States Brace for Dangerous Fire Threat as Temperatures Soar
As temperatures rise, several states prepare for extreme fire risks and potential evacuations due to dangerous conditions.
Victoria, Australia, Bushfire, Extreme Heat, Fire Danger
Victoria: Dangerous fire conditions are looming as the southeast gears up for a scorching Boxing Day. Hot, dry weather is expected to sweep through, raising alarms across several states.
On Thursday, strong winds will whip up the fire danger, especially in Victoria, southwest NSW, and eastern South Australia. Temperatures are set to soar into the high 30s and even hit 40°C in some areas.
Birdsville in central western Queensland is bracing for a blistering 47°C. Those gusty winds, reaching up to 100 km/h, could knock down trees and power lines, causing outages.
A high-pressure system that brought heat to South Australia on Christmas Day is moving into Victoria. Almost every region in Victoria is facing extreme fire risk.
Fire bans are in place for several areas in South Australia, including the Mid North and Riverland regions. An Extreme Fire Danger Rating is set for multiple districts in Victoria.
These dangerous conditions could worsen an ongoing bushfire in Grampians National Park, which has already burned over 40,000 hectares. Local officials are urging residents to prepare their bushfire survival plans.
People in high-risk areas like the Grampians and Creswick are advised to leave before the extreme conditions hit. Some towns have already been ordered to evacuate.
With the combination of high winds, soaring temperatures, and dry air, any fire that ignites could become uncontrollable. Firefighters from various states are stepping in to assist their Victorian colleagues.
As a cool change is expected later, hot and windy conditions will shift into parts of central northeastern NSW, bringing more fire danger on Friday.