Catastrophic bushfire day as South Australia and Victoria face record-breaking temperatures

It was already forecast to be blisteringly hot across southern Australia over the next few days. Now it’s getting worse.

Conditions are set to deteriorate with the potential for a November temperature record that’s stood for 125 years to be broken in Melbourne tomorrow.

The Victorian capital had been forecast to reach 34C today and Thursday but a reassessment by forecasters has suggested it could now approach 40C tomorrow.

Overnight on Thursday in Victoria could be “oppressive,” said the Bureau of Meteorology.

Total fire bans are in place across much of South Australia with catastrophic fire conditions, the most severe bushfire rating, in place around Adelaide.

Adelaide could shatter its all-time November record as temperatures get set to reach 42C today and elsewhere in South Australia records are going to tumble.

Temperatures are expected to spike in Murray Bridge to 44.2C, the highest for a November day on record, and in Victor Harbour, 41.7C, 0.4C higher than its record.

Parts of the Eyre Peninsula will reach a staggering 45C and, to put the state’s record heat in perspective, the coolest place in South Australia today is the coastal suburb of Robe, but it’ll still reach 36.9C there.

In total, more than 19 locations across South Australia could see their hottest November day ever.

Story: news.com.au