South Australia is bracing for a day of severe to extreme bushfire risk with very hot conditions and rising winds.
The Country Fire Service has declared a severe risk in six districts for Sunday while in the Flinders Ranges and the mid-north the risk is considered extreme.
⚠️ #SevereWeatherWarning issued for damaging winds on Sunday. Affected districts: #Flinders, and parts of the #NorthEastPastoral and #NorthWestPastoral and #MidNorth. See latest warning at https://t.co/nxjNlxbfax for further details. pic.twitter.com/C5v6ljMfzG
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) November 14, 2020
All eight districts will have total fire bans in place.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting gusty thunderstorms through the central and eastern parts of the state ahead of a cooler change.
“Some of these may be severe with damaging winds the main concern. Warnings are likely,” the bureau said.
Little or no rain is expected raising concerns that lightning could spark fires.
A similar system which passed through on Tuesday resulted in more than 300,000 lightning strikes which started several significant fires including some which threatened towns on Yorke Peninsula.
Adelaide is forecast to have a top temperature of 37 degrees Celcius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday before a cooler 22 degrees Celcius (71.6 Fahrenheit) on Monday.
Further north, the mercury will push into the low to mid-40s, with Oodnadatta expected to hit 46 degrees Celcius (114.8 Fahrenheit) and Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy 45 degrees Celcius.
By Tim Dornin
Focus News: Severe Bushfire Risk Declared in Six SA Districts