Large areas of Australia are bracing for catastrophic bushfire conditions on Friday as intense heatwaves are forecast to grip much of the country, prompting emergency warnings and widespread closures.
Authorities have declared severe to extreme heatwave conditions across every Australian state and territory except Queensland, with dangerously high temperatures expected to persist for several days.
Victoria has imposed a statewide total fire ban for Friday after officials raised the fire danger rating to “catastrophic,” the highest possible level. As a precaution, around 450 schools and childcare facilities will shut their doors.
A senior meteorologist told the BBC that the dangerous combination of prolonged heat and escalating fire risk could result in the most serious conditions Australia has experienced since the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires.
Firefighters were already battling multiple blazes on Thursday in Victoria and neighbouring New South Wales (NSW). According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), more than a dozen aircraft were deployed to drop water on a large fire burning near the regional city of Wodonga.
Melbourne recorded its hottest day in six years on Wednesday, with temperatures soaring to 40.9C (105.6F). Meanwhile, some coastal communities in Western Australia experienced extreme heat approaching 49C.
In NSW, forecasters expect the heatwave to intensify further, peaking on Saturday when Sydney’s temperature is predicted to reach 42C. Parts of South Australia and Western Australia are also forecast to exceed 40C in the coming days.
Angus Hines, a meteorologist with Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, said Friday would mark the most dangerous phase of the current heat event.
“Friday will be the real peak of this burst of heat,” Hines told the BBC.
He said the extreme temperatures would affect nearly all of South Australia and Victoria, most of New South Wales, and sections of Tasmania.
Wednesday marked the first major heatwave this season for major population centres such as Melbourne and Adelaide, Hines added, warning that fire conditions are set to deteriorate significantly by Friday.
“One of the key concerns is that winds will strengthen across Victoria tomorrow,” he said. “When that combines with dry conditions, the possibility of dry lightning and thunderstorms that produce little rainfall, fire danger ratings escalate rapidly.”
As a result, northern parts of Victoria are expected to experience catastrophic fire conditions.
“This event is shaping up to be the most significant multi-day heat and fire risk event for inland south-eastern Australia since 2019–2020,” Hines said.
The 2019–2020 fire season, widely referred to as the Black Summer bushfires, was the worst in Australia’s recorded history, killing dozens of people and burning millions of hectares of land.
Victoria’s emergency authorities issued stark warnings on Thursday, emphasising that fires under catastrophic conditions can behave erratically and may be impossible to control.
“Catastrophic fire danger means that fires will be unpredictable and uncontrollable,” said Tim Wiebusch, Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner.
“We are urging communities to take responsibility alongside our emergency services to protect lives and property,” he said.
“Prepare your bushfire survival plan now. If you live in an area where catastrophic conditions are forecast, leave early and relocate to a safer area with a lower fire risk.”
Australia’s fire danger rating system has four levels, with catastrophic representing the highest threat, followed by extreme, high and low.
A heatwave is officially declared when both minimum and maximum temperatures are forecast to remain significantly above average for three or more consecutive days.
