Victoria is preparing for one of its most extreme and prolonged heatwaves on record, with temperatures forecast to soar as high as 49 degrees Celsius in parts of the state. The north-west Victorian town of Ouyen is expected to be among the hottest places on Earth, with forecasters warning the extreme heat could persist for several days.
Victoria is preparing for one of its most extreme and prolonged heatwaves on record, with temperatures forecast to soar as high as 49 degrees Celsius in parts of the state.
The north-west Victorian town of Ouyen is expected to be among the hottest places on Earth, with forecasters warning the extreme heat could persist for several days.
Authorities say the event has the potential to shatter long-standing temperature records and significantly worsen bushfire conditions statewide.
Senior forecasters at the Bureau of Meteorology say the unfolding heatwave could be one of the most intense since temperature records began.
If Ouyen reaches 49°C as predicted, it would surpass Victoria's all-time temperature record, last set during the devastating Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.
Nearby Mildura is forecast to endure up to six consecutive days above 43°C, well beyond any previous heat streak. Updated forecasts suggest the city could also reach 49°C - two degrees hotter than its historical maximum.
Melbourne is expected to climb to 44°C, its hottest day since Black Saturday, when catastrophic fires claimed 173 lives across the state.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch described the conditions as "extremely serious," warning Victorians to prepare for prolonged heat and elevated fire risk.
Ambulance Victoria has urged residents to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and check regularly on vulnerable people, including the elderly, children and those with medical conditions.
Bushfire Emergency Escalates in Victoria's Otways
As temperatures rise, fire authorities are grappling with an escalating bushfire emergency in Victoria's south-west.
More than 1,100 properties near the out-of-control Carlisle River fire in the Great Otway National Park have been issued evacuation orders, with a total fire ban declared for the entire state.
Residents in Gellibrand, Kawarren, Beech Forest, Forrest, Barongarook and surrounding areas were told to leave before nightfall on Monday as conditions deteriorated.
Emergency services, including police and the State Emergency Service, conducted door-to-door evacuations, warning that shifting winds and soaring temperatures on Tuesday could push the fire toward coastal communities such as Lorne, Aireys Inlet and Anglesea.
Colac deputy incident controller Alistair Drayton said a gusty wind change poses a major risk.
"There is a real possibility this fire will breach containment lines," he said, urging residents to activate bushfire plans and leave early.
Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan warned the state was facing a "heat emergency," with firefighters bracing for rapid fire spread under hot northerly winds.
The Carlisle River fire, which began on January 10, has now burned more than 9,000 hectares after jumping containment lines over the weekend. Smoke has prompted air-quality warnings in Warrnambool and surrounding districts.
All visitor sites within the Great Otway National Park and nearby state forests have been closed, while emergency relief centres have opened at the Colac Showgrounds, Bluewater Leisure Centre and Grovedale Community Hub in Geelong.
Authorities are urging Victorians to remain alert, monitor warnings closely and look out for neighbours as extreme heat and dangerous fire conditions persist through the week.
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