The energy market operator has issued a level-two warning for Victoria on Friday, but at this stage expects no impact on the power supply.
A spate of hot days is forecast to extend from Thursday into the weekend, raising fire danger levels ahead of damaging northerly winds and rain through the state on Saturday and Sunday.
But the rainfall is not expected to fall evenly across the state.
“We’ll see that rain move across, or showers and storms tending to rain areas. Though it will still be patchy and hit-and-miss, so not everywhere will see that drop of rain,” Ms Eadie told reporters.
“With the incredible amount of humidity, risk of locally heavy falls and flash flooding will extend across much of southwestern and central parts again on Saturday, including the Melbourne area.”
It has prompted a total fire ban for all state regions except Gippsland and the northeast.
Those bushfire-ravaged areas will not be affected by the fire ban, but still have nine of the 10 currently active fires burning more than 1.5 million hectares in Victoria.
Emergency services say these alerts were put in place in an effort to prevent new fires across forested and grassland areas, particularly in the west of the state.
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp urged Victorians to remain vigilant, sending a blunt reminder that the fire season was far from over.
“We’ve had the benefit of some suppressed, benign conditions over the last few days. However, as we’ve heard, it’s going be hot,” Mr Crisp said.
“We’ve had fires the last two years in March, where we’ve lost property in this state. So, we have still got probably another six to eight weeks to go in relation to some fairly active fire behaviour.”
Emergency services and defence forces have continued clearing roads to fire-affected communities.
About 250 people were able to return to the stranded town of Mallacoota, where emergency minister Lisa Neville warned locals they might see embers and smoke as fire activity increased on the weekend.
4. American named as 21st NZ volcano victim.
New Zealand Police have revealed the 21st victim of December’s White Island eruption is American Pratap ‘Paul’ Singh.
Mr Singh was visiting White Island from Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Mayuri ‘Mary’ Singh, who also died as a result of burns suffered in the eruption.
The pair’s nephew, Bhupender ‘Vick’ Singh, released a statement on Thursday night, describing his uncle Paul as an “invincible businessman” and his aunty Mary as “a true supermom”.
“His unmatched exuberance and unconditional love for everyone around him will forever be missed,” Bhupender Singh said.
“He was the best father, best guardian, best brother, best uncle, best volunteer and the best friend anyone could wish.”
Credit: Source link
