Soaring temperatures hit Aussie cities

Large parts of Australia are gearing up for sweltering temperatures this weekend, as the mercury reaches 51C in Western Australia and regional Victoria battles dangerous bushfires.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned an isolated pocket of “extreme heatwave” is expected to hit parts of interior northern WA on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during what has already been labelled the hottest month on record for the state.

Temperatures in Perth are anticipated to reach 39C on Friday before reaching maximums of 32C for the remainder of the weekend.

On Thursday, temperatures in Melbourne hit 38C, contributing to dangerous bushfire conditions in the state’s west.

More than 1000 firefighters are currently battling an out-of-control bushfire between Ballarat and Ararat on the Bayindeen-Rocky Rd at Bayindeen, in the Pyrenees Ranges.

Soaring temperatures and wind gusts of up to 80km/h prompted authorities to declare a total fire ban for six Victorian regions, the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, South West and Central districts.

Authorities are warning conditions could get worse for the state before they get better.

“It’s going to continue to be a difficult few hours and of grave concern is the large fire that is out of control and moving east around the Beaufort area,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said on Thursday.

“ This fire is moving very quickly, with spot fires being thrown hundreds of metres ahead of the fire front.”

“If you’re located in these areas, please heed the advice and act now to save your own life.”

The state emergency service issued the emergency warning for communities at Ballyrogan, Bayindeen, Beaufort, Ben Nevis, Brewster, Buangor, Buangor East, Chute, Cross Roads, Ercildoune, Eurambeen, Eversley, Glenbrae, Glenlogie, Lake Goldsmith, Langi Kal Kal, Lexton, Main Lead, Mena Park, Middle Creek, Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, Nerring, Raglan, Shirley, Stockyard Hill, Trawalla and Waterloo.

Residents in those areas are urged to leave the region immediately.

For those closer to Melbourne, some reprieve from the heat is on the way this weekend.

BOM predicts temperatures will dramatically drop on Friday, with a top of 21C forecast for Friday and Saturday before rising again on Sunday to 27C.

Swifties heading to the highly anticipated eras tour at Sydney’s Accor stadium can expect showers throughout Friday and Saturday, with the potential for storm conditions to develop on Friday amid 35C heat.

Showers will ease for a mostly sunny Sunday and Monday with temperatures to reach a top of 28C.

Brisbane will experience temperatures in the low 30s for the majority of the weekend and into next week, with the chance of thunderstorms in the west on Friday afternoon and evening.