FIRE IN THE SKY: Meteor-Fireball Over Scotland - Reports Of A Large White Light, Followed By Rumbling "BANG" And The Shaking Of Buildings! [VIDEOS]

YouTube screen capture.

February 29, 2016 - SCOTLAND - A large white light and rumbling "bang" have been reported in the skies over the north east of Scotland, prompting speculation on social media about the cause.

Reports came in of a large white flash in the sky around 7pm on Monday, with Twitter users across the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Perth saying they had witnessed the phenomenon.

Sky: There was speculation the phenomenon could be a meteor. © STV

Some speculated the flashes and noises had been caused by a meteor. Others reported feeling buildings shake as a result of the bang.

Police Scotland said they had been unable to ascertain the cause of the noise.

@STVNews was that a meteor hit heard all over scotland!

— joanne pittendreigh (@jojopittbear) February 29, 2016

Proper massive rumble, ground shaking, folk seeing the sky flash blue and sirens going off everywhere....is this the end?! 😮

— Kim Paterson (@kp_x_) February 29, 2016

The Met Office said there were no lightning or thunderstorms in the area.

STV News weather presenter Sean Batty said the flash appeared to be from a meteor burning up in the atmosphere, lighting up a sheet of cloud.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "We've had reports of a very loud bang but we've been unable to establish what it is.


WATCH: Fireball over Scotland.

"Some people were saying their houses were shaking."

He said there had been no reports of aircraft in distress in the area from air traffic control. - STV.

EXTREME WEATHER: Massive Bushfire Rages In Western Australia - At Least 2 People Killed; Over 130 Buildings Destroyed; Over 172,000 Acres Burned Already; Mass Evacuations Underway! [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Picture of Waroona fire © Grant Eikelboom / iconosquare.com

January 10, 2016 - AUSTRALIA - Two men have been killed and at least one remains unaccounted for as deadly bushfires tore through the Western Australia town of Yarloop, destroying more than 130 buildings in its wake.

The remains of two men in their 70s were found by authorities who had been searching burnt-out buildings in Yarloop, 120km south of the state capital, Perth. The town was virtually obliterated by the fire.


WATCH: In the fire zone.

.@WAParksWildlife shot this video in the firezone. FULL VERSION HERE: https://t.co/AOk8NESb2B #WaroonaFire #wafires pic.twitter.com/1uiKyhE15O

— The West Australian (@thewest_com_au) January 10, 2016

A state of emergency remains in place for several communities including Harvey, Preston Beach, Lake Clifton, Myalup as well as their surrounding areas, The West Australian reports.

Authorities have warned residents to evacuate unless they are ready to actively defend their homes against bushfires that continue to burn. Police were knocking on doors in Harvey on Saturday directing people to leave.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said that while conditions had eased, the fire is not yet over.

This harrowing image from #dfeswa is an unimaginable sight that firefighters were faced with on Thursday night 😔 With over 130 homes in #yarloop lost to the fire,
as well as two lives, it is hard to not feel devastated for everyone involved. We have spent the last few days on and off alerts & looking out for family & friends who are
closer to the fire zone. Amazing job being done by the firefighters and their support crews and we are thinking of all those people who don't have a home to go back to.
Such amazing community spirit being shown with so much help being offered. Hopefully the winds will become favourable and the
fire can be brought under control as soon as possible. Instagram: oldcoastmarkets

To the brave firemen that are out at Yarloop, Waroona, Harvey and other small towns..thank you. You have been working hard for the
last 5 days unfortunately this blaze is too big..but with hard work and dedication hopefully you'll get it under control. 
Instagram: oldcoastmarkets

This is the devastating image that is being seen by many of our brave and honourable firefighters....the south west of wa (Australia) is under threat by and major fire,
many town have been evacuated and there homes lost in this ever increasing threat. We may be 40 minutes away from the danger but have seen plumes of smoke
for the last few days, as it continues to grow further south. There are many places to donate for those who now have nothing but the clothes they left with,
please take the time to care. By making as many as we can aware and we can all spare something to give to those have lost everything.
Instagram: oldcoastmarkets

"Our priorities are the northern division between Waroona and the Forrest Highway, the Lake Clifton area and then the southern area out of Harvey," incident controller Brad Della Vale said.

"I think we are not out of the woods yet, I think today's work will reveal how good our containment lines are at this stage, although the winds aren't going to be strong they get up to about 30 kilometres, at 3:00pm ... so that will be the pressure point I think."

A separate bushfire that has been threatening lives and homes around the Dalyup area in the Shire of Esperance has been downgraded to a watch and act.

So far fires have raged through more than 70,000 hectares in the state's South West.Wildfires are an annual summer event in Australia, but rising temperatures have prompted some scientists to warn that climate change could increase the length and intensity of the summer fire season. - RT.

EXTREME WEATHER: Massive Bushfire Rages In Western Australia - Destroys Nearly 100 HOMES; Burns 143,321 ACRES! [VIDEO]

Firefighters battle a fire near Yarloop in Western Australia. The out-of-control blaze has destroyed 95 homes.
(FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES/AFP/Getty Images)

January 9, 2016 - WESTERN AUSTRALIA - A bushfire destroyed nearly 100 homes in western Australia as it swept through countryside south of Perth, but there were no casualties reported after emergency officials and local media said on Friday that three missing people had been found safe.

Fanned by blustery, hot winds, the bushfire, which razed 58,000 hectares (143,321 acres) of land this week, ripped through the small rural town of Yarloop on Thursday night.

Around 95 homes were destroyed in the town of 545 people, along with its post office, fire station and shops, media reports said.

“I believe we’ve had what I would suggest are catastrophic losses within Yarloop,” said Wayne Gregson, Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner.

Three people, who were registered as missing, were found safe, while most of people who stayed to defend their properties were being evacuated by air or road, The Australian newspaper reported.

“It just got out of control … after that it just ripped through, it was quite scary,” volunteer firefighter Jesse Puccio told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “It’s like when you see in the war when the napalm bombers go through.”


WATCH: Australian bushfire destroys nearly 100 homes.

The bushfire continues to threaten other beef and dairy producing towns in the state, emergency workers said.

Alcoa Inc said two of its buildings have been destroyed but its Western Australia alumina refining operations were unaffected by the fire.

Australian has suffered a series of fires due to a long hot, dry spell.

Four people were killed in a series of bushfires sparked by lightning in Western Australia in November, two people were killed in fires in South Australia state, and more than 100 homes were destroyed in fires on Christmas Day in Victoria state.

Wildfires are an annual summer event in Australia, but rising temperatures have prompted some scientists to warn that climate change could increase the length and intensity of the summer fire season.

Australia experienced its fifth hottest year on record in 2015, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, which has been keeping statistics since 1910. - The Globe and Mail.

EXTREME WEATHER: Wildfire Rages In Southern Australia - At Least 2 People Killed, Others Injured; Many Homes And Vehicles Damaged; EXTRAORDINARY LOSSES Of Livestock And Wildlife!

Two people are confirmed dead as a major bushfire continues to burn in remote rural areas of South Australia.

December 4, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - A clock frozen in time in the local bowls club destroyed by fire in the mid-north town of Wasleys in South Australia.

Firefighters spent yesterday searching burnt-out cars and homes after the blaze raged across a 40km front.

The Premier of South Australia, Jay Weatherill, took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families affected and thanked the hundreds of firefighters deployed in the area.

"We also know that there have been extraordinary losses of livestock and wildlife", the ABC quoted Weatherill as saying.

The South Australian deaths come after a blaze in the Esperence area of WA last week claimed the lives of three tourists and a local farmer.

"We can't be entirely sure we have identified every single person within the fire ground", Mr Weatherill said.

Country Fire Service chief office Greg Nettleton said crews had contained about 60 per cent of the fire perimeter which measured about 210 kilometres.

George Hooker has captured the moment he drove into a raging South Australian bushfire.

He said it was important that people in and around the fire zone didn't become complacent to avoid further deaths or injuries.

Meanwhile in NSW, a total fire ban is in place due to very hot conditions and a watch and act alert is now in place for a fire burning at Turlinjah in the state's south.

An expert on fire management at Melbourne University, Professor Kevin Tolhurst, said Australia was "one of the best prepared nations in the world for fires - but that is still pretty poor".

"There's been complete destruction of some of these vehicles".

"Until we get really substantial rainfall across the state, we're in a risky fire situation for the summer", he said.

"I cannot believe it, I still cannot fathom that she is gone", she said.

It was heading our way but it didn't get there.

Janet Hughes, 56, from Hamley Bridge also died as the fire swept across the lower northern region of the state, north of Adelaide, while 19 people have been injured.

That blaze, sparked by lightning around Esperance, 750km southeast of Perth, was finally brought under control late on Wednesday after tearing through nearly 130,000ha of bush land and farmland.

Another 42 homes have been damaged while crop and stock losses are expected to be significant. - The Oceanside Post.

 

EXTREME WEATHER: Lightning Strikes Spark Out-Of-Control Bushfires Burn In Western Australia - Four People Killed!

The fires were started by strikes of lightning. © Kate Sainty

November 17, 2015 - AUSTRALIA - Four people have been killed and there are fears for two others caught in bushfires in Western Australia.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling major blazes that were reportedly sparked by lightning over the weekend.

The worst of the blazes are north of the coastal town of Esperance, 720km south-east of Perth.

Strong winds with gusts up to 90km/h (56mph) have hampered efforts to bring the fires under control.


WATCH: Bushfires in Western Australia.

They are the first serious bushfires of the Australian summer. Authorities said they did not believe the fires were deliberately lit.

"During last night, four people were located deceased in the fire area of Grass Patch, Salmon Gums and surrounding areas in the Shire of Esperance," police said via Facebook. - BBC.

 

FIRE IN THE SKY: "I Just Saw A Massive Falling Star" - Fireball Flying Over Perth, Australia Caught On Dashcams, Scientists Suspect Meteorite!

Still from YouTube video/Radio 6PR

March 9, 2015 - PERTH, AUSTRALIA - A fireball flashing through the sky has been reported by multiple witnesses and also recorded on dashcams in Perth, Western Australia. Scientists believe the bright shiny object could turn out to be a meteorite.

Reports of the fireball as well as its dashcam images started to emerge on Monday morning.


WATCH: Fireball over Perth.

“Don't know what it was but whilst on a break at work, was walking back to the workshop and saw a bright flash and an object falling through the atmosphere with a white bright lit tail,” Perth resident, Chris Ugle, posted in a Facebook group titled Australian Meteor Reports.

A resident of Gidgegannup (45km east of Perth), Angela Whife, described the fireball as round, white and having a meter-long tail. She believes the object landed on her property.

“It would have been about 10 meters above the ground I suppose when I first saw it and then it landed about 20 meters away from me,” Whife told Perth Now.

The object has yet to be found though.

One of the witnesses called 720 ABC Perth's Morning program to say the fireball “vaporized in a burst over the [Canning] river."

Scientists are meanwhile studying dashcam footage of the fireball. One of those was captured by Nine News cameraman, Gerard Price.


WATCH: Meteorite caught on dashcam over northern Perth.

'It would have to have been a fairly big rock to be visible during the day,' Curtin University's Professor Robert Bland, who hosts the Fireball in the Sky website, told Radio 6PR.

Bland’s colleague, Jay Ridgewell, told AAP they were confident the fireball could be meteorite.

"Thousands of meteors fall from the sky every year, but it's not as common to see them in such a populated area," she said. - RT.

INFRASTRUCTURE COLLAPSE: Train Crashes Into Truck In Perth, Australia - Transportation Services Suspended, Causing Peak-Hour Chaos For Commuters!

The train hit the back end of a truck caught at a level crossing in Perth’s western suburbs, causing peak-hour chaos for commuters.

March 5, 2015 - PERTH, AUSTRALIA - A train has hit a truck at a level crossing on the Fremantle line.

The Perth-bound train clipped the rear of a mid-sized truck which was waiting to turn onto Curtin Avenue at the Victoria Street crossing at about 4.40pm.

No one on the train was injured and the driver of the truck was also unharmed.

Train services were suspended between Loch Street and Fremantle for about 90 minutes, leaving hundreds of commuters waiting to get on replacement bus services at Loch Street station.

Mosman Park resident Michael Raj waited for more than 30 minutes to catch a bus.

Mosman Park resident Michael Raj waited for more than 30 minutes to catch a bus.

Train services were delayed while there was traffic chaos after the crash. Picture: Sean Middleton

Crews clean up after the collision. Picture: Sean Middleton

"I have been working for about 10 hours and I just want to get home," he said.

East Fremantle resident Jana Boffey said the interruption to her journey home would not deter her from using public transport in future.

"We were waiting for a train in Perth and an announcement came up that we had to get off at Loch Street," she said.

"This type of thing happens every six months. It won't stop me from using public transport."

Railway Road near Claremont was lined with people this evening, and replacement buses were packed with commuters. - Yahoo Australia.

EXTREME WEATHER: Massive Wall Of Fire In Australia - Blaze Swallows Up Over 120 HECTARES, Encroaches On Perth; Mass Evacuation Underway! [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

This is the view of the bushfire at #Whitemanpark from Brabham. #perthnews

December 14, 2014 - PERTH, AUSTRALIA - Towering flames near Perth, Western Australia (population 1.5 million) prompted the evacuation of homes on Sunday. Water-bombing helicopters and several fire crews battled the fire through the day, which has yet to be contained.

The fire started in Whitman Park at 1.11pm local time on Sunday threatening homes and lives, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Fire officials added the cause of the blaze is unknown.

An evacuation warning was issued for homes in the city of Swan – a Perth suburb - earlier on Sunday. After 8:30pm local time, it was downgraded as the fire was under control.

"I would estimate there might've been about 20 properties under threat at one stage," North Coast Metropolitan Superintendent Allan Riley said, as quoted by ABC News.

#fire #emergency at #whitemanpark continues #perthnews #bushfire #brabham

Incredible. Fire raging out of control at #WhitemanPark, Perth, via @tweetinplatypus

Choppers picking up water from #Ellenbrook lakes to fight #whitemanpark fire #perthnews

Bush fire in perth omg #perthnews

#whitemanpark bushfire as seen from Viveash in the city of Swan #perthnews

Screenshot from Google Maps

#whitemanpark fire contained but animal impact as yet unknown eg.deaths,lost joeys,injuries @720perth @ABCemergency

However, DFES spokesman Ryan Murray stressed the fire is still burning. "The situation is the fire's not contained. It's gone over 120 hectares. The fire has settled, crews will be working throughout the night to contain it," Murray said.

DFES warned there is a lot of smoke in the area, with the fire still burning in Whiteman Park. The fire front is 2 kilometers long and is moving slowly in a northeasterly direction, the warning stated.

WATCH: Massive blaze swallows 120 hectares, encroaches on Perth.

Fire officials called on residents to stay alert. An evacuation center has been set up at Altone Park Recreation Centre.

Due to Australia’s hot and dry climate, bushfires are rather common in the hotter months of the year. - RT.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: Sinkhole Swallows Car At Perth Casino In Australia!

June 22, 2014 - AUSTRALIA - An unlucky driver was left stranded at a Perth casino after a sinkhole partially swallowed their car.

A social media post showed the front and back tyres of a white Hyundai stuck in the hole. (Supplied)

The sinkhole, which opened up in the Crown Casino carpark yesterday morning, developed after heavy rain at the weekend, WA Today reports.

Nine News reporter Scott Cunningham said the bitumen had collapsed in two places, trapping the two left wheels of the driver's side.

"The bitumen has caved in, there's probably a metre-and-a-half drop I suppose where you can see that the sands just all cave in, around and underneath the wheels," he said.

"There's just one car that appears to be stuck there at the moment, security has fenced-off the area around it."

A photo posted by the reporter to social media showed the full extent of the damage.

As the sinkhole is on private property, the casino will be responsible for its repair.

Source: Nine News, WA Today

- 9News.

EXTREME WEATHER: Australian Open Halted Because Of Extreme Heat - It's So Hot In Melbourne, That People Are Frying Eggs On The Tennis Courts!

January 17, 2014 - AUSTRALIA - Having already taken enough heat for not stopping matches earlier, blistering temperatures finally halted play on Day 4 of the 2014 Australian Open as a high temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded nearby.

Kei Nishikori of Japan wraps an ice pack around his head during a break in his first round match against
Marinko Matosevic of Australia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne,
Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The Extreme Heat Policy was enacted at Melbourne Park just before 2 p.m. Thursday, suspending all matches on outer courts until the early evening and requiring the closure of the retractable roofs at Rod Laver and Hisense arenas before play could continue on the show courts.

It was the first time since 2009 play had been halted due to heat at the Australian Open.

"This heat is roughly on par with what was in place in early June in Phoenix," said weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. "The MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks would have the roof closed and air conditioning on when playing home games in similar conditions."

For Maria Sharapova, playing at Rod Laver Arena, the call came too late. The rule dictates the roof can't be closed until the end of a set in progress, so she was forced to finish a grueling third set against Italian Karin Knapp under the blazing sun.


WATCH: Heat Makes Pro Athletes Cry.

"Everyone knows there is no tiebreaker in the third set (at the Australian Open), so once you start that set, you're going to be out there until you're done," she said after closing out the 3 1/2-hour match, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8.

Other players wilted in the heat. American Varvara Lepchenko received medical treatment during her match against 11th-seeded Romanian Simona Halep, lying flat on her back during a changeover as trainers rubbed iced on her body.

"At first I didn't understand what was going on but then my legs, my arms started to get heavier. I couldn't focus at one point and started feeling dizzier and dizzier," she said.

She continued but only won one more game in a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 defeat.

"They definitely should have just not started the matches in the first place," she said. "And the same goes for a couple of days ago when I played my (first) match."

The heat wave began Tuesday when the temperature peaked at 42C (108F). The tournament referee did not halt play then because the Extreme Heat Policy also takes into account other factors, such as humidity and wind speed.

The distinction is lost on the players, who have grumbled all week about the conditions which some have described as inhumane and dangerous. On Tuesday, Canadian Frank Dancevic blacked out and hallucinated during his match, while China's Peng Shuai vomited and suffered cramps.

No. 25-seeded Alize Cornet of France sobbed on court Thursday after her draining 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Italian Camila Giorgi, then blasted officials for not halting play sooner.

Weatherman reports on the heat wave.

"On Tuesday, I don't know why they didn't stop matches," she said. "It was an oven. An oven. It was burning. Why today and not Tuesday?"

Play finally got under way again on outer courts shortly after 6 p.m. local time, but 14 matches were later suspended again due to lighting.

The heat hasn't just affected players - it's also kept fans away. Total attendance was just 53,226 on Thursday, down from Monday's high of 63,595.

The unshaded seats on the outer courts were virtually empty Thursday, with spectators congregating under trees or in the upper reaches of stands where temporary covers provided a little relief.

New Zealander Helen Naylor escaped the sun after watching fellow Kiwi Marina Erakovic play for a bit on Court 13.

"Even the seats are really hot - God knows how (the players) are running around out there."

Relief is as least in sight. Friday will be another scorcher, with an expected high of 44C (111F), but Saturday it will only reach 23C (73F). That may feel downright chilly by comparison. - TWC.



You know how hot it is at the Australian Open? A photographer pulled out a pan and a couple of eggs and attempted to fry them on the boiling court on Thursday.

Temperatures are so high, you can literally fry eggs on the boiling court. Twitter.

Lucky for us, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was in a spirited mood after his second round win over Thomaz Bellucci and snapped this picture of the photographer attempting to make some breakfast inside the Hisense Arena.

The roof was actually closed at Hisense because of the ridiculous heat in Melbourne, but that didn't stop this guy from showing us exactly how hot it is on court for some of these players.

Friday looks like the last day temperatures will reach triple digits, with a serious cold front blowing through Melbourne after that to help cool off the courts and help the players survive these nasty conditions. - Yahoo Sports.

EXTREME WEATHER: Dry Lightning Sparks 256 Fires Amid Heatwave In Victoria, Australia - Total Fire Ban Across The State As Temperatures Are Expected To Exceed 46C!

January 15, 2014 - AUSTRALIA - Crews have worked throughout the night extinguishing hundreds of fires in the driest parts of Victoria sparked by dry lightning from electrical storms.

Electrical storm in Craigieburn last night. Photo: Supplied.

CFA state duty officer Scott Purdy told 3AW radio crews responded to 256 fires between 5pm and 12am.

The Mallee and Wimmera received the most strikes as electrical storms hit the region and continued to other parts of the state including the central Victorian towns of Castlemaine, Daylesford, Woodend, Macedon, and metropolitan Melbourne.

There are still 22 fires burning in the Mallee. Waterbombing helicopters are monitoring the region and central Victoria to identify strikes before conditions worsen later in the week.

The CFA fears more dry lightning, which means lightning with not enough rain to combat its effect, will hit the state today.

The CFA battled several grass fires yesterday, with the most serious at Kangaroo Ground which is now under control.

There is a total fire ban across the state.

Hot night

Victorians endured a hot night and are facing another scorcher today.

The temperature stayed in the 30s for most of the night, dipping to 29.3C just after 5am - close to the January record of 30.6C in 2010.

The Bureau of Meteorology revised today's forecast for Melbourne from 39C to 41C after the mercury came close to 43C yesterday.

Firefighters battles a blaze at Penny's pine factory.  Photo: News Limited.

The bureau said the heat would increase quickly this morning, and Melbourne should be close to 40C soon after midday.

Temperatures will continue to peak above 40C tomorrow and Friday, with wind gusts of up to 100km/h expected to create dangerous fire conditions on Friday.

The heat was expected to reach 45C in parts of the state yesterday, but Mr Russell said Avalon, southwest of Melbourne, was among locations sweltering in temperatures exceeding 46C.

Police probe arson as houses saved

Waterbombing helicopters and dozens of fire trucks contained the blaze at Kangaroo Ground, north of Melbourne, that was believed to have been started by a bonfire.

Police are also investigating whether a fire bug was responsible for another fire at Little River.

Residents whose homes came within metres of the raging Little River grassfire said fire bugs had been a constant concern in the area.

A cluster of households in Little River, 51km southwest of Melbourne, were told to evacuate as several fire crews aided by waterbombing aircraft battled to control the fast-moving inferno.

Smoke billows from the Little River fire. Photo: News Limited.

At Kangaroo Ground an army of 31 fire trucks and three waterbombing aircraft battled to control a bushfire on difficult terrain as the inferno spread in several directions.

At Little River Stephen Baines said he returned home from work to find fire trucks screaming down the road and his neighbours being evacuated as firefighters tried to halt the flames at Bulban Rd.

"It was bloody scary," Mr Baines said.

He said the community suspected arson with the fire occurring exactly a year after grass fires in the same area which police believe were sparked by fire bugs.

"Mate this one was deliberately lit, just like the last one.

"We're all keeping an eye out," he said.

Victoria Police arson chemists have been at the scene trying to determine whether or not the blaze was suspicious.

Historic home damaged by fire

Heronswood historic homestead was engulfed by flames yesterday afternoon after a grassfire spread through the Mornington Peninsula suburb of Dromana.

The CFA said the home's freestanding cafe had been destroyed in the blaze, but the main house which dates back to 1864, suffered only minor damage.

CFA incident controller David Gibbs said the property's heritage farm and gardens were unlikely to have been damaged by fire.

Flames first reached the property and popular tourist attraction at around 5.45pm, but a water bomber soon put out the blaze.

Visitors to the house who were on site at the time were not injured by the fire, but the nearby freeway was closed.

The remains of the cafe at Heronswood. Photo: News Limited.

Power cut 'for planned maintenance'

Meanwhile, a power company cut off thousands of sweltering customers.

SP AusNet pressed ahead with planned blackouts to ­almost 1000 properties in 14 towns to carry out "essential bushfire mitigation" maintenance, robbing householders of aircon, fans and running water for up to six hours.

Upwey, Cockatoo, Glenrowan West and Thoona were hardest hit by the power pole replacements along with other upgrades.

"We couldn't do the work any earlier because we were doing other critical maintenance. We don't take the ­decision lightly and we do apologise," said spokesman Jonathon Geddes.

AEMO says there is enough reserve supply for today's heat, barring an "extreme" event.

SP AusNet expected more "planned outages" to affect about 190 customers in towns including Wangaratta and Narre Warren East today.

Beryl Wooller from Thoona in the state's northeast, said: discovered the power was out when she got up to water the garden at 7am yesterday. "Surely it was not that desperate? The power poles were not going to fall down".

"I have a freezer and fridge stacked full of food. If we had known we would have planned to get out for the day and put off the weekly shop," Mrs Wooller said.

Despite SP AusNet saying residents were sent letters two weeks ago, some claimed they were not notified. Others said they did not receive an SMS advising works were being brought forward several hours to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Left: Waterbombing was used to combat the fire at Kangaroo Ground. Right: Beaufort firefighter Robin Hill cools off.
Photo: Jay Town / News Limited

Acting Premier Peter Ryan said the company had advised the work was urgent.

"If they put the work off and it is of an urgent nature and then some disaster occurs then of course there is the obvious commentary to be made," Mr Ryan said.

Thousand of customers in Bayswater were affected by a heat-related network fault for less than an hour from 2pm yesterday.

More than 1000 customers in Powercor and Jemena areas including Port Fairy, Point Cook, Stawell, Coburg and Somerton also suffered outages in stifling conditions.

The Australian Energy Market Operator expects Victoria's daily electricity consumption to exceed 10,000 megawatts from today until Friday - 50 per cent more than a typical January weekday - as millions crank up the air conditioning. - Herald Sun.

EXTREME WEATHER: Victoria, Australia Buckles Under The Most Unrelenting Heatwave - High Threat To Power Supply; Temperatures Reach 44C; On Course To Peak Above 40C For FOUR Consecutive Days, For The First Time In 100 YEARS!

January 15, 2014 - AUSTRALIA - Engineers are racing to repair a crippled power generator and prevent statewide blackouts as Victorians brace for a new high in the record heatwave.

People sunbath at St Kilda Beach earlier this week. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Melbourne is set to sizzle through 44C on Thursday as temperatures are on course to peak above 40C for four consecutive days, for the first time in 100 years.

Heart attacks are expected to soar between 5am and 11am as the heat escalates the danger for the most vulnerable.

As demand for power stretches capacity this week, the Australian Energy Market Operator signalled it may cut the amount of electricity provided to Victoria to prevent the entire system failing.

A State Government warning that up to 100,000 homes and businesses could be blacked out during Wednesday's peak failed to eventuate.

Basel Khalil, Ali Khouzam and Moe Kheb keep cool at Elwood Beach earlier in the week.
Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

But the energy regulator said it would continue to closely monitor power use in the coming days.

At Gippsland's Loy Yang, power station crews were battling to repair a broken generator needed to produce a quarter of the plant's electricity.

The Government was on Wednesday advised the generator should be fixed by midmorning on Thursday, otherwise the state could again come under threat of widespread power cuts.

A bat cools off in the Yarra River. Source: News Limited

While a normal January day sees Victoria using 6600MW, the state is forecast to exceed 10,000MW each day these week, peaking at 10,300 MW on Thursday.

Premier Denis Napthine urged Victorians to use their power as efficiently, warning that authorities may still be forced to cut electricity in the coming days.

"With those two hot days to go, we're going to be very, very much in the high electricity usage stage," Dr Napthine said.

"It's up to all Victorians to do their bit and … make sure we use our electricity wisely."

Extra paramedics have been called in this morning as cardiac arrests jumped 40 per cent across Melbourne the past two days.

Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman said crews were being called to more than 80 heat-related call-outs a day, including 27 cardiac arrests across Melbourne on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"It is not the daytime temperature that is the concern, it is the overnight temperature when the body does not get time to recover," he said.

The last string of extreme days during February 2009 claimed 374 Victorians.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said eight of the state's nine districts are now covered by heat health alerts, with the greatest fears for the elderly, children and those with chronic medial conditions.

"We know there are serious consequences from extreme heat and that can be increased hospitalisations and, unfortunately, increased deaths," Dr Lester said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has revised its projection from 41C to 44C after computer modelling signalled temperatures would climb even higher.

Mildura and Horsham are forecast to reach 44C, while Ouyen and Swan Hill are set to soar to 45C despite light winds later in the day.


WATCH: Threat to power supply as Victoria buckles under a heatwave that won't let up.

Up to 4pm on Wednesday, Ambulance Victoria paramedics treated 62 cases of heat exhaustion or heat stroke and five cases of children locked in cars.

Two girls, aged five years and 18 months, were found in a car unattended outside a Cobram shopping centre.

Senior Sergeant Mary-Jayne Kane said the mother had been spoken to and was on Wednesday afternoon still under investigation.

"It's a warning to people: don't leave your children in cars in the heat," she said.

Meanwhile hot and bothered commuters faced a third day of peak-hour train pain with 15-minute delays affecting services across the entire metropolitan train network.

The Cranbourne and Pakenham lines suffered major peak-hour delays on Wednesday night while the Sunbury line was partly suspended following a lightning strike.

Buses replaced trains between Mordialloc and Frankston. - Herald Sun.

EXTREME WEATHER: Unprecedented Heatwave & Wildfires Ravage Australia - Temperatures Soar Above 50C; Heatwave Spreads From West To Deliver Record Heat To Southeastern States; 52 Properties Destroyed By Fire In Perth Hills; Power Outages Hit Public Transport; Shoe-Melting Temperatures At The Australian Open; Tennis Organizers Warn That They Might Pull The Plug On Matches!

January 14, 2014 - AUSTRALIA - A heatwave has swept from Western Australia across South Australia, Victoria and parts of western NSW, prompting health warnings for the very young and elderly.  Adelaide is set for one of its fiercest bouts of temperatures on record, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting five consecutive days above 40C this week, peaking at 43C on Wednesday.  It will be the longest stretch of 40C days in Adelaide since 2009, when the South Australian capital experienced six consecutive days above this mark.

Heatwave Spreads From West To Deliver Record Heat To Southeastern States

Firefighters battle the devastating blaze in Perth Hills. Picture: DFES Source: Supplied

Melbourne is also in the grip of escalating temperatures, with temperatures set to reach 41C on Tuesday, dipping to 39C before ending the week on 40C.  Regional areas of South Australia, Victoria and NSW are experiencing even warmer temperatures, with Swan Hill in Victoria set for three consecutive days of 44C this week, while Waikerie in South Australia will reach 45C on Thursday. Broken Hill in NSW will bake in temperatures above 40C all week, according to the bureau.  South Australia’s state emergency service has urged the public to drink plenty of fluids, stay indoors, not leave children or pets in cars and prepare for potential power outages due to the scorching temperatures.  The SES said people should visit elderly relatives and protect young children from the heat, given the vulnerability to hot weather of very young and older people.  Scott Turner, acting deputy chief of the SES, said the heat has a “huge impact” on the body, warning that the mortality rate rises when temperatures rise precipitously.  In Melbourne, temperatures are expected to peak at 35C around 6pm on Monday, making for an uncomfortable home commute, although Metro Trains has confirmed there will be no alterations to its timetable. It looks unlikely that Melbourne will beat its record of five consecutive days over 40C, set in 1908.

Amy 16, cools off from the oppressive heat in the Garden Square fountain during the Australian Open.
Picture: David Caird Source: News Limited

The heatwave has been caused by a warm front that has spread from Western Australia. The state is currently battling bushfires which have destroyed 44 homes. Alasdair Hainsworth, assistant director for weather services at the Bureau of Meteorology, said the heatwave was picked up by its new pilot heatwave forecast service. “What is unusual about this event, which the pilot heatwave forecast shows, is that when high maximum temperatures and above average minimum temperatures are sustained over a number of days, there is a build-up of ‘excess’ heat," he said.  "Extreme heatwave conditions can be seen in southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania."  Victoria's chief health officer Dr Rosemary Lester said: “The body normally sweats to cool down but sometimes sweating isn't enough and rising body temperature can lead to heat stress.  “The effects of heat-related illnesses can range from mild conditions such as a rash or cramps to very serious conditions such as heat stroke, which can be fatal.  “Importantly, heat may worsen the condition of someone who already has a medical condition such as heart disease.”  - Guardian.

52 Properties Destroyed By Fire In Perth

Firefighters battle against the devastating bushfire in Perth’s Hills.
Picture: Department of Fire and Emergency Services Source: Supplied

Fire authorities say a devastating bushfire in the Perth hills that has destroyed more than 50 properties was probably sparked by a power pole on private land.  Overnight, firefighters have managed to control the blaze that the Department of Fire and Emergency Services says has destroyed 52 homes and two sheds in the Perth hills.  "I can confirm that 52 properties have been destroyed by the fire over the course of the last two days,'' DFES Superintendent Gary Baxter told ABC radio.  He said the fire was most likely due to a power pole.  "All our indicators and our investigation team have led us to believe that,'' Mr Baxter said.  The blaze, which tore through 650 hectares in the Shire of Mundaring on Sunday, was contained yesterday and brought under control early this morning.

A watch and act alert remains today for the eastern part of Parkerville, Stoneville and Mount Helena and several roads remains closed. The Incident Controller is conducting a reconnaisance of the fire ground but there is still the potential for strong gusty winds to cause flare ups. Four people who were feared missing in the blaze were accounted for yesterday and the only fatality was a 62-year-old man in Hovea who collapsed on the roof of his house on Sunday while preparing for the fire.

A fire in Stoneville has led to evacuations and loss of property. A house on Narla Retreat is lost to the flames.
Source: News Limited

Pregnant resident Sian Musgrove, 31, doesn’t know if her family house of 50 years is still standing.
Picture: Colin Murty Source: News Limited

The loss of homes and property in the Perth Hills region can be seen from the air after a massive fire swept
through the region on Sunday. Picture: Matthew Poon Source: News Limited

One resident tried to get back to their house on Monday afternoon and suffered burns to their hands and feet.  People who lost their homes are expected to be escorted to the ruins later on today. Further information will be revealed at a community meeting at 10am.  Fire and Emergency Services Authority said it was waiting to assess the entire disaster zone.  "We should have limited access back in by Wednesday," FESA's Craig Waters told Macquarie Radio in Sydney.  "One of the issues we do have is working with western power. They do have 140 power poles to replace, so we're still working through that process.''

The WA government will donate $1 million to the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund to help victims.  It will also provide $3000 to those whose homes had been destroyed and $1000 for damaged houses.  Attorney-General George Brandis says the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment will also be provided to eligible residents.  People can claim a payment of $1000 per adult and $400 for each child.  Insurers have declared the fire a catastrophic event.  - Herald Sun.

Temperatures Soar In Melbourne

Parts of Melbourne have soared past 40C as some Victorian towns face temperatures up to 45C today.  Melbourne Airport hit 40.2C at 1.15pm, with Essendon Airport, Moorabbin Airport and Laverton among other areas above 40C.  Temperatures are threatening to peak above 40C across the state for the next four days, with wind gusts of up to 100km/h.  The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted 43C today in Melbourne, 41C on Thursday and 40C on Friday.  It was 42.9C in Geelong at 12.30pm, 43.2C in Mildura, 42.5C in Horsham and 40.3C in Warrnambool. 


WATCH:  Unprecedented heatwave and wildfires hit Australia.

The bureau said Melbourne should hit 43C at 5pm.  Mildura, Horsham and Warrnambool could hit 45C, the bureau said.  Forecasters have been predicting a cautious 39C for Wednesday but said there was a high chance the mercury could rise, creating the heatwave record of a century.  Total fire bans are in place today in the Wimmera, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central, Central and West and South Gippsland districts.  Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said severe fire ratings have been set for the South West, Central and North Central regions.  A very high rating fire rating has been set for the rest of the state.  A cool change is predicted to hit Victoria on Friday night. - Herald Sun.

Tennis Organizers Warn That They Might Pull The Plug On Matches At The Australian Open

Bernard Tomic works up a sweat during his practice session.
Picture: Ellen Smith Source: News Limited

Tennis chiefs have warned they may pull the plug on matches at the Australian Open with extreme heat likely to test players and fans.  Tournament referee Wayne McKewen will become the most powerful man at Melbourne Park as temperatures soar beyond 40 degrees on centre court. His decision could impact a string of showcase matches, including the round one clash between Aussie James Duckworth and Roger Federer.  "When it's high humidity and high temperature, that's when it starts to affect players, staff and patrons," McKewen said.

"We have used the heat policy before, we have implemented it. It's there not just for the players but also for fans, spectators, officials and staff on site.'' The Australian Open is the only tournament with a heat policy. The last time it was invoked was in 2009 when the average temperature for the tournament was 34.7C.  The main concern for players will be muscle meltdown - where the muscles heat up so much they release chemicals that can damage vital organs.  But tournament medical officer Tim Wood warned drinking too much water could become the greatest threat to players.

"We have never had players die from dehydration," Dr Wood said.  "We have almost had players die from drinking too much. The danger is over drinking.'' He said players didn't need to be warned about the weather because received an advice sheet on how best to prepare.  But not everybody seemed to have got the message. "We don't get advice sheets Dr Tim," US tennis star Bethanie Mattek-Sands tweeted.  "But I guess we can look on our weather app.'' Ambulance Victoria emergency management chief Paul Holman said this week's forecast was the worst since Black Saturday and feared a repeat of the 2009 summer stretch where about 520 people died in a single week.  "We want people to respect the weather and take it seriously," he said. He urged people to drink plenty of water, wear loose clothing, apply sunscreen and avoid calling 000 for minor medical ailments as emergency services were stretched to the limit. - Herald Sun.

"Inhumane Conditions" Cause Tennis Player Frank Dancevic To Collapse On Court.

Dancevic keeps cool with ice packs during a break in play in
his men's singles match at the Australian Open.

Canadian Frank Dancevic slammed Australian Open organizers for forcing players to compete in "inhumane" conditions after he collapsed on court as temperatures rose to 41 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.  Dancevic, who collapsed during the second set of his first round match against France's Benoit Paire on the uncovered court six at Melbourne Park and passed out for a minute, said conditions were plainly dangerous for the players. 

"I think it's inhumane, I don't think it's fair to anybody, to the players, to the fans, to the sport, when you see players pulling out of matches, passing out," he told reporters.  "I've played five set matches all my life and being out there for a set and a half and passing out with heat-stroke, it's not normal. 

"Having players with so many problems and complaining to the tournament that it's too hot to play, until somebody dies, they're just keep going on with it and putting matches on in this heat.  "I personally don't think it's fair and I know a lot of players don't think it's fair." 

Official attends to a ball boy who collapsed
during a tennis match.

The tournament's "extreme heat" contingency plan was put into force for women's matches on Tuesday, allowing an extra 10-minute break between the second and third sets.  Under a change to the rules for this year, however, the decision on whether to stop matches at the tournament is now at the discretion of tournament director Wayne McKewen.

Rather than use the raw Celsius readings to assess the heat, organizers prefer to use the Wet Bulb Global Temperature composite, which also gauges humidity and wind to identify the perceived conditions. Organizers said temperatures peaked at 42.2 degrees Celsius in the early evening on Tuesday and conditions had never reached the point where play would be stopped.  "We have to reach a minimum threshold and have a forecast that it will be sustained for a reasonable time," McKewen said in a statement.  "That didn't happen. While conditions were hot and uncomfortable, the relatively low level of humidity ensured play would continue." - Yahoo Sports

PLAGUES & PESTILENCES: Global Food Crisis - The "Worst Ever" Locust Plague Descends On Australia's Grain Growing Region!

November 21, 2013 - AUSTRALIA - Australian Plague Locusts are swarming in parts of Western Australia's grain growing regions.

Locusts destroy Wheatbelt lawns Photo: Australian Plague Locusts are
destroying gardens in the Wheatbelt. (Felicity Sinclair)

Bill Cowan farms 300 kilometres east of Perth and says the locust swarms are the worst he's ever seen.

He says locusts have eaten lawns and gardens in his area, and were a concern when he was harvesting his grain, as they were appearing in grain samples.

"If you're walking on the ground, they just about cover the ground," he said.

"They're always heading one way. Once they get a bit bigger they start to fly. We've had whole grilles in cars block up for people who are travelling through."

Mr Cowan says many bowling clubs in the Central Wheatbelt are concerned about the plagues of locusts arriving in towns and eating bowling lawns. - ABC News Australia.

GLOBAL VOLCANISM: Big Ben Is Rumbling Fiercely, Ready To Erupt - Lava Is Spilling From Australia's Only Active Volcano; NASA Images Reveal Lava Lake Has Overflowed Crater?!

May 01, 2013 - AUSTRALIA - New NASA photo reveals the lava lake on Australia's only active volcano has overflowed the crater, showing possible signs of eruption.

An image taken by NASA's EO-1 satellite shows the lava flow on Australia's only active volcano widening at the top.
Picture: NASA  

NASA's EO-1 satellite snapped the shot of Big Ben, which is located on the remote Heard Island, about 4,100km southwest of Perth, in the sub-Antarctic, on April 20.

When compared to another image taken on April 7, it appears the lava flow is widening at the top, NASA said.

The volcano's caldera appears to have filled with so much lava that some has since cascaded down Mawson Peak.

In October 2012, satellites measured subtle signals that suggested volcanic activity on remote Heard Island. These images, captured several months later, show proof of an eruption on Mawson Peak. By April 7, 2013, Mawson’s steep-walled summit crater had filled, and a trickle of lava had spilled down the volcano’s southwestern flank. On April 20 the lava flow remained visible, and had even widened slightly just below the summit. These natural-color images were collected by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite.
Picture: NASA

Heard Island's remoteness and Mawson Peak's altitude of 2745 metres mean there's nothing to fear from the eruption, The Register reports.

No permanent human presence exists on the island, beyond an automated weather station. - Herald Sun.

AUSTRALIAN WEATHER ANOMALIES: Imposing Red Dust Storm Sweeps Over Onslow - Diverting Flights, Coating The Town In Pindan Sand!

February 13, 2013 - AUSTRALIA - Another stunning dust storm swept through Onslow yesterday, causing a flight to be diverted and coating the town in Pindan sand.

Winds of nearly 70km/h whipped up an imposing wall of orange that hit Onslow about 5.30pm.

A Skywest flight from Perth to Onslow had to change course because of the dust.

The flight left Perth at 2.30pm and was forced to divert to Learmonth Airport, eventually returning to Onslow just before 8pm.

Another stunning dust storm sweeps through Onslow. Diana Palermo/perthweatherlive.com.

Steve Hardy, who lives on Front Beach, said residents knew how to prepare for the dust storms.

“You know they’re coming - you can see them from miles away, so you make sure everything’s taped up,” he said.

“After the one in January, we had three inches of dirt on our front porch.”

Although yesterday’s dust storm was not as spectacular as last month’s, Mr Hardy said it was still impressive.

“You get that lovely Pindan red,” he said.

“It sounds like rain on the roof. It does hurt if you’re outside – it’s like being in a sand blaster.”

Bureau of Meteorology officer Peter Clegg said the wall of dust was caused by wind gusts from a storm front.

“You get an outflow of wind gusts coming out the front of the storm itself,” he said.

The dust storm at ground level, near work related to the Wheatstone project.

“If there’s enough dry dust, winds of 67km/h will definitely kick some of it up.

“It’s the orange dust that you get up there that gives you that great contrast with white clouds.”

He said the stormy weather was expected to continue in Onslow all week. - Yahoo.