Heat warnings issued as 'blast furnace' hits Australia

Bushfire warnings have been put in place for NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia as the Bureau of Meteorology warned of severe heatwave conditions this weekend.

Authorities have warned people not to leave children or pets in cars because they could die within minutes.

"People think they're going to be a minute and they're just going to rush in and grab something, and you're never a minute," Port Phillip Animal Hospital vet Dr Emma Prideaux told reporters on Saturday.
"Extreme weather, extreme heat is as dangerous, more dangerous than any other natural disaster," Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said.

NSW: Take care
NSW residents are being told to prepare for a scorcher of a weekend, with warnings to drink plenty of water and to take care in the surf, and prepare properties for the increased bushfire danger.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of severe heatwave conditions for much of the state across the weekend with the mercury expected to peak on Sunday.

Parts of NSW are tipped to reach 45C on Saturday including Menindee in the far west and Ivanhoe in the state's centre.

Most of the state will swelter through temperatures above 40C on Sunday, including Bulahdelah on the mid-north coast which is set to reach 45C.

Sydneysiders will avoid the worst of the heat with temperatures forecast to peak at 38C in the city on Sunday when Penrith could hit 45C.

"A NSW Health study published just last month found extreme heatwaves lead to a more than 10 per cent increase in both deaths and ambulance callouts," Dr Ben Scalley, Director of Environmental Health, said in a statement on Friday.

"They put a lot of strain on the body and can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke."

Surf Life Saving NSW has implored people heading to the beach to take care, given there have been 10 drownings since the beginning of December.

NSW Police has reminded people it is an offence for children or pets to be left alone in a vehicle, and as the weather heats up it can be fatal.
Police say livestock and pet owners should ensure clean water is always available, shading is provided where possible and no animals are left in confined, unventilated areas.

Victoria: Stay inside
Victorians have been told to stay inside as parts of the state brace for the hottest day in nearly two years.

Melbourne and Geelong are forecast to reach 42C on Saturday, with winds of up to 40km/h.

Bendigo, Echuca and Avalon are set to climb to 43C, while Mildura and Warracknabeal could soar to 45C.

Extreme fire warnings are in place in the Mallee and Wimmera, with severe warnings in the southwest and centre of the state.

"This heat is a killer. It's going to be like a blast furnace tomorrow and you need to adjust what you do," Ambulance Victoria's state health commander Paul Holman told reporters on Friday.