An intense heatwave has moved across southeastern Australia this week with a new statewide maximum temperature of 48.9°C recorded in northwest Victoria on Tuesday. The state’s premier confirmed eight active bushfires across the state with several structures destroyed. Farmers are working to protect property and livestock with previous fires burning crops.  

An emergency warning continues for a bushfire in Victoria’s Otways region with total fire bans and extreme fire danger warnings across the state. Despite cooler conditions in southern parts of Victoria and South Australia, temperatures in the interior will continue above 40°C before a cold front brings relief by the weekend.