A hot air mass has sparked a ‘catastrophic’ fire alert in one Aussie state as showers and storms batter large swathes of the southeast.
Victoria and South will experience warm and windy conditions on Saturday with temperatures to reach the mid 30s.
A catastrophic fire danger warning has been forecast for the Eastern Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula regions in South .
Temperatures in northern parts of the state will skyrocket to 40C including Moomba, Coober Pedy and Marree.
Severe fire danger ratings have been declared in ten regions across South , with firefighters warning the conditions are some of the deadliest this year.
The fire danger warning has been elevated as strong wind gusts are set to combine with the warm weather system.
An extreme fire danger has also been forecast across parts of Victoria’s northwest, including the regions of Mallee and Wimmera.
Emergency services have issued a Watch and Act alert for residents in Gellibrand and Kawarren in Victoria’s south.
‘There is a bushfire at Railway Line Road, Kawarren that is not yet under control. The bushfire is travelling from Railway Line Road in a southerly direction towards Frys Road,’ the warning states.
An emergency warning has also been issued for residents in Dereel between Geggies Road and Gumley Road.
A total fire ban is in place for Mallee and Wimmera amid the warm weather.
The warm conditions are being driven by a cold front in the waters off South and a low pressure trough that has been pushed from Western towards the south.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast showers for parts of the east coast of Queensland and NSW.
‘Inland parts of Queensland could see significant thunderstorms and maybe some severe thunderstorms including parts of the Maranoa and Warrego,’ Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines explained.
‘A few storms are possible around the western slopes and plains in the far inland of New South Wales … [and they] may bring some strong wind gusts.’
Queensland’s southeast was issued a severe storm alert from Friday with the Bureau warning of potential flash-flooding and heatwave conditions.
NSW and Victoria are set to bear the brunt of the storms on Sunday and Monday as a cold front moves south.
Large parts of Western will also receive thunderstorms, with the state’s inland regions to receive the brunt of the wet and wild conditions.
Brisbane
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Min 21. Max 27.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 20. Max 29.
Tuesday: Shower or two. Min 21. Max 26.
Sydney
Sunday: Shower or two. Min 19. Max 28.
Monday: Showers easing. Min 20. Max 26.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Min 17. Max 23.
Canberra
Sunday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 13. Max 28.
Monday: Sunny. Min 9. Max 24.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 8. Max 24.
Melbourne
Sunday: Showers. Min 21. Max 26.
Monday: Cloudy. Min 13. Max 20.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Min 12. Max 19.
Hobart
Sunday: Showers Min 16. Max 25.
Monday: Shower or two. Min 10. Max 17.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Min 8. Max 19.
Adelaide
Sunday: Showers easing. Min 13. Max 21.
Monday: Cloud clearing. Min 13. Max 23.
Tuesday: Sunny. Min 10. Max 26.
Perth
Sunday: Sunny. Min 10. Max 29.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 17. Max 33.
Tuesday: Possible shower. Min 21. Max 31.
Darwin
Sunday: Shower or two. Possible storm. Min 26. Max 35.
Monday: Shower or two. Possible storm. Min 27. Max 35.
Tuesday: Showers. Possible storm. Min 25. Max 33.