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After a cool December, Victoria is set to sweat through a New Year’s Eve scorcher, with the temperature topping 40 degrees, a severe wind warning and total fire bans in much of the state.
The good news is that there a dramatic cool change willsweep across the state this evening, arriving in Melbourne about 9pm when the temperature is expected to plunge 15 degrees in an hour.
But high winds and not the heat pose the greatest threat to New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Melbourne City Council has a permit to go ahead with its displays - scheduled for 9.15pm and midnight - despite a total fire ban across the state.
The fire ban applies to six of the state’s nine regions - central (which includes Melbourne), Mallee, Wimmera, south-west, northern country and north central - with the fire threat ranging from severe to extreme.
Some fireworks across the state are under threat, with the ban dictating that fireworks cannot be lit before midnight without a permit from the Country Fire Authority or Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Although Melbourne has a permit, strong winds could prove an obstacle. ’’High winds can cause a safety problem, and it’s always safety first for us,’’ said Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.
The temperature in Melbourne is tipped to hit 40 late this afternoon, accompanied by strong and gusty northerly winds.
Melbourne woke to a low of 14.9 degrees at about 5.30am, however the mercury is already rising rapidly. By 8am, the city had warmed to 20 degrees.
Richard Carlyon, a senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said Melbourne would reach 40 degrees ‘‘quite comfortably’’ between 4 and5pm today.
It will be the first time the city has eclipsed the 40-degree mark since January 11, when Melburnians sweltered through 43.6 degrees.
But Mr Carlyon said the heat would not linger.
‘‘The main factor will be the sharp drop in temperature, which will probably drop about 15 degrees in the hour following the change. It should be cooler by the time the midnight comes around,’’ he said.
‘‘It shouldn’t bring any significant rain, we’re just saying the chance of some thunder near the change but little, if any, rainfall.’’
The temperature tomorrow is expected to reach a much more comfortable of 27 and stay in the mid 20s throughout next week.
With the bans unlikely to extend into New Year’s Day, acting MFB chief officer Shane Wright said that some fireworks planned at midnight might be able to go ahead a few seconds into the new year.
But fire officials warned against the use of illegal fireworks, particularly in country Victoria, where grassland is likely to dry out quickly in the extreme heat.
’’Each year we see a lot of Victorians injured [from illegal fireworks] … they are totally discouraged,’’ Mr Wright said.
Today’s total fire ban marks the beginning of Victoria’s fire season.
Fire officials expressed concern for holidaymakers, particularly those heading to the Grampians or coastal areas.
Ewan Waller, chief fire officer in the Department of Sustainability and Environment, said ’’the safest option always is to leave early’’, and urged travellers to remain vigilant and prepare a detailed fire plan.
Those celebrating New Year’s Eve at home will still be able to enjoy a barbecue, provided the gas or electric barbecue is within 20 metres of a house and no flammable material is within three metres of the appliance.
Open camp fires are prohibited, along with fuels other than gas or electricity.
