Australia Faces Extreme Heat Amid National Day Celebrations

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:37:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Australia Day approaches, authorities issue severe heatwave warnings throughout the country, affecting celebrations and raising safety concerns.

With Australia Day coinciding with an intense heatwave, the Bureau of Meteorology warns of dangerously high temperatures and fire dangers, prompting the cancellation of some national celebrations. Residents are advised to stay cool and safe as conditions could worsen in the coming days.

Australian authorities have issued heatwave warnings for most of the country as millions celebrate Australia Day. Temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, reaching the 'high forties' Celsius in the southern states of Victoria and South Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

On Sunday, South Australia recorded temperatures as high as 48.5C, according to the bureau, which is warning of fire danger in parts of the country. Some national day celebrations on Monday have been cancelled out of safety concerns.

Australia Day - 26 January - is the anniversary of the 1788 landing of Britain's First Fleet, which began the era of colonisation. In Adelaide, an Australia Day parade and light show have been cancelled due to the extreme heat forecast. Organisers stressed that community safety must come first.

Aside from Victoria and South Australia, heatwave warnings have also been issued in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory, many of which will remain until Wednesday.

'We haven't seen heatwave conditions like this in Victoria for almost 20 years,' Tim Wiebusch, Victoria's emergency management commissioner, commented, fearing a return to conditions seen before major bushfires in 2009.

On Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology warned of 'extreme fire dangers' across parts of South Australia and much of southwestern Victoria, given the very hot and dry weather combined with moderate to gusty winds. Firefighters in Victoria are combating several fires, prompting evacuations and threatening properties.

The heat has also taken a toll on the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, where tennis player Jannik Sinner was seen suffering from cramps during matches as nearly 80,000 fans were warned to be cautious in the scorching sun.

In contrast, parts of Western Australia were impacted by Tropical Cyclone Luana over the weekend, resulting in damaged homes and a popular beach resort before it weakened moving inland.

People are advised to find cool spaces, such as homes, libraries, community centers, or shopping center as the meteorological bureau recommends keeping windows closed and curtains drawn to remain cool.

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