Historic Heatwave Expected to Break Records Across South-Eastern Australia
A severe and persistent heatwave continues to grip south-eastern Australia, with forecasters predicting potentially record-breaking temperatures exceeding 45°C across multiple states. The extreme conditions have already shattered previous records in some areas, while bushfires remain a significant threat in Victoria.
Record Temperatures Forecast Across Multiple States
On Wednesday, parts of New South Wales and south-western Queensland were on track to experience unprecedented heat. The Victorian town of Ouyen was forecast to reach 49°C, which, if confirmed, would establish a new temperature record for the state. This follows Tuesday's extreme heat in Victoria, where 48.9°C was recorded at Walpeup and Hopetoun in the state's north-west, surpassing the previous record of 48.8°C set during Black Saturday in 2009.
In New South Wales, Wilcannia reached 45.4°C by midday with a forecast maximum of 48°C, while Bourke climbed to 41.3°C with an expected peak of 47°C. Other areas in the state's south-west, including Ivanhoe, could potentially hit 48°C. Meanwhile, Thargomindah in far south-western Queensland is forecast to reach 49°C, approaching the state's all-time record of 49.5°C set in Birdsville back in 1972.
Bushfires Continue to Rage in Victoria
Major fires continue to burn out of control in Victoria, with emergency warnings issued for several towns. Residents of Gellibrand were warned on Tuesday night that the town's water treatment plant would be unable to continue supplying water due to bushfire damage. The Carlisle River fire, which has been burning for days in the Otways region, spread past containment lines during a south-westerly wind change on Tuesday night and now covers more than 11,000 hectares.
Barwon Water confirmed that due to the bushfire damage, the Gellibrand water treatment plant would be unable to maintain water supply to the town, leaving residents without safe drinking water. The organisation is working with emergency services to determine when it will be safe to inspect the infrastructure and begin restoration work, while also planning to establish alternative water supplies for affected residents.
Additional Temperature Records Broken
Local temperature records were shattered across multiple regions. Renmark in South Australia's north-east recorded 49.6°C, marking its hottest day ever and South Australia's equal fourth hottest temperature on record. Fowlers Gap in western New South Wales reached 49.1°C, setting a new local record. Meanwhile, a manual station in Pooncarie, south-western New South Wales, recorded the state's hottest temperature of 49.7°C on Tuesday, equalling the second hottest temperature in the state's history.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines noted that "lots of records across western Victoria, eastern South Australia and western NSW were reached and exceeded." He explained that while temperatures have cooled in southern Victoria and southern South Australia, the area of most intense heat has shifted northward slightly.
Continued Heat and Climate Context
Hines indicated that the focal points for extreme heat and potential record-setting temperatures on Wednesday would be far western New South Wales, southern and western Queensland, and some parts of Victoria's far north-east. Extreme heat is also expected to affect the central and southern tablelands, with Canberra anticipating a top temperature of 42°C. Parts of the New South Wales Riverina region, including Hay, Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin, are forecast to experience temperatures between 44°C and 47°C.
This represents Australia's second major heatwave in January, following another earlier in the month. Climate analysts have suggested that the earlier heatwave was made five times more likely due to global heating. The climate crisis has increased 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, with sea surface temperatures remaining warmer than average globally, including around Australia.
