Fire authorities in several states are on high alert today as parts of the country endure a mid-March heat wave and gusty conditions.
Key points:
- Total Fire Bans are in place in parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia
- Temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees in three states as a heat wave takes hold
- A fire on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is under control but the CFA is warning people to avoid the area
Total Fire Bans have been issued for parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, with temperatures to soar into the 40s in some areas.
In Victoria, a total fire ban is in place across the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central districts.
In New South Wales, a fire ban is in place for the Southern Ranges region, while in South Australia a ban is current for the Mid North, Flinders and Riverland regions.
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority [CFA] said the fire danger is high or extreme in all parts of the state today and it’s warning the dangerous conditions will make any fires difficult to control.
There are currently six active fires in Victoria occupying CFA crews.
A Watch and Act alert is in place for a bushfire along the Great Ocean Road between Fairhaven and Lorne.
The CFA said the fire at Eastern View, near Memorial Arch, is under control but Chief Officer Jason Heffernan advised people to avoid unnecessary travel in the areas affected by the fire.
“We don’t particularly want people down on the Surf Coast, keep away from the Great Ocean Road if possible,” he said.
“Conditions will be quite challenging today for firefighters. The fire is currently under control but given these conditions that can change very rapidly.”
A relief centre has been set up at Grant Pavilion in Kuwarrk Lane, Torquay.
In New South Wales, the Craig’s Road bushfire in Curraweela was downgraded to advice level yesterday.
At least a dozen properties were destroyed by an out-of-control bushfire on the Southern Tablelands two days ago.
Temperatures soar across several states
Unseasonally high temperatures are forecast for Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia today, while Queensland’s hot spell shows signs of passing.
Temperatures are expected to reach the high 30s and low 40s in Victoria, with Melbourne set to peak at 37, which would be the highest March temperature in the city since 2007.
“Looking back through our records we think that it has the potential to be the hottest day that an VFL/AFL game has ever been played in Melbourne, so it’s very hot for late March,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Matthew Thomas said.
Northerly winds could gust between 70 and 90 kilometres per hour throughout the day.
“We do have out a severe weather warning for damaging winds and very hot conditions, particularly for March, and those concerning winds ahead of a wind change,” he said.
“Really all the ingredients of a bad fire day.”
Temperatures are expected to be particularly high in the south-west of NSW, with highs above 40 degrees predicted in some parts.
The state is now on track to experience its hottest March on record, with highs as much as 15 degrees above average.
The north-west and north-east parts of South Australia are also predicted to experience highs above 40 degrees today.
The BOM said heat wave conditions across south-east Queensland should start easing over the weekend.
Brisbane’s CBD hit 36.6 degrees yesterday, which was the fourth-hottest March day in the past 20 years.
Senior forecaster Harry Clark said temperatures spiked yesterday and were up to eight degrees above average for the time of year – just short of a March record.
“Still a few degrees above average over the next few days but certainly we’ve seen the worst of the heat on Friday and a slow cool down over the weekend,” he said.