Warm nights and fire risk looming

Beating the heat! This week’s scorcher won’t be the end of the hot weather with warm temperatures expected to continue into autumn. Pictured beating the heat at the Yarrawonga Foreshore is Taylah Chessells, Matilda Colomb, Lucy Colomb, Kate Colomb and Maddie Witton.

With just a few days of summer left, hopes for a reprieve from the heat may be misplaced.

BOM meteorologist, Stephanie Miles dashed expectations of cooler weather saying the outlook for March was for warmer than average temperatures, especially overnight.

“There’s an increased chance of unusually warm maximum and minimum temperatures,” she said.

“This heatwave is being driven by northerly winds, which brings a high fire danger rating as well.”

There is however a chance of some good rainfall through March with above average totals expected before a more typical pattern for the rest of autumn.

Dry storms and hot, dry and windy conditions triggered grassfires around Victoria in the past week with a Total Fire Ban declared over the weekend.

The CFA is urging everyone to stay informed and be prepared.