Warm summer day before Victoria swelters on Saturday

MELBOURNE is bracing itself for a Saturday scorcher, with forecast temperatures above 40C prompting statewide fire warnings. An early burst of heat tonight has caused problems for motorists on the Hume Freeway, with a stretch of road melting.

AUTHORITIES are warning that large parts of the state are at extreme fire risk ahead of a scorching hot Saturday.

A total fire ban has been issued with temperature tipped to surge above 40C.

It will mark the first extreme heat day of 2018 and the hottest temperatures recorded in the past two years.

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The sizzling weather started to affect the state early, with drivers on the Hume Freeway delayed due to a stretch of the road melting.

Victoria Police warned motorists should expect delays on the right-hand lane heading towards the city near Broadford on Friday evening, as a 10km stretch of road was reportedly melting amid the hot weather.

Truly bizarre!

Traffic is crawling on the Hume Freeway near Broadford because it is MELTING!? pic.twitter.com/vBrFXcRDEX

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) January 5, 2018

Melburnians made the most of today’s sunshine and milder conditions before Saturday’s hot weather and gusty winds bring with it a statewide fire ban.

Mallee, Wimmera, north, central and southwest regions will face an extreme danger rating on Saturday.

Tomorrow is our first extreme heat
day of the summer. We encourage everyone to plan ahead, drink water even if
you aren’t thirsty and check in on others. More tips
on how to #survivetheheat via https://t.co/ZPF81DFNdT

— Ambulance Victoria (@AmbulanceVic) January 5, 2018

Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said a key danger period would be 4-5pm tomorrow, as the heat combines with a wind change on the outskirts of Melbourne.

“If a fire starts, it will run, it will run hard and has the potential to do significant damage,” Mr Lapsley said.

“Our firefighters — our ground crews, our aircraft — are there but on these days the conditions can beat the crews and the terrain.”

Saturday fire danger updated to extreme across the Southwest and Central districts including #Melbourne, #Geelong and #Ballarat. Keep your eye out for the updated forecasts between 4 & 5pm this afternoon at https://t.co/B4Tj3DLg5T pic.twitter.com/lGk6CyoZRP

— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) January 5, 2018

Ambulance Victoria’s state health commander Paul Holman said paramedics would be run off their feet as the heat hits vulnerable Victorians.

He urged people to stay indoors, cancel sports events and look out for their neighbours.

“Unfortunately we have the image of the bronzed Aussie and that we’re pretty tough — well, we are not,” Mr Holman said.

“Tomorrow, we know from experience, is an extreme risk to human health, an extreme risk to you and your family and you need to take this seriously.”

The organisation also urged people not to leave children or animals in vehicles, with almost 1700 call outs to Ambulance Victoria in the year to August for babies and toddlers left in cars.

SUNSHINE RAMPS UP IN MELBOURNE

Victorians will swelter on Saturday as the temperature tips over 40C across the state.

It will hit 41C in the city just shy of the two year record of 42.2C on January 13, 2016.

But Melburnians will be hanging out for the cool late change to take the sting out of the heat.

A strong wind warning has been issued for Port Phillip, west and central coasts, and the East Gippsland coast on Saturday.

Emergency Service Minister @JamesMerlinoMP says “we are as prepared as we can be” for tomorrow’s heightened fire risk and 41C forecast @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/ljpeBfeg63

— Monique Hore (@moniquehore) January 5, 2018

Melbourne sunrise before an expected top of 29C. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A runner jumps puddles in Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Melbourne is expected to hit 41C while Mildura will reach 44C, Ouyen and Swan Hill 43C, and Geelong, Bendigo and Shepparton will hit 42C.

Mr Coombes said there would be a rapid cool change which would drop the temperature about 15 degrees Celsius within 20 minutes to the mid-20s with the full dip taking hold about 6pm.

He said there would be strong north to north-westerly winds over much the state tomorrow too.

Mr Coombes said squally winds, up to 80km/h, could be a concern if there are any fires ongoing during the day.

“It is just going to a difficult day for fire danger tomorrow and people really need to take care not to accidentally start fires,” Mr Coombes said.

A total fire ban has been declared across the state on Saturday.

Paul Holman, from @AmbulanceVic, warns Victorians to cancel sport and to stay indoors tomorrow. “Unfortunately we have the image of the bronzed Aussie but we are not and this heat is a killer,” he says. @theheraldsun

— Monique Hore (@moniquehore) January 5, 2018

The Chief Health Officer has issued a health alert for the north central district on Saturday while the central district, and west and south Gippsland are near the threshold for an alert.

Meanwhile, Australia’s energy market operator has confirmed it believes there are enough energy supplies to protect against blackouts, despite high temperatures predicted for South Australia as well.

Acting Premier and Emergency Services Minister James Merlino told families that do not have a fire plan to sit down tonight and discuss what they would do if a blaze started in their area.

But he said Victoria was “as prepared as we can be” for the fire season.

“We have the largest air fleet Victoria has ever seen and this airfleet is able to respond immediately to any fires right across Victoria,” he said.

Melbourne puts on a show this morning. Picture: Christine McGinn

Neil hopes to catch some snapper at Seaholme. Picture: Nicole Garmston

For those braving the beach to cool off, Life Saving Victoria operations manager Greg Scott is urging people to take extra care and never swim alone.

“We want everyone to come home safely from a day at the beach, river or by the pool, so take extra caution given the forecast conditions,” he said.

Forest Fire Management Victoria assistant chief fire officer Gill Metz said it was crucial for Victorians to check weather conditions before they went adventuring.

“It is illegal to light a campfire on a TFB day,” she said in a statement.

Emergency services commissioner @craig_lapsley reminds Victorians “to leave and leave early” if fires break out near them tomorrow. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/4DqwlbwWCs

— Monique Hore (@moniquehore) January 5, 2018

The mercury will drop 20 degrees Celsius on Sunday with a possible light shower in the city.

The rain will be back on Monday as it hits 28C in Melbourne.

A thunderstorm could strike in the nearby hills in the afternoon too.

Tuesday will dip to 23C for a partly cloudy day.

The temperature is on the rise again with Wednesday set to hit 28C before soaring to 33C on Thursday.