Victoria may have set new heat record as temperatures soar to nearly 49°c amid wildfire warnings

Victoria, Australia may have just experienced its hottest day ever recorded, with two towns in the state’s northwest reaching a scorching 48.9°C (120°F) on Tuesday afternoon. The preliminary temperature readings from Hopetoun and Walpeup in the Mallee region would eclipse Victoria’s previous heat record of 48.8°C, which was set during the devastating Black Saturday fires of February 7, 2009.

The Bureau of Meteorology is now conducting verification checks to confirm whether these extreme temperatures represent an official new state record. If validated, the readings would mark a grim milestone for Victoria, surpassing temperatures recorded during one of Australia’s most catastrophic wildfire events that claimed 173 lives and destroyed thousands of homes.

The dangerous heat wave comes as authorities warn residents against complacency amid significant bushfire activity across the region. These extreme temperatures pose serious health risks to humans and animals while creating ideal conditions for rapid fire spread. The combination of record-breaking heat and active blazes has prompted emergency officials to maintain high alert levels throughout affected areas.

This latest heat record underscores Australia’s ongoing battle with increasingly extreme weather events linked to climate change. As communities across Victoria endure these life-threatening conditions, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing frequency and intensity of heat waves affecting the continent, with scientists warning that such extreme temperatures may become more common in the coming decades.