The fire danger rating is likely to be in force in the Wimmera district, in the state's west, tomorrow when the Weather Bureau finalises its forecast this afternoon. (more)
Catastrophic fire warning as SA swelters Firefighters are on high alert across South Australia today, with nearly every major regional centre expected to top 40 degrees Celsius.
The highest danger is on the west coast, which has been issued a catastrophic fire warning.
Renmark and Port Augusta are forecast to hit 44C, while Adelaide is expecting a top of 43C, nearly 14C above average, according to the weather bureau.
This will be Adelaide's fourth day of temperatures above 35C. (more)
Investigators allege the 26-year-old St Kilda man was seen trying to set fire to a park bench at the Sherbrooke State Forest just before 9.00am (AEST).
Undercover police on bushfire arson watch Undercover police in Victoria will watch for arsonists in the coming days, with escalating temperatures posing a severe bushfire risk.
Temperatures will be in the 30s today and reach into the 40s over the weekend.
Melbourne is expecting a top of 41 degrees on Monday. (more)
Rain eases fire season threat The wet start to the new year could see an early end to the bushfire season in southern Queensland.
Firefighters have been battling blazes since late August but Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl says there is enough moisture on the ground to prevent any flare-ups.
But he says crews will continue to monitor the situation.
"Without sticking my neck out too far, I would definitely say the fire situation is probably now finished as far as the real fire season threat goes," he said.
"As this weather system sort of goes away and the moisture gets sucked into the ground, there'll still be opportunities by the end of January, early February, that we may even be able to do some hazard reduction burning."