Stay safe, drink a lot of water, and we’ll see you tomorrow.

Here is a roundup of where things stand:

It is still unpleasantly warm here in Melbourne, and across much of southern Australia east of the Nullarbor. Fire activity is predicted to increase tomorrow and on Friday.

A 60-year-old woman at the same property has burns to her face and airway, while another man in his 50s suffered respiratory issues. All three were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

A man in his 50s received burns to his face, neck and arms while battling a blaze at Lowmead, in the Wide Bay region north of Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon, AAP reported.

Fire crews have been using a water-bombing aircraft on the large and fast-moving fire at Carneys Creek, in the Scenic Rim region.

The fire is travelling north-west and may affect Lakewood Drive and Monak Road. Residents have been told to flee along Murdering Creek Road onto the Sunshine Motorway (also known as Emu Mountain Road) and travel south-west towards Coolum. The Sunshine Motorway has been closed both directions at the Doonan roundabout.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said more than 30 crews were working on fires at Peregian Springs, Weyba Downs and Noosa Heads as conditions are expected to worsen.

Residents at Peregian Springs on the Sunshine Coast were told to leave at 3.30pm, while residents near the Cainbable, Carneys Creek, Mount Maria and Gregory River fires were told to be ready to leave.

Evacuation warnings were issued for fires near Bundaberg and in the Gold Coast hinterland.

As of Wednesday afternoon there were about 70 bushfires burning across Queensland .

‘The aftermath’ at Oakdale. These were shot by Brent McColl. A grim look at what an area looks like once it’s ravaged by bushfire #NSWfires #heatwave #bushfiresNSW pic.twitter.com/tY38taVxUC

NSW Smithville — 44C at 2.30pm Borrona Downs — 43.1C at 3.20pm Tibooburra airport — 42.9C at 3.14pm Victoria Walpeup — 44.1 at 3.19pm Hopetoun airport — 42.9C at 3.03pm Warracknabeal airport — 42.6C at 2.59pm Queensland Birdsville — 47.7C at 1.42pm Urandangi — 46.4C at 2.02pm Ballera — 45.3C at 2.19pm ACT Canberra — 36.7C at 3.20pm Western Australia Mandora Station — 46.9C at 12.24pm Fitzroy Crossing — 46.8C at 12.24pm Marble Bar — 46.1C at 12.11pm South Australia Wudinna airport — 46.9C at 3.04pm Tarcoola — 46.6C at 3.03pm Ceduna — 46.5C at 1.43pm Northern Territory Walungurru (Kintore) — 46.4C at 2.16pm Rabbit Flat — 46.1 at 2.14pm Jervois — at 45.9 2.13pm Tasmania Ouse — 31.2C at 3.40pm Fingal — 30.9C at 3.18pm Bushy Park — 30.6C at 3.38pm

It was hot pretty much everywhere, but these weather stations recorded the highest temperatures, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Very hot conditions continuing across #SouthAustralia . The peak in temperatures, combining with fresh northerly winds on Friday resulting in extreme to catastrophic fire danger. A cool change will extend across the west and south during Friday afternoon and evening. pic.twitter.com/YB0dktxs6H

Catastrophic fire danger ratings are usually accompanied by a preliminary evacuation order, before the fire has even started. The line used by emergency services is that it is not a question of if a fire will start on a day like that, but when and where. Residents in bushfire-prone properties — basically anyone living in a rural area or small village — are usually advised to be away from home.

The rating was added after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria , in which 173 people died.

Catastrophic, called code red in some states, is the highest fire danger rating and denotes conditions in which bushfires are not survivable.

A catastrophic rating has been declared for Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and the lower south-east, while extreme fire danger is forecast for the lower Eyre Peninsula, the mid-north, and Yorke Peninsula. The rest of the state will experience severe fire danger conditions.

Large parts of South Australia will experience catastrophic or extreme fire danger on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology has said.

Thousands across Victoria are without power as the state swelters, with just one day of respite from the hot weather before the mercury soars again.

Melbourne reached a scorching 39.7C just before 3pm today, while the state’s northwest is expecting to crack the mid-40s, AAP has reported.

Power went out out for about 3,000 PowerCorp customers in Werribee and surrounding suburbs about 4pm. Crews are working to restore power to about 2,000 who still don’t have it.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects a southerly wind change to bring temperatures slightly down overnight, with milder conditions across southern areas forecast for tomorrow.

It will stay hot in the north, with a total fire ban in place for the region.



The mild weather will be short-lived, as Friday’s maximum temperature in Melbourne has been upgraded to 43C, with a chance the city could record its hottest December day since a temperature of 43.7C in 1876.

“Northerly winds are going to bring that very hot air over the north right down across the state right down to the coast, so 43C in the city some suburbs even nudging 44C,” Mr Stewart said.

Response Controller Gavin Freeman said while the state’s fire agencies and emergency managers are on alert and prepared for the conditions, it was vital the rest of the community were also prepared.

“We urge all Victorians to be aware that fires can happen anywhere and without warning, and to make their plans accordingly,” he said in a statement.

“Fire agency crews are well prepared and it’s extremely important that the community is also prepared, not only for the next couple of days, but for the months to come”.

As the mercury climbs, authorities are warning people to prepare for the hot weather.

“With dry, windy and close to 40 degree days predicted, we want everyone to be alert to the symptoms of heat-related illnesses,” Ambulance Victoria’s Justin Dunlop said.

Heat-related illness symptoms include heat rash, muscle cramps, heavy sweating, paleness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and fainting.

Residents are urged to check on their neighbours, infants, the elderly and expectant mothers who are some of the most vulnerable in this weather.





Updated at 20.44 GMT