These Australian towns could approach 50°C this week
An intense and prolonged heatwave will grip southeastern Australia this week, with temperatures forecast to approach 50°C in parts of four states.
Temperatures are soaring over Australia’s southeastern inland this week due to a slow-moving upper-level high pressure system causing air to heat up as it descends from higher altitudes towards the surface. As this ‘subsidence warming’ will occur for numerous consecutive days, due to the slow-moving nature of the upper-level high, it will cause temperatures to reach record-challenging levels in the next few days.
Already close to 50°C on Monday, January 26
Temperatures already reached 49.5°C at Ceduna in South Australia on Monday as northerly winds carried intense inland heat towards the state’s south coast. This was Australia's highest temperature in two years and SA’s highest since 2019.
Records could fall on Tuesday, January 27
The most intense heat on Tuesday will occur over northwest Victoria, western New South Wales and the eastern inland of SA. Temperatures are forecast to reach 48 to 49°C over this region, with potential for some places to reach 50°C in the afternoon.
Places forecast to reach 49°C on Tuesday include:
- Mildura (Vic)
- Ouyen (Vic)
- Walpeup (Vic)
- Wentworth (NSW)
Tuesday’s heat may challenge Vic’s official maximum temperature record of 48.8°C from Hopetoun Airport on February 7, 2009.
Image: Forecast maximum temperatures on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.
Heat shifting north on Wednesday, January 28
A westward shift in the centre of the upper-level high pressure system will allow the hottest air to move towards the north on Wednesday, targeting western NSW, southwest Queensland and the northwest of SA.
Temperatures should once again climb to the high 40s on Wednesday and may near 50°C in some places. Thargomindah, Qld is predicted to hit 49°C and Tibooburra in NSW is forecast to reach 48°C on Wednesday afternoon. This may challenge Thargomindah’s maximum temperature record of 48.8°C on January 13, 2013.
Image: Forecast maximum temperatures on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.
Peak heat moving into northern SA on Thursday, January 29
The anticlockwise movement of the most intense heat will continue on Thursday, causing temperatures to rise in the north of SA, while also remaining blisteringly hot in southwest Qld and northwest NSW.
SA’s northern pastoral districts are likely to be the hottest place in Australia on Thursday, with Maree and Roxby Downs predicted to reach 49°C, while Moomba and Oodnadatta should reach about 48°C. Pockets of 50°C heat are possible between some of these weather stations on Thursday afternoon.
Image: Forecast maximum temperatures on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.
Heat intensifying over SA on Friday, January 30
By Friday, the upper-level high pressure system should be centred somewhere over the eastern inland of SA. This will allow the hottest air to target SA and cause more places to reach the high 40s.
Friday could be the second 49°C day in a row for Maree, with Tarcoola also forecast to reach 49°C and Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy predicted to reach 48°C.
Image: Forecast maximum temperatures on Friday, January 30, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.
Last day of peak heat for many on Saturday, January 31
Saturday looks like being the final day of widespread temperature in the mid-to-high 40s before cooler air arrives in the form of a southerly wind change.
There is increased uncertainty around maximum temperature on Saturday, although parts of SA, northern Vic and western NSW should still be very hot.
Current forecasts suggest the mercury could climb to about 48°C around Maree in SA on Saturday, while Mildura in Vic, Menindee, Ivanhoe and Wilcannia in NSW and Thargomindah in Qld are all predicted to reach 46°C.
Image: Forecast maximum temperatures on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Source: Weatherzone.
How many times has Australia reached 50°C?
It is rare to see temperatures exceeding 50°C in Australia. Prior to this heatwave, 50°C has only officially been exceeded seven times since reliable temperature records commenced in 1910:
- 50.7°C at Onslow Airport, WA on January 13, 2022
- 50.7°C at Oodnadatta, SA on January 2, 1960
- 50.5°C at Roebourne, WA on January 13, 2022
- 50.5°C at Mardie, WA on January 13, 2022
- 50.5°C at Mardie, WA on February 19, 1998
- 50.3°C at Oodnadatta, SA on January 3, 1960
- 50.1°C at Wilcannia, NSW on January 11, 1939