In the Australian state of Victoria, authorities reported that three individuals were missing amidst the uncontrollable bushfires that were devastating homes and vast areas of bushland. Forecasters predicted damaging winds and temperatures reaching up to 46 degrees Celsius in the northern regions of Victoria.
Victoria Premier Jacinda Allen expressed concerns, stating that the current fire conditions marked one of the most perilous days the state had faced in years. A bushfire near Longwood had already consumed over 35,000 hectares of bushland, while another blaze near Walwa had expanded to approximately 20,000 hectares since igniting on Wednesday during the intense summer heatwave in southern Australia.
Meteorologists drew parallels to the catastrophic 2019 conditions that led to widespread bushfires in southeastern Australia, resulting in 33 casualties during the infamous Black Summer. Climate Central’s recent analysis indicated that human-induced climate change significantly heightened the likelihood of extreme heat in various Australian regions.
With the fire danger rating set at “catastrophic” on Friday, both the Longwood and Walwa fires posed substantial risks to life and property, according to authorities. The Walwa fire had even generated its own weather system, producing a pyrocumulonimbus cloud that triggered lightning and thunder.
Premier Allen highlighted the exacerbation of fire conditions due to the fires themselves creating additional weather phenomena, such as lightning-induced fires across the state, coupled with strong winds that were expected to persist. Evacuation orders were issued for residents in numerous towns, with around 450 schools closed and many regional train services halted in Victoria.
To combat the escalating threat, a total fire ban was implemented across the entire state on Friday. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s MetService warned of record-high temperatures over the upcoming weekend as the heatwave traversed the Tasman Sea. Heat alerts were issued for specific areas along the eastern coast and the northern region of the South Island in New Zealand.