[DaveC]

 If anybody is coming to S.E. Australia what was looking like quite a mild summer has rather quickly turned nasty. I'm near Melbourne and it's now over 40 degrees for the 4th straight day and in the west and north of the state of Victoria it has been up there since last weekend.
There are over 40 fires burning in this state alone now and more in Sth Australia - around 450 according to reports (started by dry electrical storms for the most part.) Of particular interest to climbers is that the entire Grampians National Park has been closed and there are (I think) three major fires burning in or around the park.  There have been a couple of small fires around Arapiles but these have been dealt with quickly according to local accounts.
 

[DaveC]

Plume from the Grampians fire. A strong change has gone through today but last reports indicate this fire is still out of control tonight. Related story is here: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/grampians-fire-conditions-the-worst-since-black-saturday-20140117-30zt1.html

[SA Chris]

[DaveC]

Scorchio indeed. Our last four days here have reached 45, 41, 44 and 45 degrees C and the overnight temps have never been below about 27C. It's been even worse out in the NW of the state and over in South Australia. Change is now through here though, since 3 PM (it's now 10.50) the temperature has fallen from 45 down to 18 degrees.