Australia is enduring an extraordinary heat wave that has shattered temperature records and escalated fire danger warnings across large swaths of the continent.

From South Australia through Victoria and into New South Wales and Tasmania, thermometers have repeatedly soared above forty degrees Celsius, with inland towns registering highs near forty-seven degrees, fuelling some of the most perilous conditions seen since the severe 2019–20 bushfire season.

Emergency authorities have responded with catastrophic and total fire bans in several states, urging residents to prepare evacuation plans and heed urgent alerts as hot, dry winds and dry lightning elevate the risk of unpredictable and fast-moving blazes.

In Victoria, fires are actively burning near Longwood and Walwa, prompting “leave immediately” notices and the closure of major transport routes, while the Hume Highway has been shut and regional rail services cancelled amid advancing flames and extreme heat.

Fire crews, supported by aircraft and reinforcements from neighbouring jurisdictions, are battling multiple blazes, and millions of Australians are being warned of “catastrophic” fire conditions — the highest danger classification — as conditions worsen into Friday and Saturday.

Major urban centres are also feeling the heat: Melbourne has sweltered through its hottest days in years, Adelaide has seen temperatures in the mid-forties, and Sydney is forecast to push toward forty degrees, raising concern about fire risks even in metropolitan fringes.

Health officials are urging residents across affected regions to stay hydrated, limit outdoor exposure, and check on vulnerable community members as the heat wave continues to strain public health and emergency services under extreme fire threat.