Severe to extreme heatwave conditions are hitting Australia, sparking out-of-control bushfires.
VICTORIA
* Catastrophic fire danger for the Wimmera, southwest, northern country and north central regions and extreme everywhere else on Friday, with a total fire ban for the entire state
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* Hottest temperatures for the state expected on Friday, with Melbourne forecast to reach 41C and inland areas the mid-40s
* Damaging winds of up to 90km/h combined with extreme heat leading to the risk of new fires that spread quickly and are difficult to control
* Two out-of-control bushfires in state’s north and northeast are generating their own micro climates, with dry lightning risking new fires
* Blaze at Longwood in Victoria’s north has scorched more than 28,000 hectares and a section of the Hume Highway has closed
* Walwa fire near Mount Lawson state park on the Victoria/NSW border has burnt more than 9000 hectares, with residents told to leave
* Conditions will progressively ease from the southwest across the weekend
NSW
* Extreme heatwave warning for metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Riverina regions
* Maximum temperatures in the mid-30s in areas along the coast, reaching the low-40s in the southwest on Friday
* Sydney expected to hit 42C on Saturday, the peak of the heatwave for NSW
* A total fire ban has been declared in the eastern Riverina, southern Riverina, southern slopes and Monaro alpine regions
* The severe to extreme heatwave will gradually ease across the weekend
A total fire ban is in place across Victoria, where temperatures are forecast to top 40C on Friday. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP
ACT
* Extreme heatwave to wash over the capital, with the mercury set to reach 39C in Canberra on Friday
* Conditions will ease Saturday night and Sunday as a southwest to southeast change brings milder temperatures
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
* Prolonged severe heatwaves impacting much of the state
* Districts across the state’s south under extreme fire conditions with total fire bans in place, while northern parts face high fire danger, except the metropolitan Adelaide area
* Heatwave expected to ease following a cold front from Friday
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
* Heatwave conditions have passed, but large parts of the state remain in high fire danger
QUEENSLAND
* No heat warnings
TASMANIA
* No heat warnings
NORTHERN TERRITORY
* No heat warnings
