Victoria braces for its worst heatwave since Black Saturday, while Western Australia grapples with Tropical Cyclone Luana. The heatwave, akin to the conditions before the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, has sparked multiple out-of-control bushfires, threatening towns and residents. Emergency warnings have been issued for small Victorian towns like Gellibrand, where residents are urged to take shelter as fires rage. The Otways region fire, which began on January 10, escalated on Saturday due to extreme heat and wind, surpassing containment lines. Victoria's north and west face a scorching seven-day heatwave, with Mildura predicted to hit 44C on Sunday, rising to 48C on Tuesday and 46C on Friday. Melbourne, too, is in for a scorching 43C on Tuesday. Six fires are burning across the state, with four remaining uncontrolled. Air quality warnings have been issued for Geelong, Melbourne, and surrounding areas as smoke blankets cities. The northeast faces a persistent threat from a fire near Walwa, which has raged for over two weeks, endangering areas east of Albury. South Australia, along with much of southeast Australia, is in the grip of a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring to nearly 48C in Port Augusta and Tarcool on Saturday. Sydney, meanwhile, is expected to hit 34C on Sunday, with temperatures remaining in the high 20s for the week ahead. Hobart, Perth, and Brisbane are also in for warmer-than-average days, with Brisbane forecast to reach 35C on Sunday and 37C on Monday. The heatwave is predicted to persist until April for much of the country, according to long-range forecasts.
