Australia is heading into the weekend under a mix of severe weather conditions, with damaging winds finally easing across the south and scorching heat fuelling fire danger in the country’s north and inland regions.

After a day of chaos across Tasmania on Friday - where gusts of more than 130km/h ripped through towns, toppling trees and tearing apart buildings - calmer conditions are expected to settle in on Saturday.

Sky News Weather Presenter James Preston said the wild winds had battered the state throughout Friday, leaving widespread damage and tragic consequences.

“Across Friday it has encapsulated the entirety of Tasmania, and we can see some of the impacts of those winds pushing through,” he said.

Communities in Burnie, Devonport and Wynyard bore the brunt of the destruction, wit

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