Soaring temperatures will elevate fire danger ratings across parts of southern Australia on Thursday and Friday. A tongue of hot air is seeping across the nation's southern states as a high pressure system moves out into the Tasman Sea. The pressure gradient between this high and a low pressure trough draped across Western Australia will cause northerly winds to strengthen, increasing the risk of out of control fires. Total fire bans have been issued in nine districts of South Australia and across western Victoria on Thursday, where fire danger ratings are expected to reach severe. Western Australia's Eucla District could see catastrophic fire danger ratings as temperatures soar to 45 degrees amid windy conditions, which is more than 15 degrees above average for this time of year. Fire bans are also in place across parts of South Australia and Victoria on Friday, with temperatures once again climbing 10-15 degrees average in both states. Adelaide and Melbourne are forecast to reach the high thirties or low forties during Thursday and Friday, before cooling down a bit for the weekend. Visit the following websites for the latest fire information: WA: www.dfes.wa.gov.au SA: www.cfs.sa.gov.au Vic: www.cfa.vic.gov.au