Australia braces for record-breaking heatwave as temperatures forecast to soar to 50C, total fire ban declared in Victoria
Australians are bracing for a freak heatwave to hit this long weekend, as temperatures approach 50C in some areas of the country and a cyclone barrels towards one state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued alerts for the entirety of the Australian mainland, with heatwave warnings for Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria, NSW, Queensland and the ACT.
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WA is also on standby for the arrival of another tropical cyclone later on Saturday.
The BOM, in an update at 8am WA time, said the Dampier Peninsula on the northwest Kimberley coast would to start experiencing winds and rains from Luana “shortly” before the cyclone crossed the coast later on Saturday.
“It is currently a category 1 system but is forecast to strengthen to category 2 just prior to crossing the coast around midday today, most likely to the southwest of Cape Leveque and well north of Broome,” the BOM update said.
“After landfall over the Dampier Peninsula, Luana may remain near or move back over the waters of King Sound, and may maintain category 2 intensity until it is close to Derby tonight.
“It will weaken and be below tropical cyclone strength during Sunday morning after moving further inland.”
The BOM is warning of destructive winds and heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, with dangerous storm tide within King Sound and large wave between Beagle Bay and Kuri Bay.
Fears of more bushfires
Fire crews are on high alert, with those in Victoria still battling a number of out of control bushfires across the state.
A total fire ban will be in place for the entire state.
“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.
Two Australian capital cities will face extreme heat on Saturday.
Players at the Australian Open in Melbourne face a 40C day, while those in Adelaide will sweat through a 43C day.
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.
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.
More to come
