As parts of central and north-east Victoria battle out of control bushfires, other districts are being placed on high alert as the state braces for another day of very hot and dry conditions.
There is a total fire ban in place for all of the state, with temperatures forecast to exceed 40°C. As a result of active bushfires and current threats, there are many road closures currently in place.
Leanne Dyer, who manages various Facebook groups, including “On the Pads” pages and others, has been keeping truckies informed of current road closures. This morning she shared the following update.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a ‘Fire Weather Warning’ for Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North Central, North East, Northern Country, South West, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera districts.
Catastrophic Fire Danger forecast for the North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera districts. Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North East and West and South Gippsland.
In an alert issued by BOM at 5.53am this morning, it said, “Very hot and dry conditions with fresh to strong and gusty north to northwesterly winds expected to develop over Victoria during Friday morning and persist through the afternoon. A cooler and gusty west to southwesterly change is forecast to develop over the southwest in the early afternoon then extend eastwards during the afternoon and evening. Isolated thunderstorms are expected, mainly near and south of the ranges, with most activity likely in the afternoon and evening ahead of and near the change. Little precipitation is likely with thunderstorms, bringing the risk of dry lightning and damaging wind gusts.”
As emergency service crews battle to control current fires, the CFA has told the public to only call Triple Zero if you see a fire (flames or a defined column of smoke).
For the latest on road closures and up-to-date traffic conditions, visit VicTraffic.
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