2h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 8:36pmStay up to date with the latest warnings from emergency services
In an emergency, the ABCÂ will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio.
You can find your local frequency here.
For more information, including a map of all the warnings, visit ABC Emergency.
For fire warnings specific to Victoria, visit VicEmergency.
For incidents in South Australia, visit the Country Fire Service.
For warnings in New South Wales, visit the NSW Rural Fire Service.
2m agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 11:28pm
Another hot day on the cards
It’s shaping up to be another warm day for inland parts of the country, with temperatures of between 47 and 49 degrees Celsius forecast for some areas.
Here’s a wrap of the hottest forecasts around the country today:
49.0C at Thargomindah, QLD48.7C at Wilcannia, NSW48.0C at Marree, SA44.7C at Rutherglen, VIC42.1C at Curtin Springs, NT42.0C at Canberra, ACT42.0C at Pannawonica, WA
5m agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 11:25pm
Fire evacuees praise relief facilities
Victoria’s fires have displaced hundreds of households.
But yesterday at the Colac Showgrounds , which has been set up as an emergency relief centre for those impacted by the Carlisle River blaze in the state’s south, spirits were high.
Leanne Mouratidis evacuated from her Carlisle home with her dogs. (ABC News)
Carlisle resident Leanne Mouratidis left her home on Monday with her three dogs. Her husband stayed behind to take care of their other animals.
“You could see the fire from our house because we look over where the Gellibrand fire is,” she said.
“It was just horrendous … it really was hard yakka.”
She said that aside from the emotional hardship, the relief centre had been “a good place to hunker down and wait”, and praised the volunteers and staff.
Colin Papworth said the relief centre at the showgrounds had been “perfect”. (ABC News)
Colin Papworth, from nearby Birregurra, also said the volunteers and community organisations were “really doing a top thing for the area”.
“They’re cooking tucker down here and supplying water whatever you need,” he said.
“They’re got the chook house over here which is purpose-built so the lady next to us has brought her chooks.
“It’s been perfect,” he said.
The showgrounds were also sheltering some feathered evacuees. (ABC News)
25m agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 11:05pm
Victorian crews taking advantage of better conditions
The State Control Centre (SCC) in Victoria has issued a brief update on the fire situation across the state, and the mood is tentatively optimistic.
There are eight fires burning in Victoria, three of which are currently out of control at Carlisle River in the Otways and at Walwa and Dargo in the state’s north-east.
“Crews are taking advantage of some more favourable conditions today to really strengthen containment lines and conduct backburning operations,” SCC spokesperson James Taylor said.
“The fire danger today remains high across most of the state except west and south Gippsland and even east Gippsland where it’s moderate.”
The fire in the Otways jumped containment lines on Saturday. (Supplied: Port Fairy Urban Fire Brigade)
The warning for the Otways fire, which has claimed at least three houses and 16 other buildings, was reduced to Watch and Act level yesterday.
“Residents of Gellibrand and surrounds are advised it’s still not safe to return yet but efforts are being made to get them home as soon as possible,” Mr Taylor said.
Gellibrand residents have also been warned tap water in the area is not safe to drink even after boiling.
High temperature are persisiting in parts of the state, with some centres such as Mildura and Ouyen forecast to again top 40 degrees Celsius today.
The high temperatures in the state’s north could persist until Sunday.
“We’re still seeing heatwave conditions in part of the state, particularly north-east, so make sure you’re taking care if you’re out in the heat. Stay cool, stay hydrated and check in regularly with your friends and family,” Mr Taylor said.
34m agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 10:56pm
Increased health risks for older people amid heat
For older Australians, beating the heat is crucial. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Experts are raising awareness about the heightened dangers for older people during prolonged heat.
Older people are at increased risk of heat-related illnesses, which is exacerbated by extended periods of extreme high temperatures, said Associate Professor Rachel Winterton from La Trobe University in Melbourne.
“Extreme heat can be socially isolating for older people as it can prevent them from getting out and about in their communities,” she said.
“When it’s hot, having social spaces that are cool and accessible is really important in providing opportunities for social connection among older people.”
44m agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 10:46pm
The science behind the heatwave
An “abnormal” summer is smashing temperature records across Australia, with some towns nearing 50 degrees Celsius in recent days.
But why are the same towns always in the headlines when it comes to heat records?
Experts have explained the science behind this week’s heatwave.
1h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 10:26pm
Locals shed light on life in one of Queensland’s hottest towns
A summer in Thargomindah in the state’s far south-west can be full of 40-something degree days
Tamie Warner, who has lived in the town her whole life, says their local council has no official heat policy because it’s always so hot.
And, while most locals have “good air conditioners”, she says they’re struggling through the current heat event.
“It’s normal for our summer to get between 44-46 … getting up to 49, though … I haven’t experienced that,” she said.Â
1h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 10:10pm
Farmer innovates unusual way to keep cool
 This lucerne farmer in SA’s Riverland has crafted a unique way to keep cool in the hot weather.
Toby told the ABC yesterday evening he decided to mix things up a bit by hanging a hammock on his centre pivot irrigator (a giant sprinkler) while it was watering the crops.
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Talk about Aussie genius!
While this was filmed earlier in January when it was 47C, there is no doubt he will be thinking of doing it again as the area swelters through the south-east heatwave.
Renmark reached a top of 41C yesterday and is expected to reach 43C today.
1h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 9:50pmFire danger high for many regions
Senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, Angus Hines, says extreme heat will primarily affect inland areas in northern Victoria and western NSW, as well as northern SA.
“Severe heatwave warnings are in place over large areas of central Australia again with 47-49C temperatures forecast for many areas over those states,” he told ABC News.
“The fire danger is sitting at high for many regions … we don’t have the howling, hot northerly winds which really drives the major spikes in fire danger.”
However, he added, the heat and dry atmosphere meant that “any fires that get going could potentially cause an issue and spread rather quickly”.
BOM senior meteorologist Angus Hines. (ABC News)
1h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 9:45pm
When will conditions ease for Victoria?
 Firefighters continue to battle multiple blazes across Victoria. (ABC News)
Today is not a day for reprieve for Victoria.
“By the end of the week, many sites will be approaching records in terms of duration of days over 40 degrees,” says David Crock, a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne.
“Saturday will be the last very hot day for northern Victoria.”
By Sunday, cooler air is expected to extend across northern Victoria, with temperatures set to drop 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.
2h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 9:18pmAn update on the fire situation in Victoria
Victorian fire authorities are optimistic the Carlisle River fire in the Otways could soon be contained amid improved conditions over the past 24 hours.
It’s one of several out-of-control fires in Victoria, along with blazes in Walwa and Dargo in the state’s north-east.
This morning the State Control Centre said three homes and 16 other buildings had been destroyed in the Otways.
A building destroyed by fire in the Gellibrand area. (ABC News: Nicole Asher)
The state response controller David Nugent said on Wednesday night that the situation had improved around the Carlisle River blaze but it was still not safe for residents to return to communities around Gellibrand.
An advice warning was also issued regarding tap water quality in Gellibrand, with authorities saying the water was not safe to drink and that boiling it will not make it safe.
Authorities advised that a fire at Kennedy’s Creek, which was being managed as part of the Carlisle River complex, had been contained.
2h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 8:53pm
Smoke drifting around parts of Sydney
Smoke from a fire burning near the Pacific Motorway, south of Nerong, north-east of Newcastle, has drifted into the Central Coast and parts of Sydney overnight.
A smoky and hazy Sydney morning. (ABC News: Taryn Southcombe)
The NSW Rural Fire Service says the smoke is expected to dissipate sometime on Thursday morning.
Yesterday and today are the peak fire danger days for NSW amid the current heatwave.
Contributing to the fire risk today is the risk of dry lightning and gusty conditions about the Snowy Mountains, Southwest Slopes, and southern parts of the ACT.
A fire burns near the Pacific Motorway north-east of Newcastle on Wednesday. (Facebook: NSW Rural Fire Service)2h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 8:43pmFire ban for NSW’s Northern Slopes
A total fire ban has been declared for the Northern Slopes today in NSW, due to forecast hot, dry and windy conditions.
The Rural Fire Service fire danger rating map on Thursday morning. (Supplied: RFS)
The total fire ban began at midnight this morning and covers the following council areas: Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains and Tamworth.
As is usual with these bans, no fires can be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended. Gas and electric barbeques may be used provided certain conditions are met.
For a full list of the rules, you can visit the RFS NSW website.
2h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 8:39pm
Australian towns to bake in high 40s heat
Multiple towns in Australia are forecast to reach temperatures in the high 40s today.
In south-west Queensland, Thargomindah is forecast to hit 47 degrees Celsius, with Cunnamulla and Birdsville anticipating 45C.
Down in New South Wales, in the far west outback region, Broken Hill could reach 46C, Bourke is expecting 44C and Fowlers Gap may see a whopping 48C.
Outback towns like Broken Hill are set to swelter. (ABC News: Bill Ormonde)
The temperature is tipped to reach 47.5C in Andamooka, 47C in the perpetually warm Coober Pedy and a mammoth 49C in Roxby Downs, all in South Australia’s north.
Victoria is forecast to be slightly cooler with maximum temperatures of 45C in Mildura and 42C in Corryong near the NSW border.
After a few days of extremely hot conditions in the tiny Victorian town of Ouyen, today they can expect a slight bit of (relative) relief at 43C.
2h agoWed 28 Jan 2026 at 8:37pm
Welcome to our live weather coverage
Good morning and welcome to our live weather coverage.
A heatwave is continuing to impact large parts of Australia, with hot, dry and windy conditions forecast.
Parts of NSW, Queensland and South Australia are expected to reach temperatures in the high 40s.
It comes as multiple bushfires are burning across Victoria at varying levels of severity, including a serious blaze near the Otways in the state’s south.
We’ll bring you the latest updates in our blog.