News Update: State braces for summer scorcher with ‘high risk’ day predicted

Bone-dry conditions have set the stage for a potentially explosive fire season, with a "high-risk" day on Thursday as the temperature is tipped to pass 30C.

View in browser 4th December 2025

News Update State braces for summer scorcher with 'high risk' day predicted Bone-dry conditions have set the stage for a potentially explosive fire season, with a "high-risk" day on Thursday as the temperature is tipped to pass 30C. READ MORE   Local cricketers to be at forefront of tech 'gamechanger' Backed by Cricket Australia, Greg Chappell and Ravi Ashwin, Str8bat sensors could put the next Test aspirant – or the average Saturday slogger – at the forefront of cricket's newes... READ MORE   Subbies' top talents to take on country Victoria's best Two-time reigning league best-and-fairest Sahan Perera headlines a strong Subbies team set to take on country Victoria's best. SEE BOTH TEAMS HERE. READ MORE   APS Cricket: Rosham's big ton, Raza carries his bat James Rosham continued his terrific run of form with a big century while Ahmed Raza lifted Haileybury to a rousing win. All the APS cricket round 4 highlights. READ MORE   I caught a rare bacterial infection in Bali that sat in my gut for weeks A Melbourne local footy star reveals the physical and mental toll of a life-threatening infection, picked up in Bali, which ate through his hip, left him hospitalised for weeks and... READ MORE   Melbourne teen out on bail accused of gang-related machete attacks A teen out on bail has been accused of a string of machete attacks across Melbourne shopping centres with police saying his gang links are "driving the offending". READ MORE   Creekers keeping recruiting powder dry Diamond Creek coach Andrew Tranquilli has addressed the club's pre-season recruiting, having spoken to as many as 30 prospects, ahead of its Division 1 return. READ MORE   Revealed: Victoria's pubs named among Australia's best From a tiny country pub to Melbourne's glitziest five-star hotels, Victorian venues have dominated Australia's hospitality awards. Find out if your local is among the winners. READ MORE   Jet ski ban looms for hoons on Melbourne's busiest beaches A unanimous council vote to ban jet skis from some of Melbourne's hottest beaches could spell the end of the "showpony" bogans terrorising St Kilda pier. Have hoons ruined it for e... READ MORE   Red Cliffs footy player and gym selfie king in alleged $120k coke bust A high flying Red Cliffs footballer who enjoys taking gym selfies was allegedly found in a car with more than 300 grams of cocaine and a search of his house later allegedly uncover... READ MORE   Mildura bartender allegedly busted with huge coke stash A Mildura mum who works as youth consultant and behind a bar at night has allegedly been busted with a massive $120,000 coke stash in her hire car. READ MORE   'Not upset for myself': Cancer-stricken mum's tears for son Despite facing the unthinkable, this Ballarat mum refuses to shed tears for herself – only for her young son's uncertain future. READ MORE   Richmond dim sim maker charged after worker injured A Melbourne factory that makes frozen dim sim has been charged after a worker's finger was lacerated in a dough machine at its Richmond headquarters. READ MORE   Children, staff evacuated from childcare centre after gas leak Children and staff were forced to evacuate after a driver crashed into the front of a Glen Iris childcare centre, rupturing a gas main. READ MORE   Man drowns at popular Phillip Island beach A man has drowned at a popular Phillip Island beach despite frantic efforts to revive him on Victoria's first hot day of the summer. READ MORE   Homeless Mildura man allegedly choked pregnant woman A homeless Mildura landscaper allegedly choked a pregnant woman after she filmed him revving the engine of his car in her driveway, a court has heard. READ MORE   Motorcyclist killed in Hoppers Crossing collision A motorcyclist has been killed after being thrown from their bike in a collision with a car at Hoppers Crossing. READ MORE   Ex-cop charged after gun and explosives haul in Red Cliffs A Red Cliffs man allegedly kept more than 90 guns, explosives and chemicals at his Red Cliffs property as his lawyer told a court he worked as a gunsmith for locals including polic... READ MORE   These schools threaten to topple Vic's elite colleges in NAPLAN results Victoria's academic elite face an unexpected shake-up as several schools storm into the top 20 NAPLAN rankings, displacing established performers. SEE ALL THE RESULTS READ MORE   Countdown is on for world first nasal spray to fight dementia Melbourne scientists have made a discovery that may be a "new frontier in the fight against Alzheimer's disease" – and it could be as simple as a spray in the nose. READ MORE   Who's in? Who's out? Every AFL club's coaching carousel moves From Steven King's Melbourne appointment to Nathan Buckley's Geelong return, the AFL's coaching landscape has been completely transformed in an unprecedented off-season overhaul. READ MORE   $21m to be poured into Victoria's drug-driving crackdown blitz Drug drivers face an unprecedented crackdown after Victoria Police secured a mammoth funding boost to ramp up roadside testing by 25,000 tests yearly. READ MORE   'Subsidy to affluent': Energy expert blasts Bowen's solar sharer plan The head of a university's energy policy centre says he is one of the few people who will benefit from Chris Bowen's controversial solar sharer proposal, because he has an electric... READ MORE   Bolt: Why does Australia protect race fakes like Bruce Pascoe? Canada has cancelled celebrated "Cherokee" author Thomas King after exposing him as a racial fraud, while Australia continues protecting Bruce Pascoe despite similar allegations. W... READ MORE   'Heavy hearts': Big brand food surplus pioneer collapses A national food rescue start-up that worked with Australia's biggest brands has shut down with $7.5m in debt, saying 'changing systems is hard' as it ended operations after a decad... READ MORE   'Significant change': How power price relief will be wiped out Australian households face a shocking reversal in electricity price predictions, with costs now expected to surge rather than fall as renewable energy rollout stalls. READ MORE   'Cost a s***load': Bec Judd reveals her plastic surgeries Brighton influencer and WAG Bec Judd has come clean on the plastic surgeries, procedures and facial fillers she has had over the years, in order to look as good as she does in her ... READ MORE   Why Brown blames Dangerfield for Mad Monday controversy The AFL's first openly bisexual man Mitch Brown has doubled down on his criticism of Geelong, saying captain Patrick Dangerfield "should have stood up" over Bailey Smith's infamous... READ MORE   Newsletters Today's Paper +Rewards Want to change how you receive these emails? Manage your newsletter preferences or unsubscribe from this newsletter. This email was sent to you by the Northern Leader, PO Box 14999, Melbourne VIC 8001, Australia.