Sydney: Australia has entered a period of severe weather as heatwaves have affected nearly the entire country, raising serious concerns about bushfire risks.
Meteorological authorities have declared severe to extreme heatwave conditions in every state and territory except Queensland, with high temperatures expected to persist for several days.
Victoria has imposed a total fire ban for January 9 after the fire danger rating has been set at catastrophic, the highest possible level. Around 450 schools and childcare centres have been closed as a precaution, reflecting the scale of the threat. Emergency services have warned that any fires starting under these conditions could become uncontrollable and unpredictable.
Firefighters have already been stretched across Victoria and New South Wales, where several blazes have been battled. Near the city of Wodonga, more than a dozen aircraft have been deployed to drop water on a large fire as crews have worked to contain it. The situation has highlighted how quickly conditions can escalate during prolonged heat.
Temperatures have soared across major population centres. Melbourne has recorded its hottest day in six years, reaching 40.9C, while some coastal towns in Western Australia have experienced temperatures as high as 49C. In New South Wales, the heatwave has been forecast to peak on Saturday, with Sydney expected to reach 42C. Parts of South Australia and Western Australia have also been forecast to exceed 40C in the coming days.
Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology has said that January 9 will mark the most intense period of the current heatwave. Hines said that strengthening winds across Victoria, combined with dry thunderstorms and possible lightning without rain, would significantly increase fire danger in northern parts of the state.
Experts have warned that the developing conditions have resembled the build-up seen during the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires, Australia’s most destructive fire season on record. That period resulted in widespread devastation, loss of life and the burning of millions of hectares of land.
Authorities have urged communities in high-risk areas to prepare bushfire survival plans and leave early if conditions worsen. Officials have stressed that public cooperation remains critical as Australia faces several more days of extreme heat and elevated fire danger.
POPULAR | Going solo: How independent travel is taking over
