Firefighters across Australia are preparing for potentially catastrophic conditions as an intense heatwave blankets large parts of the country, pushing temperatures to scorching new heights and dramatically increasing the bushfire risk through Friday.
Widespread Heatwave Warnings and Soaring Temperatures
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued official heatwave warnings for multiple states and territories, including New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South Australia. Forecasters predict temperatures will climb significantly above seasonal averages, creating dangerous conditions.
Major cities are set to swelter, with Sydney and Brisbane bracing for days exceeding 35 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday. The relief of nightfall will be minimal due to stifling overnight heat. The situation is even more severe elsewhere, with South Australia expected to endure 45–46C and parts of southwest Queensland facing a blistering 47C. Northwest NSW and the southern Northern Territory are also preparing for temperatures in the low-to-mid 40s.
Extreme Fire Danger and Precautionary Closures
Authorities have declared an extreme fire danger, the second-highest rating, for ten districts in New South Wales today, including Greater Sydney. More alarmingly, the state's first catastrophic fire danger rating of the season has been declared for the Lower Central West Plains. This highest-level warning signifies that any fires igniting in these areas will be fast-moving, uncontrollable, and pose a severe threat to lives and property.
In a precautionary move, the NSW Department of Education has closed 25 public schools in the Riverina region ahead of the forecast dangerous conditions. Emergency services are urgently advising residents to avoid outdoor work during the peak heat, stay hydrated, and, crucially, ensure their bushfire survival plans are ready to be activated.
Storm Fury and Ongoing Fallout from Hail Catastrophe
The severe weather is not limited to heat. Humid conditions are also fuelling destructive thunderstorms, bringing risks of large hail, heavy rain, and damaging winds in the coming days. A separate weather system sweeping over southern and central NSW is whipping up strong, dry westerlies, creating additional dangers from downed trees and rapidly spreading fires.
This fresh wave of severe weather comes as Queenslanders are still reeling from an 'insurance catastrophe' declared after a devastating hailstorm on Monday. More than 16,000 insurance claims have been lodged across 140 postcodes from that single event.
The severe weather continued on Tuesday night, with further thunderstorms lashing parts of Ipswich, Logan, Somerset, Southern Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett, and Toowoomba. The utility company Energex reported that ongoing storms in Southeast Queensland cut power to an additional 11,000 customers, with nearly 40,000 customers still without electricity—a mix of longstanding and new outages.
Meteorologists explain that the prolonged heatwave is being driven by hot air from inland Australia moving towards the coast, coupled with dropping humidity. While not unusual for late spring, this hot spell could approach record-breaking levels for November, marking a fierce start to the nation's high-risk summer season.
