Victoria heatwave, bushfire warnings: Record-breaking heat hits as communities evacuated, blazes burn
An intense heatwave put authorities on alert on Tuesday as southeastern parts of Australia braced for possible record temperatures and extreme bushfire conditions.
In Victoria, Melbourne is expected to reach 45C, which could challenge the 2009 record for hottest day of 46.9C. Mildura, in the north of the state, is expected to reach 49C. The state is under a complete fire ban.
“If Mildura reaches such a high temperature it will be the highest temperature ever recorded in Victoria,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told AAP.
The last time Victoria saw temperatures this high was during the Black Saturday bushfires, which claimed the lives of 173 people.
Melbourne is expected to see temperatures of 45 degrees on Tuesday; This is a nightmare for emergency crews, including firefighters already battling out-of-control fires.
South Australia suffered the worst of the heatwave on Monday as Broken Hill in NSW braced for the mercury to reach 47C. Adelaide broke the Australia Day temperature record with 44.7 degrees, while Ceduna sweltered at 49°C.
Bushfires ravage Victoria
Scorching conditions have alarmed firefighters battling an out-of-control Carlisle River bushfire in the Otways.
The community of Gellibrand and surrounding areas from Yuulong to Aireys Bay are under Watch and Act – Immediate Evacuation advisories. The densely forested area stretching from the southern tip of Cape Otway to Colac and Birregurra is under threat.
As of sundown Monday, officials say the evacuation “may be considered life-threatening,” meaning anyone still in the area can no longer leave.
“Police and SES are knocking on doors in the area but may not be able to reach every property,” Vic Emergency warned.
“Don’t wait for the police. The message is to hit the road today.”
Adding to the fears, strong winds and thunderstorms are expected in the region on Tuesday.
BOM deputy incident controller Alistair Drayton said the drastic change was worrying, with authorities urging residents living in Gellibrand, Kawarren, Beech Forest, Forrest and Barongarook to evacuate.
“Conditions (on Tuesday) mean the fire could spread quickly and unpredictably. We strongly advise people in affected areas to put their bushfire plans in place and leave early to protect themselves and their families,” he said.
Wildfires are also burning near Seymour, in Alpine National Park and in Wabba Wildlife Park.
Health warnings issued
Heatwave conditions also prompted a warning from health officials who responded to 11 cases of children locked in cars over the weekend as temperatures soared into the 40s in Victoria.
Ambulance Victoria has appealed to the community to never leave children, pets or elderly people alone in vehicles.
“The temperature inside a vehicle can double in a matter of minutes and become fatal,” said Dale Armstrong, director of emergency management.
“Leaving children in a vehicle is particularly dangerous because their body temperature increases three to five times faster than that of adults.”
Vic Emergency said: “Heat can cause serious and potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, trigger sudden events such as heart attack or stroke, or worsen medical conditions such as kidney or lung disease.”
“People over 65, the very young and those with pre-existing medical conditions are most at risk.”
Changes to Australian Open due to heatwave
Australian Open officials are taking drastic measures as the season-opening grand slam faces the prospect of experiencing some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Melbourne’s history.
Women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face Iva Jovic in the opening match at Rod Laver Arena, where the roof is likely to open at 11.30am.
Crucially, this will also allow matches to start on outdoor courts under the current heat policy.
However, the suspensions are expected to be finalized later in the day as officials monitor the Heat Stress Scale (HSS), which was introduced in 2019 due to concerns for the safety of players and spectators.
To determine the HSS measure, four climate factors (air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed) are measured from various locations in Melbourne Park.
Games played on outdoor courts and roof closures in main arenas will follow the Open’s extreme heat protocols.
Officials confirmed a number of measures to combat the heat on Monday, including allowing ground pass holders access to Margaret Court Arena.
Ballkids will have reduced rotations, increased recovery times and additional relief teams.
The AO wheelchair championship has also been postponed and will start on Wednesday.
The statement comes after matches on outdoor courts were suspended and the roofs of large arenas were closed on Saturday after officials were forced to impose extreme heat protocols.
– from AAP
