Heatwave to hit Australia’s east coast over the weekend, bringing increased fire risk

Fire authorities are on high alert as much of Australia’s eastern seaboard braces for a heatwave with temperatures forecast to soar higher than 40C over the Australia Day long weekend.

People gather at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

Fire authorities are on high alert as much of Australia’s eastern seaboard braces for a heatwave, with temperatures forecast to soar above 40C on the Australia Day long weekend.

The mercury has been tipped to peak at 38C on Sunday in Melbourne, 41C in Adelaide and 33C in Sydney, with higher temperatures inland, as a wave of heat moves east.

Wagga Wagga in NSW’s inland Riverina is forecast to reach 42C on Sunday and nearby Griffith 43C, while Shepparton in Victoria will hit 44C and border town Albury-Wodonga will touch 42C.

NSW Rural Fire Service inspector Ben Shepherd said the heatwave had sparked fears of increased grassfire risk, especially in NSW’s central west.

“It will further dry out those grasslands in many areas across the state so (this will) pose a risk for the next period of hot, dry, windy weather as the grassland will be ready to burn,” he said.

“Some of those areas with wet weather had an incredible grass and crop growth … a lot has been harvested and vast areas cut for hay, but we know there are vast areas with high grass loads, and that will prove problematic over coming weeks and months.”

Mr Shepherd said grassfires could spread rapidly and urged holiday-makers to be hyper vigilant if travelling to the regions at the Australia Day weekend.

“We’re asking people not to be silly with the use of fires when away holidaying and camping, but most importantly, we don’t want to see people flicking things like cigarettes out the window,” he said.