Why is there a heatwave in Australia?
As of January 31, 2026, the ongoing heatwave in southeastern Australia is primarily driven by a persistent heat dome that formed in late January. This system has pushed temperatures close to 50°C across major inland regions. High-pressure conditions trapped hot air over Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, preventing cooler air from entering the region.
The event is further influenced by Australia’s seasonal solar exposure, as the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun during January.
Key impacted locations include:
- Victoria: Gellibrand, Hopetoun, Walpeup, Mildura
- New South Wales: Ivanhoe, Wilcannia, Broken Hill
- South Australia: Port Augusta, Marree, Tarcoola
How long will the heatwave last?
The heatwave began in late January and has persisted for seven to eight consecutive days across southeastern inland regions. This marks one of the longest and most intense heatwaves since the 1930s in several regions of New South Wales (1).
As of the latest updates, cooler southerly winds have begun moving inland from the southern coastline. These winds are expected to erode the heat dome within 48 hours, bringing substantial temperature drops of 10-18°C across Victoria, eastern South Australia, and inland New South Wales (2).
Are there any alerts in place?
Multiple emergency alerts remain active across southeastern Australia as extreme heat continues to impact Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. Victoria remains under a declared state of disaster due to dangerously high temperatures and strain on critical infrastructure.
Extreme heat warnings continue across Victoria, as well as parts of New South Wales and South Australia, as temperatures remain well above 40°C and pose significant risks to health and safety (3).
Earlier in the week, more than 100,000 homes lost power as the heatwave severely stressed the electrical grid, leaving many residents without cooling during hazardous conditions.
The intense and prolonged heatwave has accelerated bushfire activity across the region, creating dangerous and rapidly changing fire conditions. Evacuations took place in the town of Gellibrand after fast-moving bushfires crossed containment lines, prompting many residents to leave the community for safety (4).
Evacuation centers were activated for communities threatened by the Carlisle River fire in the Otways region, providing emergency shelter and support for displaced individuals.
Fire crews are currently battling six major fires across Victoria, with three still out of control as of January 28, increasing risks for surrounding rural areas (5).
