The east coast of Australia is sweltering through a spring heat wave, with parts of New South Wales reaching 40 degrees and more than 75 bushfires burning across the state and Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Wilcannia in the far west of NSW reached 40.5 degrees about 3pm, a September record for the state.
And an out of control grass fire east of Goulburn has forced authorities to close the Hume Highway in both directions.
The fire is at “emergency” level, according to the Rural Fire Service, and is moving in an easterly direction towards the town of Hanging Rock.
Firefighters and aircraft including the Large Air Tanker are working to slow the spread of the fire.
A grass fire is burning on the Hume Highway north of the Marulan turn off @HuffPostAU pic.twitter.com/FGwnJ7UReY
— Cayla Dengate (@CaylaDengate) September 23, 2017
Emergency alert telephone warnings are being issued to residents in the area.
The RFS said: “if you are in the area of Hanging Rock Road and your plan is to leave, leave now in a northerly direction towards Sydney if the path is clear”.
There are 55 fires currently burning across NSW, including 10 that were out of control by 2pm on Saturday.
Total fire bans are in place throughout much of the state, and authorities are warning of severe fire danger in places across NSW throughout the day.
There are also extreme fire danger warnings in place in parts of southeastern Queensland.
Very hot conditions & strong gusty winds will cause severe to extreme fire weather danger in #NSW & southern #QLD.https://t.co/wdUcA3jLa8 pic.twitter.com/AD1rIlPgYO
— BOM Australia (@BOM_au) September 23, 2017
September records were expected to tumble across large parts of NSW, with White Cliffs, Ivanhoe and Bourke all reaching 40 degrees by 3pm.
The previous September record in NSW was 39.6 degrees.
In Queensland, Birdsville reached 41.6 degrees and Ballera reached 40.7 by 3pm.
Dean Sgarbossa, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology’s extreme weather desk, said heat had been building above inland northern Australia over the last week, thanks to a ridge of high pressure.
An approaching cold front directed it over NSW and southern Queensland on Saturday.
That will bring some relief for southern NSW and Victoria, but it will also bring strong winds.
Severe weather warnings are in place for parts of South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and NSW.
Below average temperatures in Western Australia
While the east coast sweats, the western half of Western Australia is experiencing below average temperatures all the way up to Pilbara.
Sgarbossa said parts of the state were experiencing “well and truly below average temperatures” because of a series of cold fronts.
“And there is more cold air to come,” he said.
“Unlike the east coast the south western half of Western Australia are seeing temperatures four to six degrees below average.”
