Several states to be hit by ‘severe heatwave conditions’ this weekend

Parts of the country’s southeast are set to be hit by “severe heatwave conditions” heading into the weekend, with some areas tipped to clock temperatures upwards of 40C.

Areas of NSW are expecting scorching temperatures into the low 40s over the weekend, with Wilcannia in the state’s northwest to hit 43C on Sunday and Monday.

Victoria will see similar sweltering conditions, with Warracknabeal — about 100km out from the Grampians in the state’s west, where bushfires have burned through land about the size of Singapore — tipped to reach 41C on Saturday.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said heatwave conditions were building across much of southeast Australia on Friday, and would peak across the weekend.

“Most of southeast Australia will experience low-intensity conditions, which are pretty common during summer … but for some pockets of Victoria and eastern NSW — including western Sydney — they’ll see severe heatwave conditions,” Mr How said.

Mr How said high fire dangers would be in place for much of Victoria, southern NSW and eastern parts of Tasmania heading into the weekend.

Extreme fire danger ratings are in place in the Wimmera in Victoria on Saturday as well as the Mallee district on Sunday, with high ratings in place across the rest of the state across both days.

BUSHFIRE “ABOUT THE SIZE OF SINGAPORE”

State Control Centre spokesperson Reegan Key said Friday marked the start of a three-day heatwave in Victoria, which raised concerns around “our little people, babies, kids, elderly, those living with chronic health conditions”.

Ms Key said there was still a “pretty significant” fire burning in the Grampians.

“With the heat (and) hot, dry conditions … it’s not going to be quite as bad as Boxing Day … but it is still very difficult conditions for fires,” Ms Key said.

The fire has burned through about 76,000 hectares of land, which is about 40 per cent of the national park as well as some farmland.

“It’s about the size of Singapore … it is a big fire,” Ms Key said.

She urged people in the area to keep up to date with emergency warnings and information, however the Halls Gap area could reopen to friends, family and tourists as early as next week, with residents currently able to access their homes.

“There’ll be some decisions early next week whether we can let friends and family and tourists back in,” Ms Key said.

“There are some northern sections of the park we’re looking to potentially reopen.

“The fire wont be out until we get some significant rain … things are going well and hopefully we have a good weekend … hopefully we can get people back in.”

A Watch and Act has been issued for the eastern side of the Grampians National Park, from Halls Gap to Bornes Hill.

The area includes Mafeking and Watgania.

Those in the Mirranatwa, Victoria Valley and surrounds, Lake Wartook, Lake Lonsdale, Wartook and Zumsteins have been urged to stay informed, while the threat has been reduced in the area from Pomonal and Moyston including Lake Fyans and Willaura.

Multiple bushfire warnings have also been issued across Western Australia, with a fire in The Lakes in Perth’s east reportedly leaving a home destroyed, according to 9 NEWS.

About 800 hectares of land in The Lakes and Wooroloo was burned through, with the warnings downgraded to “monitor conditions” as of Friday morning.

A WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said the bushfire was contained and under control as of Friday afternoon, with 95 firefighters on site.

“Crews are consolidating fire breaks and mopping up and they remain there patrolling,” the spokesperson said.

TRAIN PASSENGERS WARNED AHEAD OF WEEKEND HEATWAVE

Extreme heat timetables will be in place on the V/Line network in Victoria on Saturday for the Ararat, Ballarat, Maryborough, Seymour, Shepparton, Geelong, Warrnambool, Traralgon and Bairnsdale lines.

Ararat, Ballarat, Maryborough, Seymour, Shepparton, Traralgon and Bairnsdale will also have extreme heat timetables in place on Sunday.

Coaches will replace trains between Southern Cross and Gisborne on the Bendigo and Echuca lines due to planned works, while heat speed restrictions will be in place for the remainder of the Bendigo and Echuca lines over the weekend.

The Department of Transport and Planning has warned longer journey times and cancellations are possible, as well as coach replacements.

Heat speed restrictions will also be in place for trains on the Swan Hill line between Swan Hill and Bendigo, with passengers on the Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca lines urged to allow up to 90 minutes in additional travel time.

Melbourne is set to hit a high of 30C on Friday, 38C on Saturday and 37C on Sunday, while Sydney is set to heat up on Saturday with a high of 29C, a top of 34C on Sunday, and 35C on Monday.

Brisbane is expected to hit a top of 30C on Sunday, while Perth is set to reach a top of 32C on Sunday.

Adelaide is set to hit a high of 36C on Friday and Saturday while Hobart is tipped to peak at 28C on Saturday.

Canberra is expected to reach a high of 35C on Sunday while Darwin is set to drop from a high of 35C on Friday to 33C for the rest of the weekend.

Mr How said conditions are tipped to cool through Sunday for much of the south east.

“We’ll finally see conditions cooling off during Sunday afternoon and evening, cool change coming through,” Mr How said.

“Sydney won’t see relief until Tuesday.”