<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337565</docID> <postdate>2025-02-04 09:53:38</postdate> <headline>Temperatures set to plummet as bushfires rage</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-337566" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250130110693336886-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>The bushfire in the Grampians in Victoria's west is considered "a long way from over". (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Holly Hales</strong> and <strong>Melissa Meehan</strong> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>Steamy temperatures in Melbourne could plummet 12C in just 30 minutes, as parts of Victoria remain under severe bushfire warnings. </strong></p> <p>The cool changes will come into effect about 2pm on Tuesday following a days-long heatwave and wild winds wreaking havoc in fire-ravaged regions.</p> <p>Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said westerly winds will be largely responsible for the chilled temperatures.</p> <p>"The the temperature could drop by 10 to 12 degrees in half an hour," she said.</p> <p>"But as the cool change crosses the south, it has the potential to spark a new round of thunderstorms with some of those storms severe."</p> <p>Thousands of lightning strikes on Sunday triggered a series of blazes in Victoria's southwest.</p> <p>However, balmy conditions are expected to persist in eastern Victoria, especially Gippsland, northeast Tasmania, the ACT, southern NSW and inland parts of South Australia and Western Australia.</p> <p>These places should brace for another day of daytime temperatures six to eight degrees warmer than usual seasonal averages, Ms Bradbury said.</p> <p>A bushfire remains out-of-control at Victoria Range in the Grampians National Park with locals urged to leave immediately, before conditions become too dangerous.</p> <p>Winds in the area will change from a moderate to fresh southerly forecast for Tuesday, challenging the ability of fire crews to keep a number of blazes across the state under control.</p> <p>The biggest of the fires still burning, in the Grampians, was a long way from over, Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said.</p> <p>He said while crews were fatigued, authorities were ensuring firefighters were being rotated.</p> <p>"This is a long game, and they're going to need to be maintain their capability and fitness to be able to do this for many more weeks to come," he told reporters.</p> <p>"It's been a very long season, and we are still very much at the beginning of that season.</p> <p>"We can expect this fire season to go through toward the end of February even into March."</p> <p>Horsham Incident Control Centre Deputy Incident Controller Ben Matthews said more than 500 firefighters, aided by multiple aircraft, were working to contain the fires, with a focus on asset protection particularly in the Victoria Valley.</p> <p>He said strong winds had already caused numerous spot fires, but despite the dynamic and rapidly changing situation, firefighters from both Victoria and interstate were working tirelessly.</p> <p>Temperatures are set to peak at 42C in Ouyen, 35C in Melbourne and Ararat, and 32C in Geelong.</p> <p>All of Victoria is covered by a high fire danger rating on Tuesday.</p> </body>