The Victoria-Home Highway is closed, regional trains canceled and firefighters from at least two states are battling blazes in the worst heatwave to hit Australia since the black summer.
As Melbourne braces for a predicted temperature of 41 degrees on Friday, Acting Prime Minister Ben Carroll described Victoria as “one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world”.
“There is also a real risk of heat-related illness across the state tomorrow.”
The state Department of Health urged Victorians to “be prepared – stay hydrated, stay home as much as possible and check on your loved ones”.
Firefighters were bracing for extreme fire danger in the mid-north of South Australia and northern Victoria, creating catastrophic conditions in many parts of Victoria on Friday, including the south west, Wimmera and northern Victoria, with extreme conditions elsewhere.
Fires are already raging in several states, affecting residents. bushfires in Longwood and Walwe in Victoria warned to “leave immediately.”
Severe and extreme heat warnings remained in place for all states and territories except Queensland on Thursday, senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
Some of the highest temperatures recorded by Thursday lunchtime across Australia included 44.9C at Tarcoola on Saturday, 45.8C at Hopetoun Airport in Victoria, 43.7C at Paraburdoo, WA, and 43C at Hay, NSW.
Adelaide residents woke up to 31 degrees on Thursday morning and reached 40 degrees by midday, after the city hit 43 degrees on Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“The heat is increasing across southern Australia,” Scully said.
Extreme temperatures in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia are expected to hit Canberra and New South Wales from Friday.
On Thursday Temperatures were expected to reach 33C in central Sydney, but temperatures could reach 40C in some western suburbs. Maximum temperatures will be 38°C in Canberra and 31°C in Melbourne.
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Friday was expected to be “the deadliest day yet in terms of fires,” Scully said, due to hot, dry and windy conditions, including damaging winds gusting up to 90 km/h. Jason Heffernan from the Country Fire Authority said they were preparing for a “very, very terrible bushfire day”.
The last time such multi-county catastrophic ratings were last seen was November 21, 2019, Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said.
“We know the devastating impact we saw in the east of our state during the 2019-2020 fires.”
“Catastrophic fire danger ratings mean we will see unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast-moving fires tomorrow.”
Questions and answers
What happens to the body during heat?
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Heat waves put a lot of stress on the body, especially on the cardiovascular system and kidneys. The heart has to work hard to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the organs and increase blood flow to the extremities. Cardiovascular collapse – sudden cardiac arrest – is the leading cause of heat-related deaths in Australia.
Symptoms to watch out for:
– Hot skin
– Confusion
– Weakness
– Convulsions
– Dizziness
– Vomit
– Fainting
A complete fire ban will be imposed across Victoria on Friday, and will be extended from Thursday in South Australia's central north, as well as the Mallee, northern, north-central and north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina of New South Wales.
The Hume Freeway was closed in both directions on Thursday between Seymour and Violet Town – a section of about 74km.
Regional V-Line trains and buses will be canceled Friday in fire districts facing catastrophic danger. Freight transport through these areas will also be suspended.
Public lands and parks across the state were closed.
The chance of thunderstorms and dry lightning across much of Victoria and southern NSW added to concerns. Storms could bring large hail to Victoria's north-eastern ranges, Scully said.
Staff at Sydney's Taronga Zoo have been making sure the animals in their care have plenty of opportunities to cool off.
Animals that can swim, such as buffalo and rhinoceroses, will have the opportunity to swim, according to head of behavioral animal husbandry Brendan Host.
According to him, capybaras preferred to wallow in mud bogs, and keepers prepared “blood scythes” for the lions—blocks of ice made from meat, blood and water.
Monarto Safari Park has reopened in South Africa after being closed on Wednesday due to extreme weather conditions.
The heat has already taken its toll on local wildlife, with Bat Rescue SA reporting that hundreds of flying fox cubs have died due to the heat.
Wildlife rescue organization Wires said extreme heat and dehydration could be fatal for many species. The public could help by leaving shallow bowls of fresh water in their gardens or balconies in a shady area.
Motorists were advised to be especially vigilant, especially at dusk and dawn, when nocturnal animals may cross roads and highways in search of water sources.
Many places in Victoria recorded their hottest day since 2020, including Melbourne, where temperatures soared to 40.9C. At Avalon Airport, near Geelong, temperatures reached 43.6C, also the hottest day in six years.
Walpeup in Victoria's Mallee region reached 45C, with Mildura, Hopetoun and Warracknabeal not far behind with temperatures of 44C.
Temperatures were approaching 50C in some coastal towns in Western Australia, with Onslow on the Pilbara coast recording 49C, she said.
In Adelaide, suburbs north of the city saw temperatures reach the mid-40s, including Edinburgh, which recorded 44.6C. Temperatures reached 46°C in Ceduna, Port Augusta, Wudinna and Tarcoola.
In New South Wales, Hay in the Riverina was one of the hottest places with temperatures of 45°C. Temperatures reached the 30s in some suburbs in Sydney's south-west.
Tasmania, particularly in the north and east, was hotter than normal, with temperatures reaching 33.9C in Ouse, about an hour's drive north-west of Hobart, and St Helens on the north-east coast.
Forecast for the capital for Friday:
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Melbourne: Windy. Late storm possible. Max 41
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Canberra: Sunny. Max 39
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Adelaide: Mostly sunny. Max 35
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Sydney: Sunny. Max 33
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Darwin: Rain. Storm. Max 33
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Perth: Partly cloudy. Max 29
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Brisbane: Showers possible. Max 29
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Hobart: A shower or two. Max 24
In 2025, Australia experienced its fourth warmest year on record, with the country's average temperature rising by 1.23°C. according to BM.
The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heat waves and wildfires.
Professor Dr Andrew King, a climate scientist at the University of Melbourne, said: “Our emissions are causing worsening heatwaves and fire weather in particular. The longer we wait to take real action to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the more we can expect to see even more intense heatwaves and fire weather in the coming years.”
