Heatwave sweeps across Southwest Australia, heightens bushfire risks

WAM, Philippine News Agency

The extreme heat comes as Australia braces for a high-risk bushfire season. (Pexels Photo)

SYDNEY – A scorching heatwave gripped southeastern Australia on Saturday, intensifying bushfire risks and prompting authorities to impose fire bans across vast regions of Victoria state.

The extreme heat comes as Australia braces for a high-risk bushfire season.

Victorian authorities are already contending with the aftermath of a significant fire in the Grampians National Park, which recently ravaged homes and farmland.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, temperatures in some areas were expected to soar up to 14 degrees Celsius above average.
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, was forecasted to reach 37°C, far exceeding seasonal norms.

By 10:20 a.m. local time, the temperature at Melbourne Airport had already hit 32.8°C, more than six degrees above the January average maximum, underscoring the severity of the heatwave.

Although recent fire seasons have been less severe than the devastating 2019-2020 “Black Summer” that claimed 33 lives, authorities remain vigilant.

The current heatwave underscores the ongoing threat of bushfires in a region that continues to recover from past disasters.
Residents are urged to stay informed about local fire bans and take necessary precautions as temperatures remain dangerously high. (WAM)