Southeastern Australia is experiencing a strong heatwave on Monday, prompting heightened wildfire risks and the enforcement of fire bans across parts of Victoria, according to Zone Bros News.
The extreme conditions have reignited memories of the catastrophic "Black Summer" of 2019-2020, which claimed 33 lives and resulted in the loss of billions of animals.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned that temperatures in Melbourne, Victoria's capital, could reach 41°C (105.8°F), exceeding the city’s January average by over 14°C.
Authorities have classified the fire danger as "severe," the second-highest alert level, across five regions in Victoria.
Dean Narramore, Senior Meteorologist at the BOM, cautioned that the combination of high temperatures and strong winds could lead to "significant fires" before a potential cooldown expected next Sunday.
The BOM has also issued heatwave warnings across multiple states, including New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.
New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, is expected to experience "low to severe heatwave conditions" today, with temperatures likely to intensify further on Tuesday, according to Narramore.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, follow fire bans, and prepare for rapidly changing conditions as the heatwave persists.
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