Australian Weather

23 Jan 2026, 7:20AM UTC

Australia Day falls this coming Monday, January 26, so here’s our summary of the likely weather conditions in the capital cities. We’ll list the cities in order of sunrise, local time. Brisbane: Sunrise 5:15am AEST. Forecast maximum: 38°C Brisbane looks set for by far its hottest day of the year to date, with the previous hottest being January 17 when the maximum reached 33.4°C. It will also be humid, so it’s going to feel warm out there. The good news is that skies will be dry, so don’t be scared to host or attend a barbie if you can find a bit of shade. Perth: Sunrise 5:36am AWST. Forecast maximum: 25°C Perth could be the coolest of the capitals on Monday, with a maximum around the same level as Hobart. That’s not something that happens too often during summer. Blame the unseasonable cold front whipping through the far southwest of WA which may even bring a few showers on Sunday, though they should clear in time for BBQ lunches on Monday. Hobart: Sunrise 6:04am AEDT. Forecast maximum: 25°C Hobart has seen rain on 10 days so far in January, though it hasn’t amounted to much in total. Australia Day should be dry and pleasant with a high of 25°C, ahead of a much warmer 32°C on Tuesday which would be by far the hottest day of the 2025/26 summer to date. Sydney: Sunrise 6:10am AEDT. Forecast maximum: 27°C It should be pretty close to perfect in Sydney for those enjoying the festivities on the harbour or beaches, or even just a backyard BBQ. A few clouds will dot the sky but nothing that is likely to produce rain. Image: Forecast maximum temperatures around Australia on Monday, January 26, 2026. Canberra: Sunrise 6:16am AEDT. Forecast maximum: 36°C The national capital will have a run of scorching days from Sunday through to Thursday, peaking at a sweltering 42°C on Wednesday. While the forecast maximum of 36°C on Australia Day is still high by local standards, it could actually be the coolest day of a prolonged hot spell. Expect clear skies. Melbourne: Sunrise 6:27am AEDT. Forecast maximum: 32°C A lovely warm but not too hot Melbourne day is on the cards and it’s pretty good luck too, as it’s wedged in between a coolish Sunday and an absolutely scorching Tuesday when the mercury will climb into the low 40s. Adelaide: Sunrise 6:29am ACDT. Forecast maximum: 43°C After three hot days, Monday will be another sizzler in Adelaide with a high of 43°C – a mark the SA capital has already reached twice this month after maximums of 43.2°C and 43.3°C on January 7 and 8 respectively. If it helps makes the heat seem a little more tolerable, Adelaide will still be cooler than northern and western parts of the state, where widespread temperatures of 47°C are likely, with the mercury potentially pushing as high as 50°C. That said, there’s still potential for furnace-like heat to push south and for Adelaide's maximum to bump up by a couple of degrees. Darwin: Sunrise: 6:38am ACST. Forecast maximum: 32°C Ah, good old reliable Darwin in summer. Maximum around 32°C, chance of a storm in the afternoon. Croc burgers on the BBQ for all!

23 Jan 2026, 1:37AM UTC

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.