australia, could be under threat today, including potentially the all-time warmest Victorian temperature,” he said.
An extreme heatwave warning has been issued for Victoria’s North East and East Gippsland regions, with temperatures tipped to reach the low to high 40s.
Meanwhile, a severe heatwave warning has been set for the state’s Central and Central West, spanning Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, West and South Gippsland and North Central.
Temperatures in Pinnaroo in the state’s west are expected to hit 47C, while they are set to reach 45C in Geelong, 41C in Mansfield and 38C in Moe.
Melbourne is likely to hit 45C by 4pm before a cool change sets in later in the evening.
“Melbourne is forecast to have its warmest day since Black Saturday,” Hines said, with an “alarming” maximum temperature in the city of 45C.
The suburbs of Melbourne were all forecast to reach somewhere between 44C and 46C, he said.
Those across the border in SA will also be feeling the scorching heat, with the mercury in Renmark to reach a maximum of 48C before a cool change sweeps through the state during the afternoon.
On Monday, temperatures reached 49.5C in Ceduna, marking the hottest day since records began 84 years ago.
“That was the fourth-highest temperature ever recorded in South Australia,” Hines said.
Both Port Augusta and Wudinna reported temperatures of 48.5C, while temperatures peaked at 48.2C in Tarcoola and 48.1C in Port Pirie.
“All of these temperatures comfortably land in the top five warmest days on record at those locations,” he said.
On Tuesday, Adelaide is forecast to reach 41C by noon but will cool again once the sun goes down.
Temperatures will also be extreme in NSW, with an extreme heatwave warning in Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Upper Western regions.
On Monday, the heat reached 47.9C in Wilcannia, 46.7C in Tibooburra and 46.3C in Broken Hill.
A severe heatwave warning is in place for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Riverina and Lower Western regions of NSW.
“Locations likely to be impacted include Armidale, Albury, Broken Hill, Bourke, Dubbo, Deniliquin, Moree, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga,” the bureau’s website read.
“Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell,” the bureau said.
Temperatures in Sydney will not be as extreme, likely to peak at 28C by 3pm on Tuesday.
Despite a cool change coming for Melbourne and Adelaide on Wednesday, other areas won’t be as lucky, with some in NSW to hit a maximum of 50C by the end of the week.
After what is likely to be record-breaking heat on Tuesday, Hines said Wednesday will be another extremely hot day. Record-breaking heat will persist in other areas, particularly northern and eastern Victoria, as well as western and southern NSW, which includes the ACT.
Hines said many areas of the far west of NSW could be between 47C and 49C on Wednesday, “with numerous records under serious threat”.
More than 1000 properties are at risk as intense bushfires tear through Victoria’s Otways, with authorities expecting conditions to worsen as the mercury rises.
Speaking to Sunrise, Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said backburning undertaken overnight managed to “buy some time” for firefighters, but the intense heat wouldn’t make the conditions easier.
“There is a really strong wind going to come across around 5pm this evening, and the fire will move rapidly and it will be dangerous for people to be anywhere close,” he said.
“The fire behaviour [is] significant and it may be nearly impossible for us to be able to suppress those fires under those conditions, so just really looking for the community to get behind messages and follow those directions.”
Several watch and act warnings are in place across Victoria as the heat intensifies the fires.
Residents in Aire Valley, Barongarook, Barongarook West, Beech Forest, Coram, Gellibrand, Gerangamete, Kawarren, Lovat, Tulloh, Wimba have been told to evacuate immediately as the fires at the Carlisle River and Gellibrand remain out of control.
“If you choose to stay, emergency services may not be able to help you,” the VicEmergency website read.
Meanwhile, residents in the Walwa region have been advised it is “not safe to return” as the bushfires continue burning.
The watch and act warning is in place for Bullioh, Koetong, Shelley, Lucyvale, Berringama and surrounds.
“If you left the area, it is not safe to return. Be aware of potential dangerous bushfire and tree hazards,” the warning reads.
Hines said the scorching temperatures, combined with gusty winds, could exacerbate the already intense flames.
“The extreme heat today is actually adding to several very hot days we’ve had recently, which has contributed to very dry fuel loads across southern Australia,” he said.
In Melbourne’s east, a popular tourist spot has been shut as extreme fire dangers threaten the scenery.
The Dandenong Ranges have been closed because of intense heat and extreme fire danger, with Explore Melbourne urging visitors to stay away from popular locations, including the 1000 Steps-Kokoda Memorial Walk, Ferntree Gully Picnic Grounds, and the George Tindale Memorial Garden.
“Stay away from closed areas and follow emergency advice,” the warning reads.
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