This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/18/australia-extreme-heatwave-weather-forecast-nsw-fires-near-new-south-wales-total-fire-ban-bushfires-victoria-melbourne-sydney-latest-news-live-updates
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Australia fires: weather bureau says Tuesday was nation's hottest day on record – live | Australia fires: weather bureau says Tuesday was nation's hottest day on record – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| BoM data says Tuesday’s 40.9C was the hottest average maximum across the whole country ever recorded, as extreme heat moves across South Australia to Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, NSW, as bushfires continue. Follow latest updates | BoM data says Tuesday’s 40.9C was the hottest average maximum across the whole country ever recorded, as extreme heat moves across South Australia to Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, NSW, as bushfires continue. Follow latest updates |
| I have a much needed bit of good news about one of the victims of the NSW bushfires. | |
| Nina Jongen’s family home was one of 85 destroyed in the fire that went through Nymboida on 8 November. The mud brick property was built by her parents 32 years ago when she was just a year old. Like many of the more than 700 families who have lost their homes in the NSW fires so far this year, she was facing spending Christmas in temporary accomodation. | |
| And then she won a tiny home. | |
| A friend entered her in the Amazon Prime competition, and the tiny house was delivered to her family property, complete with Christmas tree and presents, on Wednesday. | |
| She says: | |
| An extreme heatwave emergency warning has been issued for the Murraylands district of South Australia, which is forecast to have temperatures in the mid-40s all week with no real respite overnight. | |
| According to the alert issued by the SA state emergency services: | |
| The recommendations are: stay indoors if you can. If you must exercise, do so in the early morning or in the evening and do a less arduous routine. | |
| Drink plenty of water, and plan ahead if you’re taking public transport as there may be delays. If you’re going camping, don’t pitch your tent under a tree – eucalypts can drop branches in the heat. | |
| That huge Gospers Mountain fire north and west of Sydney is now an emergency level incident again. | That huge Gospers Mountain fire north and west of Sydney is now an emergency level incident again. |
| The fire is out of control, and has so far burned through more than 415,000 hectares, including through several national parks, state forests and residential areas. | |
| See the RFS website and the Fires Near Me app for more specific info about particular areas – the size of the affected area from this fire is huge. | |
| This relates to a watch and act fire at Peregian Springs, north of Brisbane on the Queensland coast. | This relates to a watch and act fire at Peregian Springs, north of Brisbane on the Queensland coast. |
| The QFES says conditions are getting worse. | The QFES says conditions are getting worse. |
| “Fire crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Queensland police are door-knocking in the area. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.” | “Fire crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Queensland police are door-knocking in the area. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.” |
| Smithville in north-western NSW recorded a temperature of 44C this afternoon, the highest in the state. | Smithville in north-western NSW recorded a temperature of 44C this afternoon, the highest in the state. |
| Wilcannia recorded a temperature of 42.5C, Borrona Downs 43.1C, Tibooburra 42.9C. | Wilcannia recorded a temperature of 42.5C, Borrona Downs 43.1C, Tibooburra 42.9C. |
| According to the Bureau of Meteorology it’s only going to get worse. | According to the Bureau of Meteorology it’s only going to get worse. |
| “We’ve got some very hot air that will be dragged from central Australia into NSW by northerly and westerly winds over the next couple of days,” said a spokeswoman, Elli Blandford. “This will bring hot temperatures to most of NSW up to the mid 40s in most of inland NSW for the next couple of days. | “We’ve got some very hot air that will be dragged from central Australia into NSW by northerly and westerly winds over the next couple of days,” said a spokeswoman, Elli Blandford. “This will bring hot temperatures to most of NSW up to the mid 40s in most of inland NSW for the next couple of days. |
| “We’re expecting very hot temperatures, well above averages for this time of year.” | “We’re expecting very hot temperatures, well above averages for this time of year.” |
| It’s wise to take more notice of the BoM’s recordings, but that’s still pretty hot down in Port Augusta. | It’s wise to take more notice of the BoM’s recordings, but that’s still pretty hot down in Port Augusta. |
| A Gosford High student and climate activist Varsha Yajman, who made the papers this morning after achieving an ATAR of 99.15 despite ignoring politicians’ nagging to stop striking from school, addressed the NAB board this afternoon. | A Gosford High student and climate activist Varsha Yajman, who made the papers this morning after achieving an ATAR of 99.15 despite ignoring politicians’ nagging to stop striking from school, addressed the NAB board this afternoon. |
| ABC reporter Julia Holman reports Yajman told the bank it needs to get out of coal, but the motion was voted down by 95% of shareholders. | ABC reporter Julia Holman reports Yajman told the bank it needs to get out of coal, but the motion was voted down by 95% of shareholders. |
| Other shareholders also spoke. | Other shareholders also spoke. |
| A bit more feedback on Scott Morrison’s holiday. | A bit more feedback on Scott Morrison’s holiday. |
| Lara Worthington, if you need reminding, shot to fame for her delivery of the famous line in this commercial put out by Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia’s managing director at the time was Scott Morrison. | Lara Worthington, if you need reminding, shot to fame for her delivery of the famous line in this commercial put out by Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia’s managing director at the time was Scott Morrison. |
| People in the line of the Carneys Creek fire in Queensland have been told to leave now, with the fire expected to hit Chalk Road within the next half an hour. | People in the line of the Carneys Creek fire in Queensland have been told to leave now, with the fire expected to hit Chalk Road within the next half an hour. |
| “Currently as at 2.40pm [AEST] Wednesday 18 December a large and fast-moving fire is travelling in a westerly direction from Carneys Creek Road towards Chalk Road. It is expected to impact Chalk Road within the next 30 minutes. The fire could have a significant impact on the community. | “Currently as at 2.40pm [AEST] Wednesday 18 December a large and fast-moving fire is travelling in a westerly direction from Carneys Creek Road towards Chalk Road. It is expected to impact Chalk Road within the next 30 minutes. The fire could have a significant impact on the community. |
| “Fire crews are working with waterbombing aircraft to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.” | “Fire crews are working with waterbombing aircraft to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.” |
| It’s the afternoon, which this week has become synonymous with upgraded fires. | It’s the afternoon, which this week has become synonymous with upgraded fires. |
| Fire activity is increasing at the Gospers Mountain blaze, in the Wallerawang area to the south, and the RFS has moved its status to Watch and Act. | Fire activity is increasing at the Gospers Mountain blaze, in the Wallerawang area to the south, and the RFS has moved its status to Watch and Act. |
| In New South Wales an extreme fire warning is in place for greater Sydney, the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, and the southern ranges tomorrow. | In New South Wales an extreme fire warning is in place for greater Sydney, the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, and the southern ranges tomorrow. |
| The rest of the coastal regions, as well as the entire north of the state and much of the middle, are rated severe or very high. | The rest of the coastal regions, as well as the entire north of the state and much of the middle, are rated severe or very high. |
| Hello, this is Helen Davidson taking over the blog for the afternoon. | Hello, this is Helen Davidson taking over the blog for the afternoon. |
| A former federal minister, Christopher Pyne, has written in support of Scott Morrison who is copping some flak over his decision to take a family holiday under an apparent shroud of secrecy. | A former federal minister, Christopher Pyne, has written in support of Scott Morrison who is copping some flak over his decision to take a family holiday under an apparent shroud of secrecy. |
| There are a lot of opinions around about whether he should be leaving in the middle of the crisis, whether he should have at least been more transparent about it, or whether it’s entirely fine. | There are a lot of opinions around about whether he should be leaving in the middle of the crisis, whether he should have at least been more transparent about it, or whether it’s entirely fine. |
| Pyne is very much in the latter camp. | Pyne is very much in the latter camp. |
| Pyne, while also paying tribute to the victims and firefighters and everyone working hard in the bushfire response, says the criticisms of Morrison by the “outrage brigade” are unfair. | Pyne, while also paying tribute to the victims and firefighters and everyone working hard in the bushfire response, says the criticisms of Morrison by the “outrage brigade” are unfair. |
| The NSW premier has warned firefighters will confront an “enormous challenge” in coming days as temperatures soar and volatile winds whip up dangerous bushfires across the state. | The NSW premier has warned firefighters will confront an “enormous challenge” in coming days as temperatures soar and volatile winds whip up dangerous bushfires across the state. |
| Gladys Berejiklian says the state faces significant bushfire risk on Thursday and Saturday with the potential for “exceedingly concerning” winds to blow embers well ahead of fire fronts. | Gladys Berejiklian says the state faces significant bushfire risk on Thursday and Saturday with the potential for “exceedingly concerning” winds to blow embers well ahead of fire fronts. |
| “Not only are we going to experience very high temperatures on Thursday and Saturday but there’s the exceedingly concerning wind conditions,” she said. | “Not only are we going to experience very high temperatures on Thursday and Saturday but there’s the exceedingly concerning wind conditions,” she said. |
| “We’re going to have a number of wind fronts escalating the fuel, the fires burning, and the potential to have spot fires and embers travelling very long distances. | “We’re going to have a number of wind fronts escalating the fuel, the fires burning, and the potential to have spot fires and embers travelling very long distances. |
| “It’s going to mean very unpredictable fire conditions.” | “It’s going to mean very unpredictable fire conditions.” |
| The Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said fire behaviour is forecast to be “erratic and significant” due to the volatile winds. | The Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said fire behaviour is forecast to be “erratic and significant” due to the volatile winds. |
| “The heat will start moving through NSW on Thursday and conditions will worsen on Saturday,” he said. | “The heat will start moving through NSW on Thursday and conditions will worsen on Saturday,” he said. |
| “We can expect the winds to be up and conditions to be at their peak very early in the morning and we’ll have high sustained fire dangers for something like 15 hours.” | “We can expect the winds to be up and conditions to be at their peak very early in the morning and we’ll have high sustained fire dangers for something like 15 hours.” |
| A statewide total fire ban is in place from Wednesday morning to midnight Saturday. | A statewide total fire ban is in place from Wednesday morning to midnight Saturday. |
| Firefighters will work around the clock to contain fires before the worst of the conditions hit. | Firefighters will work around the clock to contain fires before the worst of the conditions hit. |
| There were about 100 fires burning across NSW on Wednesday at midday with more than half uncontained, the RFS said. | There were about 100 fires burning across NSW on Wednesday at midday with more than half uncontained, the RFS said. |
| Daytime temperatures in parts of NSW and the ACT are expected to exceed 40C through to Saturday while in the western half of the state the mercury could top 45C. | Daytime temperatures in parts of NSW and the ACT are expected to exceed 40C through to Saturday while in the western half of the state the mercury could top 45C. |
| Wind gusts could top more than 100km/h. | Wind gusts could top more than 100km/h. |
| The NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, said complacency was a significant threat. | The NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, said complacency was a significant threat. |
| “Just because you haven’t seen a fire at the end of your street, just because you can’t see smoke in your suburb, doesn’t mean that you are not at risk,” he said. | “Just because you haven’t seen a fire at the end of your street, just because you can’t see smoke in your suburb, doesn’t mean that you are not at risk,” he said. |