Victoria braces for the worst heatwave since Black Saturday, while Western Australia faces Tropical Cyclone Luana. The heatwave, which began on Saturday, is expected to be the worst since 2009, when the devastating Black Saturday bushfires occurred. Emergency warnings have been issued for small Victorian towns, with residents urged to take shelter as an out-of-control bushfire approaches. The Otways fire, which started on January 10, was contained until Saturday, when extreme heat and wind conditions caused it to jump containment lines. The fire has since spread, and a total fire ban is in place for much of the state. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that Tuesday is a particularly concerning day for fire weather conditions, with potentially record-breaking temperatures forecast. Some areas in the north and west of the state are expecting seven consecutive days of temperatures over 40C, with Mildura forecast to reach 44C on Sunday and peak at 48C on Tuesday. The heatwave is expected to continue until April for much of the country, according to the latest long-range forecast. Meanwhile, Western Australia is preparing for Tropical Cyclone Luana, which is expected to move inland. The cyclone is a serious threat, and residents are urged to take necessary precautions. The combination of extreme heat and wind conditions has created a dangerous situation, with six fires burning in the state, four of which are still out of control. An air quality warning has been issued for Geelong, Melbourne, and surrounding areas as smoke from the Carlisle River fire moves east and blankets the cities. The fire near Walwa, which has been out of control for more than two weeks, continues to threaten areas east of Albury and is expected to worsen over the coming days. The heatwave has also affected South Australia, with temperatures peaking at almost 48C in Port Augusta and Tarcool on Saturday. Sydney is expected to hit 34C on Sunday, but temperatures will remain in the high 20s for the coming days. Hobart is looking at a much milder 20C on Sunday, and Perth is expected to reach 26C. Brisbane is forecast to reach 35C on Sunday and 37C on Monday, with possible storms. Darwin could expect 32C on Sunday and the usual wet-season storms, with that pattern continuing into the coming week. The heatwave is a serious concern, and authorities are urging residents to take necessary precautions to stay safe.
