‘Too late to leave’: Major warning over Grampians bushfire in Victoria as Australia braces for scorcher weekend

A bushfire emergency has been declared in Victoria as an out-of-control fire burns through the Grampians National Park in the state’s west. Eleven fires have burnt through 17,000 hectares, with residents in Loch, St Helier, The Gurdies, and Woodleigh told to take shelter because it is “too late to leave”. Strong winds are pushing smoke from the fire across western parts of the state, which is bracing for more dry weather across the weekend. Western Australians are also in for a scorcher this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to soar above 40C as the state braces for another heatwave this month. A warning has been issued for the Mid West region, which is expected to experience extreme heatwave levels across the weekend. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Dean Narramore said heat building across the west coast would affect areas from the Pilbara to the South West, bringing temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s. He said it would be very hot and sunny for much of WA, with Perth expected to reach 38C on Saturday and 41C on Sunday. The weatherman said northern parts of Australia and Queensland will be hit with wet and stormy conditions as showers and thunderstorms moved across the Kimberley and Cape York. Darwin will reach a top of 34C on Saturday and slightly cooler on Sunday. Mr Narramore said coastal areas of Queensland could expect more rain and storms if a low that is lingering offshore moves nearer to the coast. He said heat would build in the southwest of the state with temperatures in the low 40s. The remainder of the country is in for dry and sunny conditions across the weekend which will see Brisbane reach a high of 31C on both days. NSW is expected to be dry statewide with temperatures heading into the low 40s in northern and western parts of the state, and mid 30s for coastal regions which will be cooled down by sea breezes. Sydney will be 29C and sunny on Saturday, reaching a high of 31C and cloudy conditions on Sunday. Mr Narramore said Canberra would be slightly warmer and mostly sunny across the weekend with a high of 34C on Saturday and 31C on Sunday. He predicted Victoria would be slightly cooler as southerly winds cross southern parts of the state, but warmer conditions were expected in the north, and a few showers. Melbourne is forecast to reach 21C on Saturday and 22C on Sunday. Tasmania is also in for a dry weekend but rain could develop on Sunday. Hobart is expected to reach a high of 20C on both days. It will be hot in northern parts of South Australia and dry across the whole state, with temperatures in Adelaide reaching the high 20s. “Saturday will be a beautiful day to get out and about around Adelaide, 28 degrees and partly cloudy,” Mr Narramore said.