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South Australia faced another day of searing heat on Monday, as Victorians prepared for conditions forecast to be the hottest in history and more than 1100 residents told to get ready to evacuate ahead of extreme fire danger.<\/p>\n
Tuesday could see heat records broken throughout eastern South Australia and Victoria<\/a>, with maximums expected to be near 50C across inland areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.<\/p>\n Temperatures in Ouyen and Mildura in north-west Victoria were forecast to reach 49C on 27 January, which \u2013 if reached \u2013 would exceed the state\u2019s all-time top recorded temperature, 48.8C at Hopetoun on black Saturday 2009.<\/p>\n Maximum temperatures of 44C were forecast for Melbourne, nearing the city\u2019s all-time record of 46.4C, also on black Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll likely see numerous locations approach or exceed January, and some annual records tomorrow,\u201d Dean Narramore, the senior meteorologist, said.<\/p>\n On Monday, 46C was forecast for Adelaide in what was likely to be the city\u2019s hottest day since black summer. By lunchtime, temperatures in the city had already hit 42C and still rising, while Oodnadatta, in the state\u2019s north, was 45.6C and Ceduna, on the Eyre Peninsula, was 49.1 at 2pm local time.<\/p>\n Overnight temperatures across Adelaide would remain in the mid 30s.<\/p>\n For inland areas across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales<\/a>, the severe-to-extreme heat, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s, was expected to persist into next weekend.<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking at a week of temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s and overnight lows in the high 20s to low 30s,\u201d Narramore said, adding that such a prolonged run was unusual.<\/p>\n \u201cStay cool, stay hydrated, stay indoors, stay out of the sun,\u201d<\/p>\n Life Saving Victoria urged anyone heading to the beach or pool to stay safe in the water, with the risk of drowning doubling on public holidays. The public is encouraged to swim at patrolled locations, to supervise children at all times and check the conditions before entering the water.<\/p>\n More records could be broken on Wednesday as the heat moved into inland and western New South Wales and north-east Victoria, with widespread temperatures in the high 40s.<\/p>\n Total fire bans were in place for South Australia\u2019s west coast and New South Wales central ranges on Monday, and the majority of districts across southern SA on Tuesday.<\/p>\n A statewide total fire ban will be in place across Victoria on Tuesday, as fires continue to burn out of control , including in the Otways, where a fire has jumped containment lines at Carlisle River on Saturday threatening the small community of Gellibrand.<\/p>\n Residents in Gellibrand, Kawarren, Beech Forest, Forrest, Barongarook and surrounding areas were being urged to get ready to evacuate on Monday, with police and the State Emergency Service door-knocking homes to warn of the potential fire threat, according to the State Control Centre (SCC.<\/p>\n \u201cResidents from more than 1,100 properties in the Greater Otways area are being asked to evacuate before sunset today,\u201d the SCC said in a statement<\/p>\n The Country Fire Authority said conditions would significantly increase the likelihood of that fire spreading, which could pose a serious threat to homes, properties and lives.<\/p>\n The CFA\u2019s chief officer, Jason Heffernan, said the heat would be a challenge for firefighters as well as communities. Residents in the state\u2019s north could see eight days above 40C, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a heat emergency going on, in addition to a fire emergency across the state of Victoria,\u201d Heffernan said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be extremely hot with little to no overnight relief, particularly in the north and east. Make sure you\u2019re staying hydrated and checking in on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours.\u201d<\/p>\n Six major fires were still burning in parts of Victoria after an intense heatwave earlier in January, which analysts said was made five times more likely due to global heating<\/a>.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s energy market operator said the power grid was prepared for increased demand due to the heat.<\/p>\n Australia experienced its fourth-warmest year on record in 2025, with average temperatures up 1.23C nationally, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity<\/a> of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and bushfires.<\/p>\n Hotter-than-average days and nights were expected to continue until April for much of the country, according to the latest long-range forecast. Sea surface temperatures would remain warmer than average globally, including around Australia.<\/p>\n