Aust temperatures soar

Sydney: Temperatures are soaring into the 40s across large swathes of Australia’s southeast, providing fire authorities with their first major test this summer.

Total fire bans were in place yesterday across the three NSW Riverina districts and in six Victorian districts including the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North East and North Central and East Gippsland.

While temperatures were expected to settle after a wind change in Victoria last night, the heat will linger in Sydney across NSW. Southern NSW will enjoy relief today, while Sydney will cool down tonight. — AAP