Australia braces for extreme heatwave as bushfires trigger emergency warnings

The country’s extreme weather conditions are showing no sign of relief, with heatwave and extreme fire danger warnings issued throughout the country.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued alerts for most of the Australian mainland, with heatwave warnings for Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria, NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

Fire danger will also reach extreme levels in parts of New South Wales on Sunday, alongside the ACT, also issued a fire weather warning.

South Australians were issued a stern warning to prepare for the worst over the weekend.

“Conditions, they don’t get much worse than this,” BOM official Jonathan Fischer said.

Adelaide’s forecast for the public holiday on Monday has been revised up to 45C.

While Victorian’s can expect a break from the extreme heat on Sunday, BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully warned that wind gusts will elevate fire danger.

“Now the gusty winds associated with the trough will move into northeastern parts of Victoria, elevating the fire dangers there, reaching extreme, which is significant as there continues to be a number of ongoing fires,” Ms Scully said.

“Communities within this area are advised to make sure they stay up to date with the latest information from their local emergency services.”

“A severe and long-lasting heatwave is going to bring extreme to possibly catastrophic fire danger and also the potential for record breaking temperatures,” BOM meteorologist Christie Johnson said.

Otways fires

The state’s bushfires have been burning for weeks, claiming 434 homes and 1054 outbuildings, with more than 34,000 livestock killed.

Communities in Victoria’s Otways have been urged to take action after a bushfire at Carlisle River, burning for the past two weeks, escaped containment on Saturday.

Shortly after 7pm, an emergency warning was issued for towns including Barongarook, Kawarren and Gellibrand after the blaze began moving in a different direction.

“It is too late to leave the area safely so you must take shelter now,” the alert reads.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.”

The out-of-control bushfire had been travelling in a southern direction, but a late wind change has pushed the fire in a north-easterly direction.

Embers are starting small fires up to 5km ahead of the front, authorities warn.

Smoke in Melbourne

Melbourne locals woke to the smell of smoke on Sunday as a result of the Carlisle River fire.

“I thought my building was on fire. I have a view of the CBD from my balcony an it’s engulfed in smoke,” one person wrote.

“Just walked out of a venue in Collingwood and the air’s so thick with smoke and smells like a bonfire,” another Reddit user said.

Tropical Cyclone Luana

On the other side of the country, Tropical Cyclone Luana hit the Dampier Peninsular coast on Saturday as a category two, weakening to a category one overnight.

The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves further inland, however residents in the Derby and southern parts of the Dampier Peninsula are being warned to prepare for more heavy rain on Sunday.

Those in Western Australia’s Kimberley Region are assessing the damage this morning, with some parts only regaining power on Sunday.

Health authorities issue advice

The nationwide heatwave has prompted the Australian Centre for Disease Control to issue health advice on keeping cool, warning that those most at risk are babies, children and older people.

“Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Seek medical attention at the first signs,” the CDC advice reads.