We get one extra day of summer this year, thank you leap year, and Australia is certainly taking advantage.  ..read more

Homes in more than a dozen towns in Victoria are under threat as an out-of-control bushfire burns in the state's west. The Premier is warning it will take some time to assess the damage. Waterbombing aircraft and more than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze south of Elmhurst. At least three homes have been lost in the area along with several farms having been damaged and livestock killed. There are Watch and Act warnings in place for residents in Bayindeen, Chute, Elmhurst and Mount Lonarch ..read more

Residents in Western Australia’s Gascoyne coast have been warned to brace for rough weather through Saturday as ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln strengthens and bears down towards the later hours of the day ..read more

Residents in Western Australia have begun to prepare for ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln. The system is expected to redevelop into a Tropical Cyclone later this morning. It is expected to cross the Pilbara and Gascoyne coasts. Lincoln is expected to track south throughout the day. SES crews have deployed additional resources to the region ..read more

Victoria SES State Response Controller Tim Wiebusch says it is “not safe” for residents to return to homes where emergency warnings are active as firefighters are yet to control a blaze in the state’s west. The bushfire in Western Victoria has been burning for nearly two days. Emergency warnings remain active for residents in Bayindeen, Elmhurst and Mount Lonarch. While locals in Glenpatrick, Amphitheatre, Raglan and surrounding areas have been advised it is not safe to return. “This bushfire is certainly not yet under control,” Mr Wiebusch told Sky News. “The good news is that weather conditi ..read more

Two emergency level warnings are in place for bushfires burning out of control west of Melbourne. The additional second warning concerns the suburbs of Elmhurst, Glenshee, Mount Lonarch and Green Hill Creek. There is already an emergency level warning in place for Beaufort, Ben Nevis, Raglan, Eversley and Waterloo. Residents in these regions and surrounding suburbs are being urged to check VicEmergency social media updates for more information and to find out if their suburb is included. Wind gusts of between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour are expected which will continue to make firefighter’s ..read more

Residents in Western Australia have begun preparations for Cyclone Lincoln. The system is currently a category two storm. It is predicted to make landfall somewhere in the state’s North West Cape tomorrow. SES crews have deployed additional resources. Residents are being told to stock up on food and water ..read more

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed homes “have been lost” in Victoria's bushfires and has urged locals in high-risk areas to leave immediately, in her latest update. There remains an emergency warning with a ‘leave immediately’ message issued for a number of communities, including Elmhurst, Mount Cole, and surrounding districts. “I urge people in this area who have been given the warning to act and leave now,” Ms Allan said at a press conference on Friday. “To please heed the advice and leave immediately. “Leaving immediately is the safest option.” Residents can check VicEmergency s ..read more

Residents in Victoria’s west are being told to evacuate immediately as out-of-control bushfires threaten several communities. A leave-immediately warning is in place and residents have been told to head towards Ballarat. Relief centres have also been set up at reserves in Wendouree and Ararat. 30 emergency crews are battling to contain the blaze and 11 aircrafts are also at the scene. Soaring temperatures forced authorities to put total fire bans in place for large parts of the state on Thursday ..read more

Sky News meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes speaks about the latest fire warnings in place for Victoria and Tasmania. “We are watching hot, dry, windy conditions move in through areas of Victoria and Tasmania, and this really is all ahead of the strong cold front that is going to be our major weather maker for the next couple of days,” she said. “We have started to see some fire activity in the southeast, including a fire that is at a Watch and Act over Tasmania. “And we do have a bushfire emergency in Victoria. “As we head into this afternoon, the big concern is that bushfire danger in areas of Vict ..read more