Australia is preparing for the worst wildfires on record as towns and homes continue to burn across the country and record temperatures are forecast.

The country’s Met Bureau has extended its weather chart’s temperature range to 54°C, from a previously capped 50°C, in anticipation of record temperatures.

Remote parts of southern Australia already soared to the top of the gauge, reaching 54°C today, while Sydney hit 42°C.

Australia’s Met Bureau has extended its forecast map’s temperature range (far right) to 54 celsius in anticipation of record temperatures as wildfires continue to rage across south east Australia

New South Wales Rural Fire Service worker spraying water on a bush fire at Green Point in New South Wales

A melted boat at the Boomer Bay jetty on the Tasman Peninsula after bushfires swept through the south east region over the weekend. Residents have been urged to seek refuge ahead of a renewed bushfire threat

Eleven-year-old Zac Palmer stands amidst the remains of his grandparents’ home which was destroyed after bushfires swept through the region over the weekend at Boomer Bay on the Tasman Peninsula in Tasmania

Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters tackle a grass fire just outside of Gunning in New South Wales as more than 100 fires are still reported to be burning

Authorities warn of ‘catastrophic’ conditions as 100 people remain missing in Tasmania after they fled homes engulfed by flames.

‘We are shaping up for one of the worst fire danger days on record,’ New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

‘You don’t get conditions worse than this. We are at the catastrophic level and clearly in those areas leaving early is your safest option.’

Catastrophic threat level is the most severe rating applicable. For the first six days of 2013, the ‘national area-average’ temperature had been in the top 20 hottest days on record.

The Australian Met Bureau weather forecast map today had its temperature range extended to 54 degrees – well above the all-time record temperature of 50.7°C reached on January 2, 1960 at Oodnadatta Airport in South Australia.

Already the forecast outlook has started to deploy the two new shades of purple that represent plus-50°C.

‘The scale has just been increased today and I would anticipate it is because the forecast coming from the bureau’s model is showing temperatures in excess of 50°C,’ David Jones, head of the bureau’s climate monitoring and prediction unit, said.

It was the first time that average national top temperatures over 39C had been recorded on five consecutive days, the bureau said.

Wildfires have razed 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania since Friday.

In New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, the fires had burned through more than 64,000 (26,000 hectares) of land.

No deaths had been reported, although officials in Tasmania were still trying to find around 100 residents who have been missing since a blaze tore through the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, last week, destroying around 90 homes.

Hundreds flocked to the city’s famous Bondi Beach too cool off, including scores of British holidaymakers and backpackers.

Tourist Dean Fitzgerald, 27, from Kimberley, Notts, said: ‘It’s absolutely scorching but at least the sea is cold.’

Smoke billowing as a bushfire burns near Green Point in New South Wales

Ambulance crews were also called out to several of the city’s landmark destinations such as the famous Opera House where elderly visitors had collapsed in the extreme heat.

Broken Hill, 700 miles west of Sydney where the Mad Max films were made, hit 44 degrees C.
Flames across the three states were whipped up by 105km/h winds, enabling the bush fires to move at a terrifying 7sq/m every second.

Three teens were arrested in Sydney’s west on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of deliberately starting a blaze, which firefighters managed to put out.

On Tuesday night, residents of the popular tourist spot Sussex Inlet, 120 miles south of Sydney, was issued with a warning after fires began threatening property there.

During the day, two homes destroyed at Chepstowe, Victoria, where two people were also injured.

Also in Victoria, the historic Carngham Train Station was burnt to the ground.

In Tasmania, 40 fires were continuing to burn on Tuesday night.

In remote South Australia, temperatures hit an incredible 54 degrees C.

Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard visits the remains of the Dunalley Primary School in Dunalley yesterday

Wildfire smoke can be seen rising from hills behind the village of Numeralla in New South Wales state

A home destroyed by fire in Dunalley, Tasmania

Fire fighters battle a grass fire in Oura, near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales

One fire was threatening about 30 homes near the small town of Cooma, south of the capital of Canberra. Cooma-Monaro shire mayor Dean Lynch told Australia’s Sky News that some residents had been evacuated to the nearby town of Nimmitabel.

Strong winds were hampering efforts to bring the fires under control. Wind gusts more than 62mph (100kph) were recorded in some parts of the state.

All state forests and national parks were closed as a precaution and total fire bans were in place with temperatures in excess of 45°C (113F) in some areas.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said residents had to stay alert.

‘The word catastrophic is being used for good reason,’ she said.

‘So it is very important that people keep themselves safe, that they listen to local authorities and local warnings.

A sky crane water bombing helicopter flies through thick smoke over the town of Wandandian south of Nowra

A kangaroo hops through a burnt out paddock after a grassfire in Sunbury north of Melbourne, Victoria

‘This is a very dangerous day.’

One volunteer firefighter suffered severe burns to his hands and face while tackling a grass blaze near Gundaroo village, about 138 miles (220km) south-west of Sydney, yesterday. He was flown to a hospital in Sydney for treatment.

Fire chief Mr Fitzsimmons said the firefighter’s condition had improved, and he was expected to be released from hospital in the next few days.

Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. In February 2009, hundreds of fires across Victoria state killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.

A dead wallaby lies in a paddock on Dawson Road near Cluny Lagoon

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