Australia's south-eastern regions have been gripped by an intense and prolonged heatwave, now entering its eighth consecutive day of scorching temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The blistering conditions have sparked bushfires and set new temperature records across multiple states, with inland areas bearing the brunt of the extreme heat.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Across Multiple States
On Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued heatwave warnings for parts of every state and territory except Tasmania, as the mercury continued to climb to dangerous levels. Canberra was forecast to reach a top of 41°C, while inland areas of New South Wales, including Broken Hill, were expected to surpass 45°C.
Friday saw temperatures peak around 50°C in northern South Australia and western New South Wales. Marree recorded 49.8°C and Andamooka near Roxby Downs hit 50°C, both setting new record highs. This marked the seventh consecutive day that temperatures in Marree remained above 46°C.
Saturday's Forecasted Highs
Saturday's expected maximum temperatures included 49°C at Ivanhoe in western NSW, 48°C at Wilcannia, and 47°C at Cobar. In Victoria, Mildura was forecast to reach 45°C, while further north, Thargomindah in Queensland was expected to hit 46°C.
Other notable locations experiencing extreme heat this week included Ceduna climbing above 49°C, with temperatures rising above 48°C in Port Augusta, Port Pirie, and Tarcoola.
Bushfires Flare Amid Extreme Conditions
The extreme heat has created dangerous fire conditions, with two fires in Victoria remaining uncontrolled on Saturday. The Carlisle River fire in the Otways and the Walwa bushfire on the NSW border were both at watch and act levels, with communities slowly returning to affected areas as firefighters worked to contain the blazes.
Flames flared up near Gellibrand in Victoria earlier in the week as inland parts of south-eastern Australia endured record heat, highlighting the direct connection between extreme temperatures and increased fire risk.
Meteorological Analysis and Weekend Relief
Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, explained that inland parts of south-eastern Australia have suffered through record heat all week, with Saturday marking the final day of temperatures in the mid to high 40s.
"Through inland areas, heat will really be the big story once again, where we see another day of temperatures in the mid to high 40s through south-western parts of Queensland," Narramore said. "Another very hot day is on the way on Saturday in northern South Australia, but it'll be much cooler through southern South Australia thanks to those fresh and gusty south to south-easterly winds."
Cool Change Expected
A welcome cool change is forecast to sweep across the region this weekend, bringing an end to the prolonged heatwave. Widespread rain and storms across tropical north Australia, due to a monsoon low, are expected to bring cooler air to parts of Victoria and South Australia on Saturday, with the relief extending through the remainder of the country's south-east on Sunday.
Temperatures could tumble by as much as 15°C as the cooler conditions arrive. On Sunday, Sydney is expected to reach a top of 29°C with possible showers and thunderstorms, while Canberra is forecast to drop to 31°C. Melbourne should see a maximum of 19°C with a few showers, Brisbane is forecast at 33°C, and Adelaide is expected to reach 25°C.
Climate Context and Long-Term Outlook
This heatwave represents Australia's second major heat event for January, following another earlier in the month. Climate analysts have noted that such extreme heatwaves are now made five times more likely due to global heating, with the climate crisis increasing both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events including heatwaves and bushfires.
According to the latest long-range forecast, hotter than average days and nights are expected to continue until April for much of the country. Sea surface temperatures will remain warmer than average globally, including around Australia, contributing to ongoing climate challenges.
The prolonged nature of this heatwave, combined with the record-breaking temperatures experienced across multiple locations, underscores the growing impact of climate change on Australia's weather patterns and the increasing challenges faced by communities, emergency services, and infrastructure during extreme weather events.
