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| Australia bushfires: total fire ban in NSW as heatwave temperatures forecast to soar – live | Australia bushfires: total fire ban in NSW as heatwave temperatures forecast to soar – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Weather records expected to fall as extreme heat moves across South Australia to Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, New South Wales and fires continue. Follow latest updates | Weather records expected to fall as extreme heat moves across South Australia to Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, New South Wales and fires continue. Follow latest updates |
| NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged NSW residents to consider their travel plans over the Christmas period, particularly for those visiting towns affected by fires that only have one way in and out of the town. | |
| “We’ve received a briefing also from the Bureau of Meteorology, who indicate that not only are we going to experience very high temperatures on Thursday and on Saturday, but it’s the exceedingly very concerning wind conditions, we’re going to have a number of wind fronts that are going to escalate the fuel, or escalate the fires burning, but also the potential to have spot fires and embers travelling very long distances because of what has been described to me as turbulent wind conditions is going to mean very unpredictable fire conditions,” she said. | |
| The weather bureau says the temperature is set to hit 39C in Melbourne on Wednesday and Swan Hill, in the state’s north-west, is expected to reach 43C, AAP reports: | |
| A severe fire danger warning has been issued for the Wimmera which is under a total fire ban. | |
| “With dry, windy and close to 40-degree days predicted, we want everyone to be alert to the symptoms of heat-related illnesses,” Ambulance Victoria’s Justin Dunlop said. | |
| “This heatwave is likely to continue on and off over the coming weeks and we have made sure we have adequate clinical and support staff available to provide the appropriate level of care and response.” | |
| Heat-related illness symptoms include heat rash, muscle cramps, heavy sweating, paleness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and fainting. | |
| Residents are urged to check on their neighbours, infants, the elderly and expectant mothers who are some of the most vulnerable in this heat, Dunlop said. | |
| Metro Trains and Yarra Trams will closely monitor conditions throughout the day to ensure commuters get to their destination. There are no planned service changes so far. | |
| Drivers should check their vehicles as breakdowns are more likely to happen in extreme heat, the transport department warned. | |
| Three people have been burned while fighting bushfires in Queensland, AAP reports. | |
| Two men and a woman were injured at Lowmead, in the Wide Bay region, and were taken to hospital in a stable condition. | |
| On Wednesday morning residents were ready to leave if conditions worsened, and some who have already evacuated are not yet being allowed to return home. The fire is burning in a south-westerly direction towards John Clifford Way. | |
| Here’s how hot it was in Adelaide. The coolest it got overnight was 28.6C. | Here’s how hot it was in Adelaide. The coolest it got overnight was 28.6C. |
| And as of 9am, it’s already 35.6C. | And as of 9am, it’s already 35.6C. |
| There is a total fire ban across the whole of NSW today, for four days. | There is a total fire ban across the whole of NSW today, for four days. |
| There are fire bans across eight South Australian districts, in the south and south-east; along the Queensland coast; and one in Victoria (Wimmera). | There are fire bans across eight South Australian districts, in the south and south-east; along the Queensland coast; and one in Victoria (Wimmera). |
| NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is giving a press conference now on the heatwave conditions. | NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is giving a press conference now on the heatwave conditions. |
| “There is still an element of unpredictability, which is what concerns us,” she says. “Given the heatwave conditions on Thursday but worse on Saturday, we need everyone to be alert and mindful of the conditions.” | “There is still an element of unpredictability, which is what concerns us,” she says. “Given the heatwave conditions on Thursday but worse on Saturday, we need everyone to be alert and mindful of the conditions.” |
| Police and emergency services minister David Elliott adds: “The biggest risk to the people of New South Wales over the four days is complacency.” | Police and emergency services minister David Elliott adds: “The biggest risk to the people of New South Wales over the four days is complacency.” |
| The Northern Territory and central Australia will bear the brunt of the heat today. The bureau’s forecast is a series of 45C and over, for nearly the whole region. | The Northern Territory and central Australia will bear the brunt of the heat today. The bureau’s forecast is a series of 45C and over, for nearly the whole region. |
| Titjikala and Wulungurru (Kintore) could reach 46C. | Titjikala and Wulungurru (Kintore) could reach 46C. |
| And on that note, listen to today’s Full Story Podcast – Is central Australia becoming too hot for humans? – or read the investigation from Lorena Allam. | And on that note, listen to today’s Full Story Podcast – Is central Australia becoming too hot for humans? – or read the investigation from Lorena Allam. |
| And fair play to their radio colleagues, who were also evacuated, and had to be a bit sneakier about it. | And fair play to their radio colleagues, who were also evacuated, and had to be a bit sneakier about it. |
| Yesterday, the bushfire smoke was so thick in Canberra it set off the fire alarm in the ABC’s Dickson studio – a few minutes before the 7pm news. | Yesterday, the bushfire smoke was so thick in Canberra it set off the fire alarm in the ABC’s Dickson studio – a few minutes before the 7pm news. |
| Undeterred, anchor Dan Bourchier and studio crew set up outside the building and broadcast from there. | Undeterred, anchor Dan Bourchier and studio crew set up outside the building and broadcast from there. |
| The lead item that night was, ironically, the smoke. | The lead item that night was, ironically, the smoke. |
| “This appears to be becoming the new normal,” Bourchier said. | “This appears to be becoming the new normal,” Bourchier said. |
| Good morning. Welcome to day three of this week’s coverage of the bushfire crisis and heatwave. | Good morning. Welcome to day three of this week’s coverage of the bushfire crisis and heatwave. |
| Today, we’re at the start of an extreme, national hot spell, coast to coast, that could smash all kinds of records. | Today, we’re at the start of an extreme, national hot spell, coast to coast, that could smash all kinds of records. |
| There’s a good chance the record for Australia’s hottest single day could be broken – either today or tomorrow. It currently stands at 40.3C, set in 2013. That’s for the average maximum temperature across the country. | There’s a good chance the record for Australia’s hottest single day could be broken – either today or tomorrow. It currently stands at 40.3C, set in 2013. That’s for the average maximum temperature across the country. |
| It’s forecast to hit 42C in Adelaide – the start of four days above 40C. Inland, it could be as high 47C in Oodnadatta and Port Augusta; and 43C in Alice Springs in the NT. | It’s forecast to hit 42C in Adelaide – the start of four days above 40C. Inland, it could be as high 47C in Oodnadatta and Port Augusta; and 43C in Alice Springs in the NT. |
| In Victoria, it will be 39C in Melbourne and 43C in Mildura, while it will be 43C in Wilcannia in New South Wales. | In Victoria, it will be 39C in Melbourne and 43C in Mildura, while it will be 43C in Wilcannia in New South Wales. |
| In Western Australia, it could reach 46C at Marble Bar and 43C in Kalgoorlie. In Queensland, Birdsville could reach 47C. | In Western Australia, it could reach 46C at Marble Bar and 43C in Kalgoorlie. In Queensland, Birdsville could reach 47C. |
| Stay with us for the latest heat and bushfire updates. | Stay with us for the latest heat and bushfire updates. |