Melbourne is expecting its hottest day in almost 17 years today, with a forecast temperature of up to 49 degrees Celsius, Reuters writes.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said that the peak of extreme heat is expected during Tuesday and Wednesday, after which there should be a gradual easing towards the end of the week. The heat wave has raised the fire danger level across Victoria, Australia’s second most populous state.
In the Otways region, a fast-moving bushfire has already consumed around 10,000 hectares. Officials warned that strong winds, expected later in the day, could further spread the fire and threaten homes.
“The change in weather coming in around 5 p.m., accompanied by really strong winds, is likely to cause the most damage and fuel the fire further,” said Jason Heffernan, chief commander of the State Fire Service. He added that emergency services visited about 1,100 homes and sent text messages to approximately 10,000 phone numbers, urging residents to leave the affected area.
In order to reduce the risk of new fires, a total outdoor fire ban has been declared across Victoria. Due to the extreme heat, the organizers of the tennis Grand Slam Australian Open in Melbourne announced that outdoor matches and roof closures will take place under special protocols, while wheelchair tennis matches have been postponed until Wednesday.
Temperatures are expected to reach almost 50 degrees in inland cities. In the small town of Ouyen, which has a little over 1,000 inhabitants and is located 440 kilometers northwest of Melbourne, the temperature, according to meteorologists, could rise to as high as 49 degrees Celsius, reports Index.hr.
Local butcher Nathan Grayling told ABC Radio he would try to keep the work area as dark and cool as possible, as most locals are expected to stay indoors.
“If we manage to get everything done, we might finish early and go to the local pub for a beer,” Grayling said.
(Vijesti.ba)
