Victoria heatwave as it happened: State swelters through record-breaking heatwave as Otways fire grows

Thank you for following our live coverage of Victoria’s bushfire and heatwave crisis.

This is where we’ll end the blog today. Join us on the national live blog tomorrow for continued coverage and alerts. Here’s a look back at what we’ve covered:

• At least 434 homes have been lost in Victorian bushfires that have swept through more than 435,000 hectares this summer, and claimed one life.
• While authorities are hopeful of containing the fires burning out of control in the Otways, chief fire officer Chris Hardman says they could “run again” any time over the next two to three weeks, given conditions are so dry.
• At least 16 structures have so far been destroyed in the Otways fire, where several communities are still subject to an emergency warning to take shelter now, and others are subject to watch and act, and advice-level alerts.
• More than two dozen other warnings remain in effect across the state, as three fires – including the Otways blaze – are still out of control.
• Heatwave conditions are persisting in Victoria’s north for eight consecutive days, with no relief until Sunday.
• Another four children were locked in cars during Victoria’s record-breaking heatwave on Tuesday, after 21 were locked in cars over the long weekend, Ambulance Victoria confirmed.
• Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio defended the state’s energy grid, insisting that fire-ravaged infrastructure – not supply shortages – had left thousands of Victorians in the dark on Tuesday, when a 17-year-old record for energy demand was broken.

Thank you again for joining us. This is Cassandra Morgan, signing off.

More than two dozen bushfire warnings are currently in effect across Victoria, as crews continue battling three out-of-control blazes.

People in affected communities should monitor the VicEmergency website for updates. It’s also worth noting a single town or suburb can be subject to multiple warnings, and residents should refer to VicEmergency for exact boundaries.

Here’s a look at some of the highest-level warnings:

• Emergency warning, take shelter now – Gellibrand, Barongarook, Barongarook West, Kawarren, Carlisle River and Charleys Creek.
• Watch and act, monitor conditions as they are changing – Kennedys Creek Fire.
• Watch and act, not safe to return – Bucheen Creek, Cravensville, and parts of the southern end of the Nariel Valley and surrounds.
• Watch and act, not safe to return – Berringama, Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale and Shelley.
• Watch and act, monitor conditions as they are changing – Nariel Gap, Thowgla Upper and Thowgla Valley.
• Watch and act, monitor conditions as they are changing – Cudgewa, Colac Colac and surrounds.
• Watch and act, monitor conditions as they are changing – Nariel Valley including McNamara Crossing, Staceys Bridge and surrounds.

The Age photographers are out on fire grounds across Victoria again today, bringing you images directly from affected communities.

You can take a look at some of their work in the gallery below.

Victoria’s record-breaking heatwave is “very unusual”, but the Bureau of Meteorology isn’t ruling out another period of extreme heat this summer.

Speaking at the State Control Centre moments ago, Bureau of Meteorology specialist David Crook said: “By definition, the fact that we’ve forecast and observed record temperatures in the past few days is very unusual.”

“So therefore, that makes it very unlikely that we would see the same event repeated or a similar event. But it’s always a possibility with still some weeks left to come of the summer period,” Crook told reporters.

“The current long-term outlook does show an increased likelihood of above-average temperatures. But that’s not unusual.

“Most months, our climate outlook will show that above-average temperatures are likely, and that is a function of climate change.”

We’re expecting emergency services to address the latest Victorian bushfire situation at a press conference at the State Control Centre imminently.

Once it begins, we’ll bring you live posts about what authorities have to say. We’re expecting officials including Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch, Forest Fire Management Victoria Chief Officer Chris Hardman and Bureau of Meteorology Specialist David Crook to speak.

Stay tuned.

The Mallee town of Walpeup yesterday broke Victoria’s record for the hottest day, reaching 48.9 degrees – .1 of a degree more than the previous record, set on Black Saturday in 2009.

Hopetoun, in the Southern Mallee region, was the previous record holder, and matched Walpeup’s all-time high temperature a little while later yesterday afternoon.

But several other areas broke local temperature records, including:

• Mildura, in north-west Victoria – 48.4 degrees
• Longerenong, in Horsham – 48.1 degrees
• Point Cook, in Melbourne’s south-west – 45.2 degrees
• Melbourne Airport – 44.1 degrees

Parts of Victoria are still above 40 degrees today, with 45.8 degrees the highest temperature recorded so far at Yarrawonga near the NSW border.