Updated Jan. 10, 2020 1:15 PM
Winds whipped across fire-ravaged southeastern Australia on Friday, once again increasing the fire danger and forcing another round of evacuations in the beleaguered region.
Near the New South Wales and Victoria border, two fires have merged to create a "mega-blaze" burning over 600,000 hectares (1.5 million acres).
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the fire is burning south of the Snowy Mountains.
Anthony Clark, a spokesperson for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the Morning Herald that "finger" of a fire near the rural community of Ournie had come in contact with a blaze named the Dunns Road fire, located near the Clarkes Hill Nature Reserve located close to the town of Maragle.
"What we're really seeing with a number of these fires merging is a number of small fires started by lightning strikes, across the landscape. And as they grow, we see fires merging," Clark said.
As of 9 a.m., local time Friday, there were 134 fires burning in New South Wales, as reported by the RFS. By 6 p.m., they reported 137 fires were burning, and the number of fires not contained had increased.
A mud brick house owned by Evan Harris where he is preparing to minimize fire impact at Burragate, Australia, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, as a nearby fire threatens the area. Thousands of people are fleeing their homes and helicopters are dropping supplies to towns at risk of wildfires as hot, windy conditions threaten already fire-ravaged southeastern Australian communities. The danger is centered on Australia’s most populous states, including coastal towns that lost homes in earlier fires. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Evacuation orders were issued throughout these regions, prompting thousands to flee their homes.
The weather in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia's two most populated states, was relatively quiet during the middle of the week, giving fire crews a chance to work to control the bushfires burning across the region.
Conditions quickly deteriorated on Friday as a cold front moved over the coasts of South Australia and Victoria.
Ahead of this front, temperatures soared and winds picked up in Victoria and New South Wales.
High temperatures climbed into the middle 40s C (109-118 F) across interior locations of New South Wales with highs in the 30s C (86-102 F) closer to the coasts of these regions.
While strong winds can help spread fires, a change in wind direction can rapidly change the fire's behavior.
Early on Friday, northerly winds gusted as high as 80 kph (50 mph) in Melbourne. Later in the day, winds turned out of the south behind the front, but winds remained gusty at times.
By Friday night, the front moved into the Sydney area, and winds began to pick up as they turned out of the south. So far, gusts up to 93 kph (58 mph) have been reported.
Deteriorating conditions allowed the number of fires to increase, despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters across these regions.
Winds can remain gusty at times across New South Wales through Saturday, but the period for strongest winds has passed.
Our firefighters have received many thank you letters and signs posted on homes over the past months. Here is a special one, we assume made specially for our aviation teams to find. We love how creative some of these messages are. See if you can spot it. Thank you. #nswrfs
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This front has also brought isolated showers and thunderstorms to coastal areas that are forecast to continue along northern coasts throughout the weekend.
A lack of moisture with this front will keep most showers brief and light. However, localized downpours could offer some assistance in firefighting efforts.
While any amount of rain will be welcome in these areas, thunderstorms will bring a new risk as lightning strikes can help to spark new fires.
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