An extremely hot air mass is spreading across Australia this week, causing temperatures to soar into the high forties in some areas. No state or territory will escape this heatwave, and some places could see their hottest run of days in more than five years.

Western Australia

Australia’s westernmost state has been dealing with widespread intense heat all week as a broad heat trough lingers over the state.

Maximum temperatures have already climbed close to 48°C this week, getting as high as 47.8°C at Onslow Airport in the Pilbara on Tuesday. Similar temperatures in the high forties are likely in the Pilbara on Wednesday, with some places possibly exceeding 48°C at the peak of the day’s heat. Temperatures will drop a bit from Thursday but remain hot over the state’s north and interior for the remainder of the week.

Perth and other areas in the southwest of WA are escaping this week’s heat, with maximums hovering around the high twenties and low thirties for most of the week.

South Australia

Extreme heat will be widespread in SA this week, with the three days from Wednesday to Friday expected to see maximum temperatures exceeding 46°C over the state’s inland. The highest temperatures this week are likely to occur in the North East Pastoral district and eastern inland. On Friday, Coober Pedy is forecast to reach 47°C and Renmark is tipped to hit 46°C.

Adelaide should reach around 43°C on Wednesday, 39°C on Thursday and 34°C on Friday, before cooling down more substantially from Saturday.

Victoria

Northern Victoria will have three very hot days from Wednesday to Friday, with intense heat also affecting the state’s south on Wednesday and Friday, briefly broken by a somewhat milder day under the influence of southerly winds on Thursday. The Mallee is likely to see the state’s highest temperatures in this heatwave, with forecast maximums of 44°C on Wednesday, 46°C on Thursday and 45°C on Friday. This would be Mildura’s first three-day spell above 44°C since 2018.

Melbourne is predicted to reach 42°C on Wednesday, 30°C on Thursday and 40°C on Friday. However, there is potential for both Wednesday and Friday to exceed these forecast maximum temperatures by a degree or two.

New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

Most of NSW and the ACT will be hot from Wednesday until Saturday, before the heat retreats to northern NSW on Sunday. The highest temperatures of the week will likely be in the southwest, where Balranald and Wentworth are forecast to hit 46°C on Thursday and Friday.

Image: Forecast maximum temperature over Vic, NSW and parts of SA on Friday, January 9, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.

Sydney’s west is expected to see temperatures above 40°C from Thursday to Saturday, possibly reaching around 44°C on Saturday afternoon. Further east, the CBD will see temperatures above 30°C from Wednesday to Friday and could have one day around 40°C on Saturday. Parramatta is forecast to exceed 37°C for three consecutive days starting on Thursday, something they haven’t experienced since 2018. Overnight minimum temperatures in the low to mid 20s will provide little opportunity for escaping the warmth in the next few nights too.

Canberra’s maximum temperatures will be in the mid to high 30s between Wednesday and Saturday, possibly including a three-day run of 38°C days starting on Thursday.

Tasmania

The heat will lose a bit of its sting across Bass Strait, although Tasmania will still be warm this week, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures in the state’s east could reach the mid-30s on Wednesday, with Ouse and Campania predicted to hit 34°C. The following days will be slightly cooler.

Hobart is forecast to reach 28°C on Wednesday, before dropping to the mid-20s on Thursday and Friday.

Queensland

The most intense heat will remain south and west of Qld this week, although parts of the state’s southwest will still see characteristically high daytime temperatures. Birdsville is predicted to reach the low to mid 40s between now and Sunday.

Brisbane’s daytime temperature will be in the high 20s and low 30s for the rest of the week.

Northern Territory

Hot air will linger over the NT’s inland for the remainder of this week. Alice Springs is predicted to reach around 43°C on Friday.

Darwin is too far north to feel this week’s heatwave, with typical January maximums of around 32°C on the forecast for the rest of the week.

Extreme heatwave thresholds for several states

This week’s heat will make both days and night uncomfortable for a large area of Australia. Severe heatwave conditions will extend from the north of WA all the way to eastern Tasmania, an area spanning close to 4000 km. Some areas in Vic, NSW, the ACT and SA will endure extreme heatwave conditions, which is the highest category on the Australian heatwave scale.

Image: Heatwave severity forecast for the three days starting on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.

While hot weather is a normal part of the Australian summer, heatwaves refer to periods where both maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot for a period of three or more days. Heatwaves can lead to heat-related illness and affect infrastructure, including transport and electricity supply.

Australia’s heatwave intensity scale has three levels, going from low-intensity, to severe to extreme. Severe heatwaves are generally challenging for vulnerable people, while extreme heatwaves can be a problem for anyone who doesn’t take precautions to keep cool.

The Australian Red Cross has tips on how to beat the heat during a heatwave, including staying inside when possible and avoiding sport and exercise during the hottest part of the day.

Elevated fire risk

This weeks’ heat will also cause extreme fire danger ratings in parts of SA and Vic from Wednesday to Friday and in NSW on Saturday. There also is a chance of isolated catastrophic fire danger ratings in Vic on Friday.

Anyone living in SA, Vic and NSW should keep a close eye on fire information during the rest of this week.