Weather News
Heat fuelling southern fire danger today
Ben Domensino, Tuesday January 17, 2017 - 11:12 EDT
Total fire bans are in place for parts of South Australia and Victoria today as temperatures soar ahead of an approaching cool change.
In South Australia, temperatures are expected to reach 39 degrees in Adelaide today and 44 at Leigh Creek and Roxby Downs. These maximums are 8-10 degrees above average for this time of year. Adelaide had already reached 34 degrees at 10:20am.
Across the border, tops of 42-43 degrees are expected at Swan Hill, Ouyen and Mildura in northwest Victoria. Melbourne was previously expected to reach the high thirties, although a southerly now looks like arriving earlier than expected and could limit heating to about 35-36 degrees in the city. This would make it Melbourne's third day over 35 this month and the sixth so far this season, which is close to what's expected by this point in January.
Today's heat will combine with fresh and dry winds in some areas, causing very high to severe fire danger ratings across both states. Total fire bans are in place for nine of South Australia's 13 districts and in the Mallee, Wimmera and North Central Districts of Victoria.
A southerly change will sweep over the southern districts of South Australia and Victoria from this afternoon, before pushing further inland tonight. The wind change itself may be problematic for any active fires, although cooler temperatures will alleviate fire danger in most areas by tomorrow.
On Wednesday, most of Victoria and southern parts of South Australia will be 10-15 degrees cooler than today.
Adelaide could go from near 40 degrees today to a top of 28 tomorrow afternoon. Melbourne is forecast to reach just 21 degrees on Wednesday after a wet and cloudy morning.
- Weatherzone
© Weatherzone
2017
More breaking news
Sydney Morning Herald
ABC News
National Nine News
News Limited
-
Display your Local Weather here
automatically each time you visit us:
Rotates through Temperature,
Wind, Humidity and RainUse the Search Bar above
to find your Local, and go to the Local page
Click "Set My Local"
button next to the location name
Weather News
SA weather: Thousands without power after wild storms cross state
11:13 EDT
About 30,000 properties are without power in South Australia, with Adelaide being the hardest hit, after a storm front crossed the state last night.
Tasmania weather: Severe winds, rain expected to hit state's north-east, threat of flash flooding
11:13 EDT
Tasmania's north-east is tipped to experience significant rainfall as a low pressure system crosses the top of the state.
South reeling as severe weather spreads east
11:02 EDT
Severe weather will spread over parts of eastern Australia today after a wild night in the nation's south.
