January 5th 2025.
Several states are currently experiencing a severe heatwave that is expected to continue for the next few days. The heat is causing concern for potential bushfires in Victoria, where temperatures remain hot and dry in the southern part of the country. Total fire bans have been put in place as a precaution against the intense conditions.
Warnings have been issued for multiple states, including New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The forecast predicts temperatures in the 40s, making it challenging for firefighters to battle existing blazes. In fact, the Grampians National Park fire, which has been burning since mid-December, has already destroyed a massive 76,000 hectares of land.
Today, many locations in Victoria are expected to reach a scorching 45 degrees, making the situation even more difficult for firefighters. The combination of hot, dry, and windy weather creates a high risk for fires to ignite, especially in areas already impacted by the total fire ban. The Mallee, Central, and North Central regions of Victoria have been declared under extreme fire danger, and total fire bans have been implemented in other areas as well, such as Wimmera, South West, Melbourne, and Geelong.
New South Wales is also experiencing extreme to severe heatwave conditions, which are expected to peak today and tomorrow before a cool change arrives in the afternoon. In Western Australia, the Northern Interior is facing temperatures in the low to mid-40s, prompting a three-day heatwave warning from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Meanwhile, the south coast of New South Wales is also facing high temperatures, with areas like Batemans Bay, Braidwood, Bombala, Bega, Eden, and Nowra expected to reach the high 30s. In Tasmania, the Furneaux Islands and north-east areas could see temperatures reach 30 degrees.
Despite the sweltering heat, relief is in sight for the south-eastern part of the country. A cool change is expected to bring some relief tonight, starting in Tasmania and moving towards New South Wales. This change in weather could potentially ease conditions for firefighters and the general public early next week.
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