Melbourne swelters through hottest day in six years as severe heatwave descends on Australia’s south-eastern states

Hot conditions for NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and WA as authorities warn of high fire danger

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Melbourne has recorded 41C, the hottest day in six years, and Adelaide’s temperature has reached 43C as a heatwave not seen since the deadly black summer bushfires has caused “really dangerous” conditions and bushfire warnings in several states.

Severe to extreme intensity heatwaves stretched from the north-west to the south-east of the country – developing in Western Australia and moving through SA, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Tasmania.