Hot Weather Warning from Parks

[Overlandman]

From ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-23/h ... od/7051034

Hot weather alert for Tasmanian bushwalkers ahead of fire danger period

The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service is warning bushwalkers to be vigilant during the expected hot weather period over Christmas, with many areas of the state facing a high fire danger rating.

The Upper Derwent Valley and the south-west are most likely to be affected, with forecasts of 35 degrees on Christmas Day, while Hobart is set to reach 32 and Launceston 30.

Paul Black from the Parks and Wildlife service said some walking tracks may be closed, but bushwalkers needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

"They need to have a think about where they are and what safe locations there are in the area," Mr Black said.

"For example, if they can find a wet gully that they can get into that's got a stream or a creek in there, they can get into that area and be a lot safer than they would be if they were out in dry vegetation."

Mr Black said the service would make a decision on track closures over the next couple of days.

"There is potential for areas to be closed ... it depends, as it gets closer to the day, we'll make that assessment about whether we'll close walking tracks or not," he said.

The Tasmania Fire Service said it was likely there would be fire bans over Christmas.

"We just want to make sure that people are acting responsibly, not only with their own cooking practices, but with fire in general," chief officer Jeremy Smith said.

"We've already been extremely busy, the landscape is extremely dry."

Walkers are able to check the status of tracks on the Parks and Wildlife website.

Emergency services have been involved in several bushwalker rescues in Tasmania recent weeks.

[north-north-west]

They were right about the forecast. Topped out at 36.5 (in the shade) yesterday, with 0% humidity. And today on the rest of the way out it barely scraped over 10, and 99% . . .
SW Tassie, dead from heatstroke one day, hypothermia (or drowning) the next.