Australia is set to swelter through a killer heatwave with scorching temperatures and ‘catastrophic’ conditions which experts have described as like a ‘blast furnace’.
Victoria will suffer the worst of the searing heat while parts of South Australia and western Sydney are forecasted also sweat through temperatures above 40C.
The hot and dry air will be dragged across southern Australia this weekend by northwesterly winds, bringing both extreme heat and high risk of fire.
Victoria will suffer the worst of the searing heat while parts of South Australia and western Sydney are forecasted also sweat through above 40C mercury (Beachgoers pictured in Melbourne)
The hot and dry air will be dragged across southern Australia this weekend by northwesterly winds, bringing both extreme heat and high risk of fire (Melbourne pictured)
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the combination of wind speed, temperature and humidity could result in the worst bushfire conditions since Black Saturday in 2009 – which killed 173 people and injured 414.
Fire bans are in place across Melbourne and Adelaide and Victoria’s ambulance commander Paul Holman has even warned residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.
‘It’s going to be like a blast furnace tomorrow and you need to adjust what you do. You need to take care. So put off the sporting events, put off the outside events, stay inside,’ Mr Holman told reporters on Friday.
Outside of Melbourne in Swan Hill, Echuca, Warracknabeal and Mildura it will be the hottest with mercury hitting around 44C at its peak.
Fire bans are in place across Melbourne (Pictured) and Adelaide and Victoria’s ambulance commander Paul Holman has even warned residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary
Outside of Melbourne (pictured) in Swan Hill, Echuca, Warracknabeal and Mildura it will be the hottest with mercury hitting around 44C at its peak
Beachgoers (pictured) at Kerferd Road beach, Melbourne, Friday, January 5, 2018
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the combination of wind speed, temperature and humidity could result in the worst bushfire conditions since Black Saturday in 2009
Meanwhile, Adelaide’s top temperature will reach 41C and the scorching heat combined with high winds will be a ‘recipe for fire’.
The fire-rating across the region has been switched to ‘catastrophic’ and the state will face a very serious bush-fire threat.
‘At the moment it’s looking as though the weather events for tomorrow could be some of the worst weather for bushfire conditions since the Pinery bushfire,’ he told media this afternoon,’ Emergency Services Minister Chris Picton told media on Friday.
Sydneysiders will also swelter through a scorcher of a weekend with most of the state tipped to suffer above-average temperatures for this time of year.
Western Sydney will bear the brunt of the searing heat as Penrith is set to hit 42C on Saturday and a staggering 45C on Sunday, while Campbelltown and Liverpool will reach a top of 39C.
People sunbath as they enjoy the warm weather at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne
Melbourne (pictured) temperatures are set to climb to 41C on Saturday
They are also reminding people it is an offence to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles in the warm weather
Hot, gusty conditions in NSW will also spark danger of fires but the state has avoided a total fire ban.
New South Wales Police are advising residents to be prepared for heatwave conditions.
They are also reminding people it is an offence to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
Recently a dog died after being left in a car at Rose Bay, while a 32-year-old man was arrested and charged at a Guildford hotel after allegedly leaving a six-year-old boy in a car.
Hot, gusty conditions in NSW will also spark danger of fires but the state has avoided a total fire ban (Sydney pictured)
Meanwhile, Adelaide’s (pictured) top temperature will reach 41C and the scorching heat combined with high winds will be a ‘recipe for fire’
The fire-rating across the region has been switched to ‘catastrophic’ and the state will face a very serious bush-fire threat (Adelaide pictured)
‘It’s going to be like a blast furnace tomorrow and you need to adjust what you do. You need to take care. So put off the sporting events, put off the outside events, stay inside,’ Mr Holman told reporters on Friday (Melbourne pictured)
The nation’s capital in Canberra will also see sizzling temperatures at 36C on Saturday and Sunday will be the hottest at 38C.
Launceston and much of Tasmania is also expected to reach at least 32C on Saturday with a forecast of hot and gusty winds too.
Brisbane will be mostly sunny all weekend with temperatures in the early 30s, with light winds.
Perth will reach 29C on Saturday and 31C on Sunday, with clear skies and some winds predicted for the weekend.
In Sydney, it will be a hot and sunny weekend with the mercury set to soar to 31C on Saturday
New South Wales Police are advising residents to be prepared for heatwave conditions
People make the most of the hot and sunny weather with a swim in the ocean