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Australia's north braces for Christmas cyclone as bushfires threaten south Australia's north braces for Christmas cyclone as bushfires threaten south
(about 1 hour later)
Parts of northern Australia are bracing for a cyclone as most of the rest of the country swelters through searing heat this Christmas. Four Victorian tourist towns are being evacuated as an out-of-control bushfire threatens hundreds of homes on the Great Ocean Road.
People in the holiday towns of Wye River, Separation Creek, Kennett River and Grey River have been told to evacuate immediately.
A State Control Centre spokeswoman said spot fires were landing up to2km out from the fire front, and even as far as the coast line.
Residents have been told to head south along the Great Ocean Road – which will be reopened to allow them to get out – to seek shelter at the Apollo Bay leisure centre.
“Turn on your vehicle headlights and drive slowly; smoke will make it difficult to see,” the warning said.
Temperatures hit 35C on Friday afternoon, while strong winds were making firefighting efforts difficult.
Kennett River and Grey River residents were told to evacuate before 2.30pm.
Related: Christmas comes with weather worries for South Australia, Victoria and NTRelated: Christmas comes with weather worries for South Australia, Victoria and NT
An out-of-control bushfire has forced the evacuation of Victorian tourist towns Wye River and Separation Creek. “The fire at Lorne and the fire at Wye River are both of significant concern to us,” Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, told reporters on Friday. “With extreme heat and high winds, with the change expected to come through in the early part of the evening.
Residents have been told to seek shelter at the Apollo Bay leisure centre, on the Great Ocean Road.
“There is a quickly moving bushfire in the Wye River, Separation Creek area. This fire is out of control and is expected to impact anytime within the next two hours,” Emergency Management Victoria said on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone watch for Top End residents from Port Roper to the Queensland border, including Groote Eylandt.
Gale force winds from the category one storm are forecast to begin lashing the area by Boxing Day afternoon at the earliest.
Local residents have been urged to finalise their emergency plans, cyclone kit preparations and clear any “potential wind-borne missiles” from their properties.
Up to 200 firefighters are battling blazes at Lorne and Wye River, on Victoria’s south coast, and the Wye River fire has triggered an evacuation.
“After 1pm it may be too late to leave, take shelter when the fire arrives – protect yourself from the fire’s heat,” the Wye River evacuation warning said.
Last resort options include a Neighbourhood Safer Place, a stationary car in a cleared area, a ploughed paddock or reserve or body of water like a swimming pool or dam.
“The fire at Lorne and the fire at Wye River are both of significant concern to us,” the premier, Daniel Andrews, told reporters on Friday. “With extreme heat and high winds, with the change expected to come through in the early part of the evening.
“Things are unstable, things are unsettling as well, there is a real sense of concern in those local communities.”“Things are unstable, things are unsettling as well, there is a real sense of concern in those local communities.”
The state’s emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said the fire 3km north of Wye River was the major concern and it was likely to burn all summer.“It’s a lightning strike that started just under a week ago, and it’s in exactly the wrong spot to have a fire,” he said. “It’s a fire we’ll have to work with during the summer.” The state’s emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said the fire 3km north of Wye River was likely to burn all summer.“It’s a lightning strike that started just under a week ago, and it’s in exactly the wrong spot to have a fire,” he said. “It’s a fire we’ll have to work with during the summer.”
Claire Yeo, a senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said relief in the form of a cold front would arrive in Victoria around sunset and a little earlier in South Australia, bringing some welcome rain.Claire Yeo, a senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said relief in the form of a cold front would arrive in Victoria around sunset and a little earlier in South Australia, bringing some welcome rain.
“Most of the rainfall in Victoria will be in the early hours of Saturday, moving into eastern Victoria and NSW during Boxing Day.”“Most of the rainfall in Victoria will be in the early hours of Saturday, moving into eastern Victoria and NSW during Boxing Day.”
Related: Firefighters still battling bushfires that destroyed 16 homes in VictoriaRelated: Firefighters still battling bushfires that destroyed 16 homes in Victoria
Yeo said there could be implications for the cricket Test, but the heaviest rainfall was likely to hit Melbourne before the match started.Yeo said there could be implications for the cricket Test, but the heaviest rainfall was likely to hit Melbourne before the match started.
Temperatures around Melbourne have hit 35C, while strong winds are expected to change direction once a change moves across the state in the evening.Temperatures around Melbourne have hit 35C, while strong winds are expected to change direction once a change moves across the state in the evening.
Total fire bans have been declared in regions across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, with the mercury tipped to hit the high 30s or more in many areas.Total fire bans have been declared in regions across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, with the mercury tipped to hit the high 30s or more in many areas.
Varied weather is expected across Western Australia on Friday, with a near-perfect 27C in Perth, possible thunderstorms in the Kimberley region and scorching temperatures of 46C at Marble Bar in the state’s Pilbara region.Varied weather is expected across Western Australia on Friday, with a near-perfect 27C in Perth, possible thunderstorms in the Kimberley region and scorching temperatures of 46C at Marble Bar in the state’s Pilbara region.
A Boxing Day cyclone is looking less likely to form off the Northern Territory, but locals are still being lashed by wild weather on Christmas Day.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the system, which had been forecast to move southeast and form into a cyclone over the Gulf of Carpentaria this weekend, has instead turned back to settle over the Top End.
A cyclone watch issued for the coast from Port Roper to the Queensland border, including Groote Eylandt, is still current.
Hobart is on track to record its second hottest Christmas, with the 33C predicted just short of the record 34.6C set in 1945.Hobart is on track to record its second hottest Christmas, with the 33C predicted just short of the record 34.6C set in 1945.
South Australia’s Country Fire Service state co-ordinator, Leigh Miller, said the state’s forecast conditions were the worst he could recall for Christmas Day in almost 30 years.South Australia’s Country Fire Service state co-ordinator, Leigh Miller, said the state’s forecast conditions were the worst he could recall for Christmas Day in almost 30 years.
“We don’t need to have catastrophic conditions for bad fires to start,” he told reporters.“We don’t need to have catastrophic conditions for bad fires to start,” he told reporters.
Related: Victorian firefighters try to control bushfires near Lorne and Wye RiverRelated: Victorian firefighters try to control bushfires near Lorne and Wye River
Slightly cooler conditions will grace NSW and Queensland, including showers in many coastal areas and temperatures in the mid to high 20s in the capital cities.Slightly cooler conditions will grace NSW and Queensland, including showers in many coastal areas and temperatures in the mid to high 20s in the capital cities.
The 109 yachts tacking and jibing from Sydney to Hobart as part of the annual race can expect choppy seas outside Sydney head when they set off on Boxing Day.The 109 yachts tacking and jibing from Sydney to Hobart as part of the annual race can expect choppy seas outside Sydney head when they set off on Boxing Day.
A southerly will reach up to 35 knots and rough conditions are expected as the fleet spends its first night at sea.A southerly will reach up to 35 knots and rough conditions are expected as the fleet spends its first night at sea.
“It’s not a really strong one, but it does pack a fair bit of punch with it,” NSW Bureau of Meteorology’s Michael Loganhe said.“It’s not a really strong one, but it does pack a fair bit of punch with it,” NSW Bureau of Meteorology’s Michael Loganhe said.
“It does fringe into the lower end of the gale warning category. It will make for rough conditions, it’s setting up for quite an eventful first night.”“It does fringe into the lower end of the gale warning category. It will make for rough conditions, it’s setting up for quite an eventful first night.”
Australian Associated Press contributed to this report.Australian Associated Press contributed to this report.