Heatwave in south-east Australia shows no sign of abating
Version 0 of 1. The heatwave blanketing south-east Australia is showing no signs of abating, with a total fire ban in the entire state of Victoria and roads melting in Tasmania. Melbourne residents sweltered through an uncomfortable night. The temperature peaked at 36C at 1am, falling marginally to 33C by 8am on Wednesday morning. According to the Bureau of Meteorology Tuesday’s searing heat in Melbourne, which caused a player at the Australian Open to collapse and then criticise organisers for allowing play to continue, will be repeated today, with a top of 41C expected. Another day of 41C heat is expected on Thursday, rising to 42C on Friday before a cool change at the weekend pushes temperatures down to 23C. The run of four days over 40C will be the first for Melbourne since 1908, when there were five consecutive days above this temperature. Ambulance Victoria reported eight instances of people leaving children locked in cars on Tuesday, despite the 42C heat. In all there were 83 cases of heat exposure, up from 11 on Monday. The temperatures will be higher in regional Victoria, with Horsham and Bendigo both set to endure two consecutive days of 45C temperatures. The heat has caused several fires across Victoria, with a café at the Heronswood Gardens in Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula burned to the ground. In all, more than 250 fires ignited between Monday afternoon and midnight on Tuesday. Peter Ryan, Victoria’s acting premier, said the fire risk in coming days would be “amongst the most significant we have faced in Victoria since Black Saturday”. The Country Fire Authority said it had placed a complete fire ban across the state, warning of “serious fires” that threatened people at Kangaroo Ground, Little River and Sunbury on Tuesday. "Fuel loads right across Victoria are now dry and ready to burn. The extreme temperatures over the coming three days will test fire services and the community," said CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson. "It's critical we minimise the risk of any fires before Friday." The heatwave has also enveloped much of South Australia, western NSW and Tasmania. Adelaide forecast a 45C day on Wednesday, followed by 46C on Thursday. Broken Hill in western NSW is set to bake in 42C heat on Wednesday. In Tasmania, Bushy Park in the Upper Derwent Valley reached 40C, with the high temperatures melting roads in parts of the state. Motorists reported melted bitumen at Cethana Road near Mt Roland in northern Tasmania. "The road was actually melting as I was driving down Constitution Hill. It was a bit slippery as I reached the bottom," truck driver Patrick Connor told the Hobart Mercury. "The bitumen was breaking up as you drove over it. I had to slow to about 10 or 15km/h." The Tasmania Fire Service has placed a fire ban in the state’s southern and northern districts until midnight on Wednesday. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |