Extreme Weather Warnings In Place For Much Of Australia's South-East

Temperatures soaring past 40.


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Much of south-east Australia will feel the force of a massive heatwave on Saturday, with parts of South Australia forecast for a catastrophic fire danger rating and plenty of forecast temperatures reaching into the 40s.

The hot and windy conditions have led authorities to brace for the risk of fires.

A statewide fire ban is in place across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, while parts of Sydney are expected to receive the ban on Sunday.

In South Australia, a catastrophic fire danger is forecast for the Mount Lofty Ranges as well as the Upper South East and Lower South East districts, while an extreme fire danger ratings is forecast for the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula.

Adelaide's conditions are expected to be the worst since the Pinery blazes in 2015.

The fire danger rating for most of Victoria, including Melbourne, is extreme, while a severe fire danger is forecast for the Northern Country and North Central districts.

Most of New South Wales has a very high fire danger rating, while parts of Tasmania, including the Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and South East districts, have a severe rating.

The strong cool change is expected to sweep across South Australia during the afternoon and hit Victoria during the evening, with temperatures tipped to drop as much as 15 degrees in a matter of minutes.

The same respite won't come for New South Wales, with Sydney forecast for 38 degrees on Sunday and 33 on Monday.

Areas like Penrith are tipped to hit 45 degrees on Sunday as the heatwave continues.

Ethan Meldrum

5 January 2018

Article by:

Ethan Meldrum




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