Lorne drowning sparks safety reminders as hundreds head to the coast for the holidays

With a heatwave warning issued for Geelong and the Surf Coast, officials are reminding locals to check the conditions as hundreds head to the beach to soak up the sunshine.

Officials are warning locals to remain vigilant in the water after a drowning at Cumberland River Beach with hundreds expected to flock to coast to enjoy the warm weather. Picture: Mark Wilson

Officials are warning locals to remain vigilant with hundreds of people expected to flock to beaches to soak up the holiday sunshine.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a heatwave warning and temperatures are set to heat up across Geelong and the Surf Coast with maximums in the high 30s.

Life saving officials are urging beach goers to remain cautious after a 19-year-old died on Christmas Day after being pulled from the water near Lorne.

The St Albans man was rescued from Cumberland River Beach and collapsed on the shore but could not be revived after finding himself in dangerous waters.

Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club captain Amenah McDonald said beach goers should

“always check the conditions so (they) know what to expect and swim between the flags.”

According to Life Saving Victoria, five swimmers were rescued from patrolled beaches along Geelong and the Surf Coast from December 23 to 26.

The mercury was expected to reach 28C in Geelong on Monday, 37C on Tuesday and 29C on Wednesday.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore said hot conditions would likely peak on Tuesday.

“We have seen this heat across central Australia and it is now being dragged down by northerly winds to south eastern Australia which is leading to this warmer days and nights,” he said.

Mr Narramore said southerly winds would bring in cooler conditions on Wednesday night, with the temperature expected to drop to 19C on Thursday.

“The winds will quickly change and move easterly on Friday and northerly throughout the weekend, dragging that warm air down once again,” he said.

The bureau warned residents to plan activities in the cooler parts of the day and look out for others during the hot conditions.

Locals were treated to sunshine and warm weather on Christmas Day with temperatures peaking at 29C at 2pm before cooling off to a mild 17C about 9pm.

Geelong and the Surf Coast can expect a humid start to 2023 with warming conditions expected to stick around until the New Year.

“For New Years Eve we are looking at temperatures of around 26 degrees and the chance of a shower and the first day of 2023 to be around 30 degrees,” Mr Narramore said.

Originally published as Lorne drowning sparks safety reminders as hundreds head to the coast for the holidays