Overview

• The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe heatwave warnings for Victoria, South Australia, and parts of New South Wales, with temperatures reaching up to 42°C and lingering into next week.
• Health authorities are urging precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, infants, and those with pre-existing conditions.
• Fire crews in Victoria are working to contain bushfires in the Grampians region as elevated fire risks and potential dry lightning storms threaten further outbreaks.
• Northern Queensland is preparing for potentially life-threatening flash flooding as a tropical low is expected to bring up to 500mm of rain in some areas over the weekend.
• The prolonged heatwave is driven by a late monsoon and stalled weather systems, with southeastern Australia seeing temperatures up to 14°C above the February average.