Canberra: Australia has recorded its fourth-warmest January since national observations began in 1910, with the country’s area-averaged mean temperature standing 1.90°C above the 1961–1990 average, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The elevated temperatures were driven in part by a powerful late-month heatwave that gripped southeastern Australia between January 26 and 30. The event saw numerous weather stations across South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria record record-high daily maximum temperatures.
According to BoM, the hottest temperatures of January 2026 were measured in South Australia, where the town of Andamooka recorded 50.0°C on January 29 and Port Augusta Airport reached the same mark on January 30.
In New South Wales, temperatures peaked at 49.7°C in Pooncarie on January 27, while Victoria saw highs of 48.9°C at Walpeup and Hopetoun on the same day. A temperature map modeled using a version of NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) illustrated the scale and intensity of the heatwave.
The map, depicting air temperatures at 2 meters above ground level on January 29 at 03:00 Universal Time (2 p.m. local time in Victoria), showed vast areas shaded in dark red, indicating temperatures at or above 45°C.
The extreme heat had significant public health implications. Authorities warned of an increased risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly among vulnerable populations. In Melbourne, organizers of the Australian Open invoked their “extreme heat policy,” suspending play on some courts and closing stadium roofs to protect players and spectators from the scorching conditions.
The late-January heatwave followed another period of intense heat earlier in the month. Combined with strong winds and dry conditions, the earlier heat created dangerous fire weather across parts of Victoria. On January 9, numerous bushfires were burning across the state, prompting evacuation orders.
By mid-month, reports indicated that hundreds of structures had been destroyed and tens of thousands of livestock killed in the blazes.
The back-to-back extreme weather events have renewed concerns about Australia’s growing exposure to heatwaves and fire risk during the summer months, as climate variability and long-term warming trends continue to intensify weather extremes across the continent.
