Perth, and much of Western Australia, is in the grip of a severe three-day heatwave, while a cyclone has intensified far off the state’s north-west coast.<\/p>\n
Large swathes of the state are experiencing temperatures in the late 30s and into the 40s, with the hottest weather expected on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
The Bureau of Meteorology says locations likely to be impacted include Perth metropolitan area, Dwellingup, Geraldton, Gingin, Karratha and Yanchep.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A map of the three-day heatwave forecast for WA.<\/p>\n
There are total fire bans in places surrounding Geraldton on Tuesday, where the fire danger is listed as extreme and the temperature forecast to reach 42C.<\/p>\n
Bushfires likely<\/p>\n
Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Craig Waters said the hot weather and gusty conditions would likely lead to increased bushfire behaviour.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Craig Waters says West Australians need to be on high alert for bushfires over the festive period. (ABC News: Grace Burmas)<\/p>\n
“We need to consider that 93 per cent of the state is bushfire prone and bushfires can, and do, start anywhere in the state,” he said.<\/p>\n
“[So] be ready to act and put your emergency plan into action if you are impacted by a bushfire.”<\/p>\n
Mr Waters said two additional black hawk aircraft had been brought on for the high-threat period and would be based in Gingin to cover the northern corridor.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A seagull cools off at the beach in Perth on Tuesday. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)<\/p>\n
“Obviously we need our boots on the ground to fully extinguish fires but our aerial assets do a significant role in pulling up fires,” he said.<\/p>\n
Last week, when multiple emergency level bushfires were burning in the southern half of the state, the Emergency WA website crashed and was not able to show any critical information.<\/p>\n
Mr Waters said he was “hopeful that won’t happen again”.<\/p>\n
“We worked with the software provider to put in some immediate action to make sure that that doesn’t occur,” he said.Grinch keeping cool<\/p>\n
Kelvin Raynor, known locally as “Scruff”, says he’s not at all fazed by his town’s 41C Christmas Day forecast.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kelvin Raynor says he\u2019s not fazed by Geraldton’s hot weather. (ABC News: Claire Moodie)<\/p>\n
“Doesn’t worry me. I’ve worked in 55 degree heat,” he said whilst mingling with Christmas shoppers on Tuesday, dressed in a warm Grinch outfit.<\/p>\n
He’s just retired at 67 and says he and his Shih Tzu dog, Molly, will be fine spending the big day at their unit which doesn’t have air conditioning.<\/p>\n
“I know how to handle the heat,” he said.WA Emergency InformationCheck the warning information and incident map on the official EmergencyWA website<\/a>.For emergency assistance during severe weather and floods, contact the SES on 131 500.If your life is in danger call triple-zero (000).Check if roads are closed on the Main Roads WA website<\/a>.Report any power outages to Western Power<\/a> or Horizon Power<\/a>.For all local warnings and information visit ABC Emergency<\/a> and listen to ABC Local Radio on the ABC Listen app.<\/a><\/p>\n “We’ll have the fans on, a couple of beers, she’ll have plenty of water, that’ll do.<\/p>\n “She won’t be going outside, she’ll be staying inside.”<\/p>\n However, he has a message to anyone travelling on Christmas day on Mid West roads.<\/p>\n “Just make sure you got plenty of water,” he said.<\/p>\n “These people go out on these trips and their cars break down and they walk away \u2014 don’t leave your car.”Tropical Cyclone warning<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Grant is set to impact the Cocos (Keeling) Islands as a category two system late on Christmas Eve or on the morning of Christmas Day.<\/p>\n Perth Christmas week forecastTueSunny36WedSunny39Thu (XMAS)Mostly sunny41FriPartly cloudy27SatSunny30Updated as at Tuesday 10am<\/p>\n Destructive wind gusts of up to 130 kph are expected if the cyclone’s core passes close to the islands.<\/p>\n Heavy rainfall could also lead to flash flooding.<\/p>\n The cyclone formed on Tuesday morning as a category one system, about 400km east of the islands in the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n Mr Waters said his team was also assisting the national emergency agency with its response to TC Grant.<\/p>\n