Overview
- Temperatures exceed 40°C across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales, with inland highs above 45°C.
- Emergency-level bushfires are burning in parts of South Australia and Victoria, with firefighters battling multiple blazes and evacuation advice in place.
- Authorities issue severe to extreme heat warnings, total fire bans and fire weather alerts across large areas.
- Power systems face strain with outages reported in Adelaide, as health agencies urge people to stay cool and limit outdoor activity.
- Forecasters expect the most dangerous window from January 7–9, a cool change to push into southern states at the weekend, and heat shifting toward eastern New South Wales.