Catastrophic fire conditions forecast in SA as CFS and bureau warn of hot, windy and 'very challenging' weather
Hot and windy conditions are expected to elevate the fire risk on Saturday. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
In short:
Very hot and windy conditions are expected to elevate the fire risk in parts of South Australia and Victoria, with catastrophic fire conditions forecast in two SA districts.
SA's CFS said emergency services were preparing for a "very challenging" day.
What's next?
The Bureau of Meteorology said a cool change, from Saturday afternoon, would gradually sweep across SA.
Parts of South Australia have been warned to prepare for catastrophic fire conditions on Saturday as the state swelters through a burst of early summer season heat, with neighbouring regions in Victoria also on high alert.
From 12am Saturday, a "huge portion" of SA will be under a total fire ban as temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high 30s.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) has issued a catastrophic fire warning for the Eastern Eyre and Yorke Peninsula regions.
An extreme fire rating has also been declared for the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Riverland, Murraylands and Upper South East.
Extreme fire danger ratings have been issued for Victoria's Mallee and Wimmera districts.
Firefighters will be on high alert as winds pick up and temperatures soar. (ABC News: Bec Whetham)
CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin said emergency services in SA were preparing for a "very challenging" day.
"The message to South Australians is clear, take the weather [on Saturday] seriously," Mr Loughlin said.
"It's going to be hot and it is going to be very windy across those areas, and what these conditions mean is any fires that start will be challenging for firefighters to achieve operational success."
CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin is warning of a "very challenging" day. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Mr Loughlin said firefighters had been placed on high alert, and incident management teams as well as the regional and state command centres had been activated.
"In addition, we are bringing across our national large air tanker to provide us with the strategic resource that we can use."
'Hot, dry and windy' conditions
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius in Whyalla and 37C for Adelaide.
Meteorologist Jonathan Fischer said it was the highest fire danger of the spring so far.
"Certainly, for November it is quite early to see those catastrophic ratings," Mr Fischer said.
North to north-westerly winds are due to strengthen to between 30 and 50 kilometres per hour and relative humidity is forecast to drop below 10 per cent for some areas, creating a dry atmosphere which heightens the fire risk.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid to high 30s in parts of SA. (Freepik: pvproductions)
But Mr Fischer said a "gusty change" was expected across western parts of the Lower Eyre Peninsula from midday, gradually sweeping across the state and bringing relief.
"We're going to see that move eastwards, reaching central parts around Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the late afternoon and early evening around five o'clock," Mr Fischer said.
"Some patchy showers and thunderstorms are forecast well behind the change.
"Those storms could produce some notable rainfall."
Mr Fischer said reduced rainfall during the winter months had resulted in drier soils and vegetation across southern areas.
CFS warns against 'high-risk' activities
The CFS has urged residents across South Australian to avoid the kind of "high-risk" activities that would further increase the likelihood of fires.
"Things like using angle grinders and other spark-producing tools, things like driving around and using heavy machinery in paddocks," Mr Loughlin said.
Earlier this month, two men were charged over an out-of-control bushfire at Penfield that was reportedly started by an angle grinder.
Paramedics at the scene of the Penfield fire earlier this month. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Three people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and 33 hectares were destroyed.
"That created a lot of angst [and] urgency, and a lot of firefighters and other emergency personnel had to risk their safety to bring that situation under control," Mr Loughlin said.
"There is nothing that you think you need to do tomorrow that can't wait until conditions have eased and have moderated."