Overview
- Birdsville hit 46.1C and Bourke reached 44.8C as Sydney’s west set October records near 39.8C, with the CBD peaking at 37C.
- Victoria braced for widespread 90–100 km/h gusts into Melbourne and up to 130 km/h on the south-west coast, causing downed trees and about 2,000 power outages.
- NSW declared total fire bans across Greater Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven as fires expanded to 50 statewide by early evening, including 12 uncontrolled, with dry lightning a concern.
- Health agencies urged heat precautions, while the RFS warned the next 24–48 hours are critical; southeast Queensland is forecast to peak on Thursday with coastal sea breezes tempering highs as emergency heatwave warnings cover the northwest.
- New Zealand issued rare red wind warnings and declared a state of emergency in Canterbury, with gusts up to 150 km/h, property damage, wildfires and one death reported after a fallen branch in Wellington.