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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/25/worst-heatwave-since-black-saturday-forecast-for-victoria-as-wa-faces-tropical-cyclone-luana>
"Out of control bushfires threatened towns in Victoria on Sunday as the worst
heatwave since 2009 began sweeping through the state, while residents of
Western Australia prepared to face Tropical Cyclone Luana as the extreme
weather system moved inland.
“This is a very serious set of weather conditions,” said Emergency Management
Commissioner Tim Wiebusch on Sunday.
“We haven’t seen heatwave conditions like this in Victoria for almost 20 years.
It was 2009, ahead of the [Black Saturday] bushfires where we saw those
prevailing conditions.”
Emergency warnings urged residents of the small Victorian town of Gellibrand to
take shelter on Sunday morning as an out of control bushfire bore down.
The fire in the Otways region began on 10 January but had been under control
until Saturday, when many parts of the state saw temperatures above 40C at the
beginning of a multi-day heatwave.
Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer, Chris Hardman, said the
combination of wind and extreme heat saw the Otways fire jump containment lines
at Carlisle River on Saturday.
While temperatures were cooler south of the ranges in Victoria on Sunday, a
total fire ban was in place for much of the state as it still remained very hot
in the north, with extreme fire danger conditions prevailing, including
strengthening westerly winds.
“Tuesday in particular is the next big day of concern with regards to fire
weather conditions,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Diana Eadie said. “We’re also
forecasting potentially record-breaking temperatures, particularly in western
parts of the state.”
Some areas in the north and west of the state were expecting seven consecutive
days over 40C. Mildura had a forecast top of 44C on Sunday, with the next six
days forecast over 40C, peaking at 48C on Tuesday and 46C on Friday.
Hopetoun and Walpeup were forecast to reach 48C on Tuesday, Hamilton was
expecting 46C, and Horsham 47C. Melbourne was forecast to reach 43C on Tuesday.
Six fires were burning in the state with four still out of control on Sunday."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
