Temperatures are set to soar across the Australian outback this weekend, with parts of South Australia possibly hitting 45°C on Sunday.

A large mass of hot air is currently building over WA, causing temperatures to reach the low forties in the state’s north. In the Pilbara, which is no stranger to hot weather at this time of year, Mardie reached 43.5°C on Monday and had already surpassed 43°C by 2pm AWST on Tuesday.

Image: Clear skies over WA are allowing heat to build.

This heat will spread towards the south in the middle of this week, causing temperatures to reach close to 40°C at Eucla on the south coast of WA. Another more intense round of heat will then sweep across central and southern Australia on the weekend as northerly winds strengthen ahead of an approaching low pressure trough.

Some forecast models suggest that temperatures will reach around 44 to 45°C in SA this weekend, with the hottest day currently expected to be on Sunday.

The maps below show one computer model’s prediction for the maximum temperatures on Saturday and Sunday.

Image: Forecast maximum temperature on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Image: Forecast maximum temperature on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Australia during October was 46.9°C at Port Hedland in 2002, while SA’s highest October temperature was 45.4°C at Oodnadatta in 1995.

Temperatures could challenge the SA record this weekend, with parts of the state’s North West Pastoral District forecast to reach 45°C on Sunday.

The last two times anywhere in Australia reached 45°C this early in October were in 2014 and 2004.

The upcoming heat will also help to cause High to Extreme fire danger ratings in parts of southern Australia over the coming days.