Australia melts under extreme heatwave conditions, with NSW expected to hit 43C
Australia is melting under hot, dry conditions as authorities issue heatwave warnings; All states are on high alert for rising temperatures creating dangerous conditions, except Queensland, which is rainy and flooded.
The mercury in NSW will reach 43C on Saturday, with a heatwave warning for the metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Riverina regions.
“Hot weather can directly cause serious illness requiring hospitalization and can result in death,” a NSW Health spokesperson said.
Between January 7 and January 8, 2026, 33 people were admitted for heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, and eight patients were hospitalized.
Although temperature conditions have eased slightly in Victoria, temperatures will remain with a high of 27 degrees and extreme heatwave warnings have been issued for the north country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central regions.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds has also been issued in parts of Gippsland.
There are also three emergency-level fires statewide; two in central Victoria, at Longwood and Ravenswood South, and one in the northeast, at Walwa on the NSW border.
This covers 18 local government areas and one Alpine resort following a state of disaster declared overnight by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen.
It appears that three people, including a child, have not been heard from in the bushfire that broke out in the Longwood East region of Victoria.
Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain has warned Victorians to make sure they have bushfire-ready plans.
“Make a decision early on whether they’re staying or leaving; share that with family and friends and make sure they’re prepared with wifi and batteries, especially if we lose mains power, so you can continue to get updates,” he urged people on ABC news channel this morning.
Perth will also deal with the heat, with maximum temperatures of 32C and mostly sunny weather. A severe heatwave warning has been issued for the Gascoyne, North Inland and South Inland regions.
Temperatures in South Australia today will be around 24C at most and it will be cloudy. Despite the cold conditions, a severe heatwave warning has been issued for areas including metropolitan Adelaide, upper south east, lower south east, Riverland, Murraylands, Mid North, Flinders, East Eyre Peninsula, north west Pastoral, north east Pastoral and Mount Lofty Ranges.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for more fires in Tasmania and the states’ east coast on the Furneaux Islands. The state will reach maximum temperatures of 21C, with a severe heatwave warning across the Furneaux Islands, north-east, east coast and mid-north.
The bureau said in a statement on Saturday that “very hot, dry and windy conditions will lead to extreme fire danger” in the Australian Capital Territory. Warm temperatures will soar to 37C, with a severe weather warning for damaging winds in some parts of the state.
A severe heatwave warning has been issued for Gregory, Barkly, Simpson, Lasseter and Tanami in the Northern Territory, with the highest temperature today being 32C.
Tropical low with ‘high chance’ of becoming a hurricane approaching northern Queensland
Meanwhile in northern Queensland, residents are bracing for severe weather as the tropical low has a high chance of developing into a category one cyclone.
Heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging winds will occur between Cairns and Townsville later today as tropical lows approach the north-east tropical coast.
The weather in Queensland will remain warm today, with a high of 31C, despite numerous major and minor flood warnings across the state.
