Melbourne, January 27, 2026 – The Europe Today: Australia’s southeastern state of Victoria recorded its highest temperature on record on Tuesday as a severe heatwave swept across the region, authorities said.
The small town of Walpeup, located about 400 kilometers northwest of Melbourne, and Hopetoun Airport both registered maximum temperatures of 48.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday afternoon, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), media reports said. The reading surpassed Victoria’s previous all-time temperature record of 48.8 degrees Celsius, which was set at Hopetoun Airport in February 2009.
The record-breaking heat was recorded as Victoria endured its most intense heatwave since 2009, with temperatures across large parts of the state soaring well above 40 degrees Celsius.
At Melbourne Airport, the temperature peaked at 44.1 degrees Celsius shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time, BoM data showed.
Authorities urged residents across Victoria to remain hydrated and take precautionary measures to protect themselves from extreme heat, warning that such conditions can cause serious and potentially fatal health risks, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and an increased likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
Earlier, evacuation orders were issued on Monday for more than 1,100 properties in Carlisle River and surrounding towns as extreme weather conditions heightened safety concerns.
While temperatures were forecast to drop sharply in Melbourne and southern parts of Victoria on Tuesday night, the Bureau of Meteorology cautioned that maximum temperatures in northern Victoria are expected to remain above 40 degrees Celsius for several more days.
