Melbourne heatwave – It will feel more like Darwin in Melbourne as heat and humidity pushed from the north.
Meanwhile, the fire threat from the heatwave will pose risk for communities across Victoria.
A huge trough of hot air will move over Melbourne and stay for days, as a heatwave hits the south-east of Australia.
Tomorrow a top of 43 is expected in Melbourne with temperatures as high as 45C expected further north.
Mildura can expect a top of 43, Horsham 41, Bendigo 43, Shepparton 44, Seymour 43, Albury-Wodonga 43, Warrnambool 39, Geelong 44, Ballarat 39, Latrobe Valley 42 and Bairnsdale 42.
“It’s going to feel in some parts more like a build-up day in Darwin rather than what we’re accustomed to in Melbourne,” Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Diana Eadie said.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp warned Victorians of the weather ahead.
“Thursday will be warm, but Friday is a significacant day for us with elevated fire conditions,” he said.
“There’ll be storms that come through with the potential for dry lightning, so again it’s a challenging day for us.”
Minister for Emergency Services Lisa Neville said the Melbourne heatwave conditions that saw the mercury jump today were expected to continue until Saturday, punctuated by flash flooding, dust storms, strong northerly winds and an erratic change.
“We’re seeing one half of the state largely in a severe fire danger area, and the other in very high danger area,” Ms Neville said during a media conference this afternoon.
“So, there are risks right across the state, and that’s because we remain very, very dry. Our soil moisture is very dry. Our forests are very dry.”
“If your plan is that you’re going to wait until fire is near your doorstep and then leave, that is not a good plan,” Ms Neville said.
Melbourne Weather
Forecast for the rest of Thursday
Summary
Clear.Chance of any rain: 0%
Melbourne area
Clear. Winds northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late evening.
Sun protection recommended from 9:20 am to 5:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]
Friday 31 January
Summary
Min 21Max 43Very hot. Late shower or storm.Possible rainfall: 0 to 3 mmChance of any rain: 60%
Melbourne area
Very hot and becoming humid. Sunny morning. Medium (60%) chance of showers and the risk of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon and evening. An oppressive night to follow. Winds northwest to northeasterly 25 to 40 km/h becoming northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the evening then becoming light in the late evening.
Fire Danger – Severe
Sun protection recommended from 9:20 am to 5:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]
7 day Town Forecasts
| Precis Icon | Location | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 21 | 43 | |
| Geelong | 16 | 44 | |
| Laverton | 20 | 41 | |
| Tullamarine | 22 | 41 | |
| Scoresby | 20 | 42 | |
| Watsonia | 21 | 43 | |
| Mount Dandenong | 23 | 38 | |
| Yarra Glen | 13 | 41 | |
| Frankston | 20 | 40 |
Saturday 1 February
Summary
Min 23Max 33Sultry. Rain and storms.Possible rainfall: 10 to 25 mmChance of any rain: 95%
Melbourne area
Humid. Cloudy. Very high (95%) chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm. Some locally heavy falls. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h shifting southerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.
Sun protection recommended from 9:20 am to 5:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]
Sunday 2 February
Summary
Min 14Max 23Early shower or two.Possible rainfall: 0 to 4 mmChance of any rain: 60%
Melbourne area
Cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast suburbs in the early morning. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
