There are no active warnings for this location.
Weather Maps
Daily Forecast
A low is generating rain and thunderstorms across northern Australia, heaviest over WA's Kimberley, with showers and storms developing through the NT into northern SA, western Qld and northwestern NSW. Showers and storms are scattering across eastern QLD in unstable winds.
Latest Warnings
AUS
Latest News
Climate Updates
Latest News
03 Feb 2026, 11:39PM UTC
Extreme fire danger in four Australian states
Hot and windy conditions will cause Extreme fire danger in parts of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia on Wednesday, with total fire bans in place for some areas. Return of heat in southeastern Australia Despite a burst of cold weather in southeastern Australia at the start of this week, which saw sub-zero minimums in four states, temperatures are once again climbing under the influence of warm northwesterly winds. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 41°C in SA and 39°C in Vic on Wednesday afternoon, while across Bass Strait, the mercury is predicted to reach 30°C in parts of Tas. This warmth will combine with blustery winds to cause Extreme fire danger ratings in the following areas: Mount Lofty Ranges district in SA. This includes the Adelaide Hills. Wimmera, North Central and Central districts in Vic. This includes Melbourne and Geelong. Midlands and East Coast districts in Tas. Image: Forecast fire danger ratings and total fire bans for Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Source: Weatherzone. The heat affecting southeastern Australia on Wednesday won’t be as intense as the heatwave that baked the region in the final week of January. However, below average rainfall and above average temperatures last month have helped dry out vegetation, which increases the risk of fires becoming difficult to control this week. Last month was Victoria’s driest January since 2013 and its warmest January in seven years based on maximum temperatures. Fire danger will ease for much of SA, Tas and Vic from Thursday as temperatures become cooler. However, Extreme fire danger is forecast for Vic’s North East district on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Lingering heat and fire danger in the west WA is being affected by a Severe to Extreme heatwave this week, which is elevating fire danger ratings in some areas. Image: Heatwave severity forecast for the three days starting on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Source: Weatherzone. Perth reached 41.9°C on Monday and temperatures in the Gascoyne and Pilbara hit 46 to 47°C on Monday and Tuesday. Maximums in the mid- to high-40s are likely in the Pilbara and Gascoyne between Wednesday and at least Friday, with Perth also continuing to see temperatures reaching the mid-30s for the remainder of this week. This warmth will contribute to High fire danger over much of WA for the rest of this week, while Extreme fire danger is forecast for the Swan Inland North district (northeast of Perth) on Wednesday. People in areas with elevated fire danger should stay informed and follow local emergency warnings. For more information on fires, visit the following state fire authority websites: Victoria - https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/ South Australia - https://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/ Tasmania - https://www.fire.tas.gov.au/ Western Australia - https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/
03 Feb 2026, 1:17AM UTC
Southeastern Australia's driest January in 17 years
In news that won’t surprise residents of Melbourne, Adelaide or plenty of other places in Australia's most heavily populated corner, southeastern Australia just had its driest January since 2009. It was also the region's second-driest start to the year since 1965, with January rainfall down by 23.14mm on the long-term mean, when averaged across all official weather stations in the region. Image: January rainfall anomalies across southeastern Australia dating back to 1900. Source: BoM. How dry has it been? The chart below shows rainfall deciles across Australia for January 2026. As you can see, the largest area of red (denoting very much below average rainfall) is located in the southeast of the country. Image: Australian rainfall deciles in January, 2026. Source: BoM. The dry January came after much of the southeast also endured below-average December rainfall, making for significant rainfall deficiencies in the first two months of the 2025/26 summer. For example: Adelaide (SA) had just 2.8mm of rainfall in December (average 25.9mm) and absolutely no rain in January (average 29.1mm). Melbourne (VIC) had 27.8mm in December (average 58.4mm) and just 1.6mm in January (average 48.0mm). Wagga Wagga (southern NSW) had 24.8mm in December (average 46.4mm) and just 2.0mm in January (average 43.5mm). Launceston (northern TAS) had 17.4mm in December (average 47.3mm) and just 3.2mm in January (average 44.5mm). There were, of course, some areas, that had above-average or even exceptionally heavy January rainfall, such as the NSW South Coast and a small patch of the southwest Victorian coastline along the Great Ocean Road where cars were swept away in flash flooding on January 15. But the overall picture was dry, and the outlook remains that way for the immediate forecast period. Both Adelaide and Melbourne can expect no rainfall for the rest of this week, give or take the chance of a brief light shower in Melbourne. The short-term forecast is also dry for inland parts of the southeast, although there are signs of instability as the week progresses as tropical air pushes south. At this stage, the potential for rainfall associated with thunderstorms looks more likely for inland NSW than further south and west in SA and Vic.
02 Feb 2026, 9:15AM UTC
Pilbara tropical cyclone possible this weekend
A low pressure system currently causing heavy rain over the Northern Territory could develop into a tropical cyclone near the Pilbara coast later this week. The satellite images below show a tropical low spinning over the NT on Monday. This system has already caused heavy rain over the last few days, including the following totals during the 24 hours ending at 9am ACST on Monday: 154.2 mm at Bradshaw – wettest February day in 23 years of records 126.6 mm at Delamere – wettest day in 15 years 122.6 mm at Maningrida Airport – wettest day in 15 years Image: Visible satellite images captured on Monday, February 2, 2026. Source: Weatherzone. Tropical cyclone threat increasing later this week The low is unlikely to become a tropical cyclone while it remains over land. However, forecast models indicate the system should move towards the west in the coming days and move off Western Australia’s Kimberley coast later this week, most likely around Friday. Once it moves offshore, the low pressure system has a better chance of becoming a tropical cyclone as it draws energy from the warm water to the north of WA. The Bureau of Meteorology gives this system a moderate risk of becoming a tropical cyclone on the weekend as it tracks in a westerly direction to the north of the Pilbara district. Modelling from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts gives stronger odds of cyclone development, with a 60 to 70% chance that a tropical cyclone will be located within a 300 km radius of the Pilbara coast at some point between Saturday and Monday. Image: Probability that a tropical cyclone will pass within a 300 km radius within a 48-hour window of 8am AWST on February 8, 2026. Source: ECMWF. Heavy rain and flooding to hit several states Regardless of whether this system becomes a tropical cyclone later this week, a broad area of the NT and northern WA will be impacted by heavy rain and flooding between now and Friday while the system is still a tropical low. Moisture associated with the low will also fuel daily rain and thunderstorm activity over large areas of northern and eastern Australia this week. Flood watches have been issued for parts of the NT, Queensland and WA’s Kimberley district due to the rain that’s expected to fall during the remainder of this week. Severe thunderstorm warnings may also be issued throughout the week as storms start to become more widespread. Check the latest warnings in your area for the most up to date information over the coming week. Anyone living in the Pilbara should have a tropical cyclone plan ready, and monitor the latest tropical cyclone forecasts and warnings for more information.