Total Fire Bans and Temperatures of Up to 45 Degrees Are on the Cards for Parts of Victoria Today

Victorians are being urged to stay safe, be prepared and look after each other today, Monday, January 25, with temperatures expected to soar past 40 degrees in parts of the state. Along with the scorching heat and windy conditions comes a total fire ban for six of Victoria's fire weather districts, as Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp warns we're headed for "one of the most challenging 24 hours that we've seen in relation to fire risk for our state".

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe fire danger for the districts of Mallee, Northern Country, North Central and North East, with the Country Fire Authority declaring a day of total fire ban for these regions, as well as for East Gippsland and Wimmera. In a press conference yesterday, CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan warned that significant winds coupled with heatwave conditions would cause increased fire danger right across the state.

Many areas could see gusts of up to 50 or 60 kilometres per hour, increasing bushfire risks rapidly. As a result, the CFA is urging residents to have a bushfire survival plan ready and to download the Vic Emergency App (for iOS and Android) in order to stay informed.

After scoring minimal relief from last night's temperatures, which hovered in the high twenties, Melbourne is today forecast to creep to around 39 degrees, before an expected gusty cool change hits southwestern Victoria at 5pm. It's anticipated that some of Melbourne's outer suburbs could clock 41 degrees before the day's out, while northern parts of the state are due for temperatures in the low-to-mid forties.

Today's steep temperatures have prompted the Chief Health Officer to issue heat health alerts for the whole of Victoria, except for South West and Wimmera. Residents are being urged to pay attention to the heat levels, wear light-coloured lightweight clothing, keep out of the heat at the peak of the day and stay hydrated.

For more details on today's forecasts and weather warnings, see the BOM website, and for health advice on hot weather, head to the Victorian Government's Better Health Channel.