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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Luke Henriques-Gomes

Australia extreme heatwave: power outages in Melbourne amid 'load shedding' – as it happened

Bushfires are burning in the south of Tasmania as the state experiences ‘unprecedented’ heatwave conditions. Extreme heat is also forecast in Melbourne and across Victoria.
Bushfires are burning in the south of Tasmania as the state experiences ‘unprecedented’ heatwave conditions. Extreme heat is also forecast in Melbourne and across Victoria. Photograph: Tasmania Parks And Wildlife Service Handout/EPA

Thanks for joining us today

And that’s a wrap. Thanks for sticking with us throughout day. A reminder that there are still dozens of bushfires burning in Tasmania and Victoria. Authorities have warned people not to be complacent.

An emergency warning is still in place for communities near a fire at Timbarra, in Victoria’s Gippsland region. The fire there has grown in size from 300ha to 4,000ha and it is now too late for locals to leave.

There are six emergency warnings in place in Tasmania. Those cover locations including: Castle Forbes Bay, Geeveston, Port Huon, Cairns Bay and Waterloo; Waddamana, Hilltop and Penstock Lagoon; Bronte Park Area, Pine Tier Lagoon and London Lakes; Shannon; Lake Echo and surrounds; and Liawenee.

Much of southern Tasmanian, including Hobart, is covered a red, smoky haze.

The other big story of the day, of course, was the fact that about 200,000 homes across Victoria were hit by power blackouts. You can expect the political argy to roll on on that one for the next few days.

With that, I’ll leave you. Have a nice weekend and if you’re in a bushfire-affected area, stay safe.

Victoria’s emergency services minister, Lisa Neville, says the Timbarra community may be living with the current fire for weeks to come. The fire was 300ha this morning. Over the day it has spread to cover 4000ha.

We have a community who continues to do it very tough today. The Timbarra community, that whole region, which is living with the fire at the moment, a very active and dangerous fire. They had a really tough few days since the fire took off, and they are probably going to face this fire in their landscape for many weeks to come. The message I have right now is that it is still very early in the day. Please do not be complacent.

Victoria’s emergency services commissioner, Andrew Crisp, is addressing the media.

He’s talking about the fire at Timbarra, which is the most dangerous of the fires burning across Victoria.

Crisp says the fire has been burning since 16 January and residents have been provided advice about the need to activate their bushfire plans since then.

Three people have made it to a relief centre at Buchan, but Crisp says authorities believe other locals have “made other arrangements”.

Earlier today, the CFA warned people it was too late to leave the area and that they should take immediate steps to survive.

“The fire is a dangerous fire,” Crisp says. “We’ve had to move fire fighters out of that particular area until things settle down.”

“The change is not expected to go through there until the evening.”

Thanks to Naaman for briefly taking over. Luke Henriques-Gomes back with you now.

Updated

"Wind power came through today"

D’Ambrosio has sung the praises of Victoria’s renewable energy during the heatwave, saying it was coal and thermal generators that failed the state.

“We lost 1800 megawatts of power capacity generation in Victoria,” she said. “That is an extraordinary figure to lose. Essentially most of that was as a result of failed infrastructure from coal and gas units – in particular coal.

“People should be rightly disappointed that the power grid was not up to the stakes today...we have a 20th century energy system, for a 21st century climate.

“The fact is our thermal generators are ageing, they are becoming less and less reliable. Wind power came through today – it produced sufficient power generation. Our large batteries were available last night when we needed them the most. Renewable energy is the way of the future and the here and now.”

She did also apologise to Victorians for the outages.

“The market operator had to make the decision to minimise the impact of [the failures]”, she said. “At 12 oclock today they directed load shedding distributed fairly across the state.”

150,000 Victorians had they power supply taken off “for a very short period of time”, she said.

In Melbourne, the Victorian energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, is explaining why load shedding happened earlier today.

She says the state suddenly lost 1,800 megawatts of power – mostly due to failed coal plants – which created a 250 megawatt gap.

Supply was low, and demand increased as people tried to keep cool. Aemo then decided to load shed until the cool change came.

“This morning Aemo advised we had more than sufficient power to meet all of our needs. The situation changed very very quickly.

“The extreme heat continued to remain with us and demand continued to increase to unanticipated levels. That caused greater stress on our existing thermal generators ... That came on top of the fact we los three coal generators in the La Trobe valley.

“The market operator did what their job is, and decided there was an actual gap in energy supply to meet that continually rising demand.”

Updated

Tasmanians are being reminded that the state has a total fire ban extending over the entire Australia Day long weekend.

Some other ways to look at those record-breaking temperatures yesterday.

According to weather researcher Maximiliano Herrera, Port Augusta’s 49.5C is the highest temperature recorded at a coastal location in the southern hemisphere.

On Wednesday, Red Rocks Point in WA reached 49.1C. The measuring station is only 70m from the ocean, which potentially makes it the hottest temperature ever recorded so close to the sea.

Back to that press conference. Emergency services have warned that the cool change will create a change in wind direction – placing more people at risk.

If you are near a fire, be aware that the front could shift overnight.

Fire services have 30 aircraft across the state, and up to 700 people at work.

A police spokesman says: “Leave early before the need is there, ensure there is a planned route and travel slowly.”

Two fires have worsened – residents of Wilburville and Flintstone may be at high risk within 2 to 6 hours.

Both are now at Watch and Act.

The bureau of meteorology also adds that the fire danger remains high.

While temperatures are now dropping, the wind is picking up, meaning the risk is still as high as ever.

“While conditions are easing, the fire danger remains high for the moment,” a spokesman said. “As the temperature drop the winds are peaking – that is keeping the fire danger up.”

There are “cooler conditions and a slight easing of the winds” forecast overnight, but the danger will remain.

There is not a lot of rain forecast for tomorrow – only a couple of millimetres. Tasmania’s fire chief also warned that “severe conditions will now move on to the east coast from now on”.

Tasmania fires: "We can't let our guard down"

Tasmanian emergency services are giving a press conference now. The topline is that conditions remain severe, and many fires are still posing a threat.

Tasmania’s fire chief says there are still 56 active fires in Tasmania, with 30 uncontained.

“Thirty of them still going, that means they are not contained, and they will be breaking their containment lines tonight,” he said.

“It remains hot, windy and the fuels remain incredibly dry in this state right now. We have a long way to go. Do not underestimate the situation we are in. We can’t let our guard down.”

Updated

In Victoria, there is a house fire at Taylor Court, Colac. The fire is contained but an advice warning has been issued for Colac, Colac West, Colac East.

In Tasmania, the Zeehan Highway is closed. People looking to evacuate must travel via Strahan.

Hello everyone, Naaman Zhou here taking over from Luke for a short while.

The weather in central Melbourne has dropped to 29.9C (yes, below 30C). And the cool change has been a quick one, too.

Timbarra fire: residents told to 'act immediately to survive'

Some very concerning news out of Gippsland in Victoria’s east.

Authorities have issued an updated emergency warning fir residents in Timbarra Settlement, Mt McLeod, Butchers Ridge, Gelantipy, Gillingall, Murrindal, W Tree.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,” the alert reads. “The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.”

Please click though the link below to see for offical advice.

In fact, I’m told by a Melbourne colleague who has just ventured the cool change is on. At least in the centre of Melbourne. It is also very windy. “Bring goggles” is the word from the street.

Twenty. Minutes.

Some bad news from Tasmania. There are currently eight emergency warnings in place throughout the state.

That fire is putting Maydena, Tyenna and Mount Field national park at risk.

Updated

I wrote earlier that Audrey Zibelman said 30,000 homes were being impacted by imposed power outages throughout Melbourne. It’s worth noting, however, that the total number of people estimated to be impacted is much larger: 60,000 across Victoria, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.

The mercury has hit 42.8C in central Melbourne, according to the bureau’s observation page. But they do say there is some relief on the way.

When you don’t have a pool.

One take on the Melbourne #heatwave.

This seems relevant.

Here is more from AEMO chief Audrey Zibelman about what load shedding actually means and how it works in practice.

What they do is based on the maximum amount that they can take off in an area ... it’s an equitable distribution across the entire region. So, everyone does their fair share. But they’re looking to make sure it’s sort of the maximum benefit in terms of reduction, they look at the amount of demand in a particular area, and they’ll take that off first, and then it rolls through.

Zibelman says that these “short breaks” are to “top the entire system straining”. The loadshedding – that is, outages – will be rotated around.

It’s up to two hours, is what we’ve asked for. So, hopefully what we’ll do is we’ll see it through, it will be for a temporary period of time, they’ll restore it. And if we do additional load shedding, usually the process is they go to different areas. So, it is – we call it rotating brown-outs for that very reason. As I said, you try to get people off for a short period, and then get them back on so, you know, because to give people relief.

Updated

Just thought I would clarify that areas across Melbourne are being impacted by the blackouts. The first news to come to hand was that suburbs in the north and north-west – such as Essendon and Broadmeadows – supplied by one company, Jemena, had lost power.

In fact, the impact is much more widespread than that as a later statement from the energy market operator shows.

Regions to be impacted include parts of: Epping, Mill Park, Lysterfield, Rowville, Clyde, Cranbourne East; Southbank, Armadale, Toorak, Camberwell, Fairfield, Northcote, Caulfield, Elwood, Beaumaris, Bulleen, Burwood, Riversdale, Bentleigh, Heathdale, Balaclava, Malvern, Balwyn, Surrey Hills, Essendon, Essendon North, Strathmore, Glenroy, Oak Park, Kalkallo, Broadmeadows, West Footscray, Fairfield, Ivanhoe, Alphington, Airport West, East Keilor, Niddrie, Ascot Vale, and Moonee Pond, Camperdown, Weerite, Yarrawonga, Bundalong, Castlemaine Muckleford, Lara, Corio, Norlane, Herne Hill, Hamlyn Heights, Balmoral, Haven, Woolsthorpe, Grassmere and Mailers Flat.

At this stage, we are expecting more favourable weather and supply-demand conditions mid-afternoon, reducing the need for scheduled supply interruptions into the evening, barring further major generation issues.

Some more on those power outages.

Here are some thoughts from people without power.

AAP has filed a report on the latest in Tasmania. As I mentioned earlier, two homes have already been destroyed.

A second home is believed to have been lost in Tasmania as residents across the state face the threat of ember attack from fires burning kilometres away.

Authorities on Friday said they were facing extreme fire risk with dry air and temperatures reaching into the mid-30s, while 56 blazes continued across the island.

At Geeveston, southwest of Hobart, a fire is about 10km from the community, the Tasmania Fire Service chief officer, Chris Arnol, said.

“There will not be a head fire go into Geeveston, but with the wind in the mix, the conditions that we have, we’re expecting ember attack to go into those townships,” he said, adding there is potential for embers to travel more than 10km.

Residents are being urged to leave early and already some 80 people have gathered at an evacuation centre at nearby Huonville.

The service’s Andrew McGuinness asked people to remain aware of what’s going on.

“People in the state will be inside with the curtains closed and their air conditioning on,” he said.

“[They need to] make sure they open the curtains every now and then and go outside and experience what is going on around them. Really good situational awareness today is really important. It’s too late when the fire is on your back door step.”

McGuinness said investigators were looking into reports a home had been lost overnight. It would be the second property loss, following the devastation of a house at central Miena earlier in the week.

“Today is the worst day that we’ve had for the fire season to date,” Arnol said.

Since late December some 71,000 hectares of land has been burnt and there is more than 900km of fire edge, with 500 firefighters on the ground.

On the west coast, an evacuation centre is open at Queenstown Basketball Stadium.

Communities in the highland lakes area are also reminded to stay on high alert, with emergency warnings in place for Shannon, Waddamana, Penstock Lagoon and Hilltop and there is an evacuation centre open at the Bothwell Town Hall.

Authorities are telling people not to enter bushland this weekend, with a total fire ban in place statewide until Monday.

“In these extreme fire danger conditions, it is not safe to camp in areas surrounded by bush,” the TFS warns.

The hazard is being fuelled by temperatures in the high 30s and wind gusts of up to 90km/h.

Updated

AEMO: 30,000 homes affected by Melbourne blackout

The chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator, Audrey Zibelman, has just held a press conference on its decision to order load shedding in Victoria.

Zibelman has confirmed 30,000 homes are being impacted by the ordered blackouts, which have been put in place to protect the electricity grid. As I reported earlier, affected suburbs include Broadmeadows and Glenroy in Melbourne’s north and Essendon in the north-west.

“We may have to do more over the course of the afternoon, as the demand continues to increase,” Zibelman said.

“We are hoping, however, that the updated forecast is that the cold front is gonna be coming in a little bit earlier, around 2pm, which will help us because it will give us some demand relief.”

If you were wondering how the market operator determines which areas should be blacked out, Zibelman addressed that too.

“They’re looking to make sure it’s sort of the maximum benefit in terms of reduction, they look at the amount of demand in a particular area, and they’ll take that off first, and then it rolls through,” she said.

VicRoads is also reporting traffic light outages throughout Melbourne and Geelong.

Power outages in Melbourne as AEMO orders 'load shedding'

The Australian Energy Market Operator has ordered load shedding across Victoria, according to the ABC.

Suburbs in Melbourne’s north and west that are being affected include Glenroy, Essendon and Broadmeadows.

(Earlier today, the Victorian energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, said the government did not expect any load shedding today.)

From overnight: The Victorian town of Rutherglen beat its minimum temperature record, dropping to only 29.3C. That’s the highest overnight temperature since records began in 1913.

Updated

People at Bradys Lake in Tasmania are being urged to move to Hamilton, where there is an evacuation centre at the community hall.

Some welcome news.

An update on that Watch and Act issued for the Gippsland community of Timbarra. It has been updated to an emergency warning. Authorities say leaving now is the safest option.

Updated

'Lives could be at risk': Tasmanian authorities urge fire-threatened communities to leave

Tasmanian authorities are holding a press conference to provide an update on the fires.

The Tasmanian Fire Service chief officer, Chris Arnol, said there are currently more than 80 fires burning across the state, covering 71,000 hectares. “Today is the worst day we’ve had of the fire season,” he says.

The most at-risk areas at the Central Plateau, the West Coast and Geeveston. Authorities have not issued any forced evacuations, but there are six emergency warnings in place.

At least two properties have been destroyed, with reports of a third, the fire service says.

“If you’re not properly prepared, you need to leave,” Arnol said. “People near current bushfires should consider leaving … right now.”

Parts of the state will soon reach extreme bushfire conditions, he said. “Lives could be at risk,” he said.

Embers could travel 10km and road closures are possible, authorities say. They are saying that during the 2009 Victorian Black Saturday bushfires, many died on the roads trying to escape the fires. The message is that people need to evacuate early.

Arnol said anyone going camping during the Australia Day weekend should cancel those plans.

Updated

A reminder that authorities are asking people in Victoria to reduce their power consumption to ease demand on the network.

That means avoiding the use of dishwashers, pool pumps and washing machines where possible. It is predicted that the peak demand period will be between 1pm and when a cool change hits later in the afternoon.

There are currently three units down at power stations in the Latrobe Valley. The Victorian government says it can’t guarantee there won’t be blackouts today.

(I have updated this post to reflect that individual units are down, rather than the entire stations themselves.)

Updated

Here are some good tips. Please remember to hydrate.

There is now a Watch and Act in place for the community of Timbarra, in the state’s far east, just south of Omeo.

VicEmergency says: “There is a bushfire 10 km north of Timbarra that is not yet under control. The bushfire is travelling in a southerly direction towards Timbarra Settlement. There are spot fires south of Surveyors Track.

“Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly.”

One of our readers, Susan, has a tip for staying cool overnight and, I’ll be honest, I haven’t heard this one before: “I put wet facewashers in freezer 30 minutes before sleep, and put these on my arm pits, groin, back of neck,” she writes. “Top it off by sleeping on a bath towel.”

Very specific. Thanks, Susan. Keep them coming, folks.

Updated

Yesterday we mentioned that there are fears that precious wilderness in Tasmania is being threatened by fire at Mount Anne, within Wilderness World Heritage Area. On that, here is a thought from the Tasmanian author James Boyce on that.

Thoughts?

Six emergency warning in place throughout Tasmania

Across Tasmania there are six emergency fire warnings in place. Three fires – at Tahune, Lynch Hill and Grand Pine Tier – are threatening the areas including Geeveston, Zeehan, Renison Bell, Waddamana, Pine Tier Lagoon and Shannon.

Updated

Here’s the view in Tasmania, from Guardian Australia contributor Adam Morton.

Authorities predicted that bushfire conditions in Tasmania today would be almost unprecedented.

Already this morning police have urged residents to leave Geeveston (population 616), south-west of Hobart, as ash starts to fall there. The area is being threatened by a fire at Tahune.

There were suggestions yesterday that Melbourne might get close to its overnight heat record. In its forecast, the bureau was not mincing its words, predicting an “oppressive night” ahead.

In fact, the city hovered around 30C overnight, meaning that record stayed in tact. But for Melburnians without airconditioning or a fan, like your scribe, that was not exactly cold comfort.

I’m keen to hear how you kept cool overnight. A colleague attempted using icepacks as a sort of reverse hot water bottle (before she moved to the air-conditioned living room).

Send me an email luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or tweet at me @lukehgomes with your tips.

My colleague Calla Wahlquist has filed this preview on today’s heatwave conditions. She notes that the Victorian energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, told 3AW radio on Friday morning that she “can’t rule out brown-outs”.

Read Calla’s full report below.

Updated

Welcome

Hello and welcome day two of our heatwave coverage. My name is Luke Henriques-Gomes.

After heat records tumbled throughout South Australia on Thursday, the focus has today moved to Victoria and Tasmania, where authorities are warning of severe bushfire conditions. A total fire ban is in place in both states. Victoria may experience its hottest day since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

The worst of the heat is expected earlier in the day. Melbourne is tipped to reach a windy 44C before a cool change blows through, while northern parts of the state may eclipse local records with temperatures around 47C forecast for some towns. In parts of Tasmania, meanwhile, the mercury will get close to 40C.

The other question will be whether the electricity network is able to cope with increased demand. Some homes lost power overnight, but those faults have been attributed to localised issues

If you’re out and about and have some heatwave-related photos or stories to share, please drop me a line on Twitter (@lukehgomes) or via email: luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com

Updated

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