Crazy temperatures
Temperature in Melbourne outside right now is 46.1 C and climbing. Humidity is 5% and wind speed is gusting at 41 Km/h. Crazy weather again this January that is breaking all sorts of records. Classic bushfire conditions with a cool change in a couple of hours to make things worse for the smokies (fire fighters) with wind changes.
If I can describe the skies above me .. it has turned a pale orange with some ash falling. Here is a picture of Mt Dandenong just before the smoke hit us from the North. No danger for us from the alert page although a fire has sprung up in the bush behind us (downwind) in Fern Tree Gully. Good thing that the hills around us have been progressively 'cool burned' to reduce the fuel loading. We are under no direct threat, just on alert .. listening to the ABC Radio National and this CFA website.
Just came back inside after watering down the windows, walls and testing the sprinker system on our eaves and roof. Another two good trees are dying on my property, both 80+ years old. These gum trees have survived previous droughts and even a bush fire .. but not these conditions. Even plants we are watering in the evening are burning dry from the heat and hot wind. I might thump the next climate change denier that I meet that doesn't listen to scientific reason.
Inviting two good mates over for dinner (home made sushi).
They have offered to help us stand guard if things change and we activate our fire-plan.