It looks like the New Year is going to start in a roar of flames with very high bushfire alerts everywhere. Total fire bans are in place across most of south eastern Australia. Today’s max is predicted to be 31, with tomorrow’s (New Year’s Day) topping out in Sydney at 41.
Until I opened this thread and saw your location, I thought you lived in Texas or Oklahoma. Both of those states are dealing with large wildfires. Hope everything turns out okay.
So far the worst of the fires have been in western Victoria. But it’s extremely hot here today (already 37 degrees and only just past 11.00am), so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some bad bushfires around Sydney.
Definitely a hot one here in Sydney today (though I think Melbourne is doing worse). Sydney’s on 39C now, expecting a max of 41. That’s probably in town, so I’d say it’s hotter in the western suburbs where I am. I haven’t ventured out yet.
No air-con, no car, I’m out of food and drink (except tea), and I’m not terribly close to the shops. Three options:
1. Duck around the corner to the petrol station, and buy some hideously overpriced groceries (and maybe across the road to the pub for a sixpack.
2. Brave the half-hour return walk to the local shops, and pick up as much stuff as I can carry back (or get a cab).
3. If I’m going to the shops anyway as in option 2, then that’s where the railway station is, so I might as well go four stops down the line, and spend the day at the club, drinking icy cold beer, and enjoying the aircon.
Hmmm. 
I’ve been into the city this morning to go to mass. It’s actually bearable out there because the humidity is so low. The walk should be OK, as long as you’ve got a good hat. I took a fairly flimsy one with me this morning and I could almost feel my brain frying.