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A broad region of low pressure is triggering storms across the northern tropics, extending into NW WA and central Qld with troughs also triggering storms. A front crossing SW WA brings showers & the odd storm. Onshore winds are bringing showers to southern Tas & eastern NSW.
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Today, 1:37AM UTC
Intense heatwave spreading across Australia, catastrophic fire danger in SA on Saturday
An intense and prolonged heatwave will sweep across Australia from this weekend into next week, causing temperatures to potentially approach 50°C and fuelling catastrophic fire danger ratings in some areas. A large pool of hot air that has been building over Western Australia this week will spill across the country’s southern and southeastern states from this weekend. A stagnant weather pattern will then allow this heat to dig in and intensify over Australia’s southeastern inland next week, which will cause a severe to extreme heatwave and likely challenging January maximum temperature records in several states. Image: Heatwave severity forecast for the three days starting on Monday, January 26, 2026. Source: Weatherzone. Temperatures could reach the high forties in parts of South Australia from Saturday and in Victoria and New South Wales from Monday or Tuesday. This intense heat could linger until late next week and should also spread into parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory. Current forecasts show temperatures reaching as high as 48°C in SA and NSW and 47°C in Vic and Qld over the coming week. However, some computer models suggest temperatures could get near 50°C parts of inland SA, western NSW or southern Qld next week. Image: Forecast maximum temperatures on Thursday, January 29, 2026, according to the ECMWF-HRES model. The heat will also contribute to elevated fire danger ratings. Extreme fire danger ratings are likely in parts of southern SA on Friday and over a broader area of SA and western Vic on Saturday. SA’s Yorke Peninsula could even see catastrophic fire danger on Saturday as the heat combines with strong northwesterly winds. Capital cities feeling the heat While the highest temperatures from this heatwave will occur inland, Australia's southeastern capital cities will not be immune to the heat. Adelaide is likely to exceed 40°C on Saturday and Monday, possibly hitting 42 to 43°C on Monday afternoon. Melbourne should also see two days close to or 40°C, one on Saturday and again on Tuesday, with Tuesday currently likely to be the hottest day of the heatwave. Canberra could reach the mid-to-high 30s every day between Saturday this week and Saturday next week, possibly reaching around 42°C on Wednesday, January 28. Sydney’s CBD and eastern suburbs will have a few days in the low 30s this weekend and next week, while temperatures could nudge 40°C in the city’s western suburbs on Sunday. Hobart is predicted to see maximums in the high 20s on Saturday and may reach around 32°C on Tuesday next week. How to stay safe in a heatwave Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest natural disaster, and they can cause problems for anyone who doesn’t take precautions to keep cool, even people who are fit and healthy. The Australian Red Cross has the following advice for staying safe during a heatwave: Stay inside and keep out of the heat as much as possible. Plan to do most of your activities early or late in the day to avoid being outside during the hottest hours. Avoid sport and heavy exercise during peak hours of the day. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Keep your home cool by using external shade cloths or blinds to shield the inside of the house from direct sunlight. Where possible use a combination of air conditioning and fans to keep certain rooms in the house cool. Electric fans can be an effective method of cooling if air conditioning is not available. If not using air conditioning, open windows during the cooler parts of the day and allow ventilation between rooms. Take cool showers or baths, splash yourself with cold water, or use a cool damp cloth to cool down. If it's too hot at home, go to an air-conditioned shopping centre, community centre, library or your local swimming pool. Avoid direct exposure to the sun where possible and protect yourself with appropriate clothing (loose-fitting, lightweight and light-coloured). Do not leave children or animals in parked vehicles. Keep in touch with friends, neighbours and relatives, particularly if they’re unwell or isolated.
22 Jan 2026, 3:53AM UTC
High tropical cyclone risk for Kimberley coast
A tropical low gaining strength to the north of Western Australia has a high chance of approaching the Kimberley coast as a tropical cyclone this weekend. At 8am AWST on Thursday, the tropical low was located around 790 km to the northwest of Broome, with sustained wind speeds of 35 km/h and gusts of 85 km/h near its centre. The tropical low is expected to gain strength as it moves towards the southeast on Thursday and Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the system will reach tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday or early Saturday, before crossing the Kimberley coast on Saturday, most likely as a category one tropical cyclone. Following landfall, the system will weaken and move inland over the Kimberley on Sunday and possibly across the state’s Norther Interior early next week. Difference between a tropical low and tropical cyclone The main difference between a tropical low and tropical cyclone is wind speed: A tropical low is a low pressure system in the tropics that is not yet producing wind speeds sufficient to be classified as a tropical cyclone. These lows can still cause heavy rain, thunderstorms and localised areas of damaging winds. A tropical cyclone is a stronger low pressure system that has gale force winds (mean 10-minute wind speed of 63 km/h or higher) extending around at least half of its core for at least 6 hours. Tropical cyclones can cause heavy rain, flooding, storm surges and damaging to very destructive winds. Tropical lows and tropical cyclones can both cause severe weather, although the latter is typically more dangerous. Heavy rain and damaging winds on the way At this stage, heavy rain and flooding will be the primary threats for the Kimberley region because the system is expected to make landfall as either a tropical low or a low-end tropical cyclone (category one is the lowest level on Australia's five-tiered tropical cyclone scale). Heavy rain that could cause flooding is possibly over the Kimberley from late Friday and could continue Saturday and Sunday. Areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms may also extend inland towards the Interior of WA early next week. Image: Forecast accumulated rain during the next seven days. Source: Weatherzone. Damaging gale force winds are also possible for parts of the Kimberley, most likely between the Mitchell Plateau and Broom, as the system approaches and crosses the coast, particularly if it makes landfall as a tropical cyclone. What will the cyclone be named? If this system becomes the next tropical cyclone to form in Australia’s area of responsibility, it will be named Luana. This would be the 8th tropical cyclone in the Australian region so far this season.
21 Jan 2026, 11:37PM UTC
Melbourne to hit 41°C during Australian Open
Two distinct 40-degree heat spikes are coming to Melbourne – one on Saturday and another next Tuesday – with the Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park likely to be impacted. This time last week, Melbourne was enjoying a run of relatively stable maximus in the mid-twenties. But because Melbourne’s summer weather is influenced by cool, maritime air south of Australia and dry scorching air from Australia’s interior, that pattern was never likely to last long. The temperature see-saw for which the city is famous is now set to swing into full effect. After a high of just 20°C this Thursday under cool southerly winds, Melbourne’s maximum is expected to soar up to 40°C on Saturday with gusty northerlies. Sunday will again be much milder with a top of 27°C, before the mercury again jumps up to around 41°C on Tuesday, and some models suggest it could get much hotter. Image: Predicted maximums in Victoria on Saturday, January 24, 2026, according to the ECMWF model. Source: Weatherzone. How does the Australian Open Extreme Heat Policy work? For fans and players at the Australian Open, the two heat spikes will likely result in activation of the Australian Open’s Extreme Heat Policy. The policy was developed in 2018 and implemented in 2019. It came after calls for a more robust policy first emerged in 2014, when Melbourne endured four consecutive days with blistering maximums of 42.0°C, 41.6°C, 43.4°C and 42.5°C from January 14-17 during the Australian Open. That was a remarkable run when you consider that Melbourne averages only one day of 40-degree heat in January, and the result was the Australian Open Extreme Heat Policy (EHP) which is based on a Heat Stress Scale (HSS). Image: Daily Forecast for Melbourne, Vic, on the Weatherzone app. Credit: Weatherzone. The HSS factors in more than just the temperature at Melbourne Park. In addition to air temperature, it also takes into account humidity, wind speed and radiant heat (the strength of the sun plus heat radiated from surrounding surfaces like the tennis court). Three of the courts at Melbourne Park – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena – have retractable roofs. Under extreme or wet weather conditions, the tournament referee can decide to close the roof. Play can then continue after a pause while the roof is closed. On the outer courts with no roofs, longer breaks can be introduced during extreme heat and play can even be suspended. So while the Australian Open has no specific temperature threshold at which play is suspended, it’s likely that in coming days you’ll be hearing the phrases Extreme Heat Policy and Heat Stress Scale – and probably seeing roof closures mid-match on the show courts.