Record Heatwave Sweeps Australia as Temperatures Hit 48.9°C

A severe and unprecedented heatwave has swept across Australia in recent days, with temperatures reaching a record 48.9 degrees Celsius in remote coastal areas of the state of Victoria, according to Euronews.

The extreme heat was recorded in the towns of Hopetoun and Walpeup, marking a new benchmark in Australia’s long history of intense summer temperatures. 

Euronews reported on Wednesday that the soaring heat has already disrupted major sporting events, forcing the postponement of several matches at the Australian Open tennis tournament.

The previous temperature record dates back to 2009, a year remembered for catastrophic bushfires that claimed 173 lives. 

While authorities have confirmed that no fatalities have been recorded so far during the current heatwave, bushfires are actively burning at three locations, with firefighters still struggling to bring them under control.

Conditions in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, have also been severely affected. 

On Monday, around 50,000 spectators attended matches at the Australian Open, but that number dropped sharply to just 21,000 on Tuesday as extreme heat deterred fans from entering the venue.

Tournament organizers declared a state of maximum fire alert, postponed several matches, and retracted stadium roofs where possible in an effort to mitigate the impact of the heat and ensure public safety.

Although temperatures eased slightly on Wednesday, meteorological authorities warned that the heatwave is expected to persist through the end of the week. 

This summer is already being described as one of the hottest in Australia’s history, following another intense heatwave just weeks ago.

The extreme conditions are not confined to Victoria alone, as parts of Queensland and New South Wales are also experiencing dangerous and prolonged heat, raising further concerns about public safety, infrastructure strain, and the growing frequency of extreme weather events across the country.