Victoria is set to experience an extended period of heat between Saturday and Tuesday, which will also cause elevated fire danger.
The Bureau of Meteorology is expected to issue a heatwave warning today, ahead of the long weekend.
Temperatures on Saturday are forecast to reach 43°C in Mildura and 40°C in Melbourne, before a cool change moves through the west and south of the state between the afternoon and evening.
Hot weather returns on Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast to reach 48°C in Ouyen and 44°C in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.
People are urged to stay hydrated and stay cool during the heatwave.
Use air conditioning or a fan, wear light and loose clothing, and keep skin wet, using a spray bottle or damp sponge and by taking cool showers.
If you can’t keep cool at home, think about where you can go on hot days to cool down e.g. public pools, or air-conditioned buildings.
The hot weather comes as Victoria still has seven major fires burning across the state.
Three of those are not yet under control – at Walwa in the North East, the Wonnangatta Complex fires near Dargo and bushland east of Mallacoota.
Thankfully, the fire at Longwood that has been burning for more than two weeks is now contained.
But with conditions leading to Extreme and High Fire Danger Ratings expected over the long weekend, there is a risk these fires and any new fires that start could spread quickly.
Initial impact assessments over the past few weeks have found 434 homes destroyed, 28 homes significantly damaged and 1,054 outbuildings impacted.
So far, in excess of 34,401 livestock have been lost and 100,000 hectares of agricultural land. This number is expected to rise.
Quotes attributable to Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch
“We’re heading into a long weekend and many people will be wanting to enjoy the great outdoors. We want people to be able to enjoy the great parts of Victoria, but you need to be aware of the risks.”
“We need people to think about the environment they’re going to be in over this long weekend and into the early part of next week.”
“Plan your days around the heat. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and are staying cool. If you are at our various lakes and rivers or by the beaches, please swim between the yellow and red flags. Don’t be one of those people who unfortunately becomes a tragic loss over our long weekends as we’ve seen in the past”
Quotes attributable to Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Kevin Parkyn
“Many centres are going to approach their all time maximum records, so it’s quite a significant day on Tuesday.”
“It’s not good news for the north… This could easily be seven days of 40-plus degree temperatures inland.”
Quotes attributable to Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman
“There’s much of our fire season ahead of us. Our public lands and our forests are going to get drier and more available to burn. I ask Victorians to stay vigilant over these coming weeks.”
“We’ve got a lot of severe and dangerous weather ahead of us. We ask that people take care and act responsibly if they’re out there enjoying public land.”
Quotes attributable to CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan
“We will be declaring Total Fire Bans over the course of this heatwave event. We’re asking communities to stay up to date with the latest Total Fire Ban information.”
“I’m asking Victorians over the next couple of days to have your bushfire survival plan, have a conversation with your family and know what you are going to do in the event of a fire.”
“We’re asking communities to maintain vigilance by having the VicEmergency app and setting a watch zone, and having a battery-powered radio tuned to your emergency broadcaster. This will ensure that if anything does occur, you’re up to date with the latest information.”
Victorians are reminded to never rely on one channel for emergency information. Connect to official sources of emergency information, including
- VicEmergency app
- www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Tune in to local emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, commercial and select community radio stations, or SkyNews TV
- Call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- Follow VicEmergency on Facebook and X
-ENDS-
Media contact:
State Control Centre Media via 1300 287 299
