Heatwave may set records in western NSW and south‑west Queensland

A heatwave affecting south‑eastern Australia could produce record temperatures in parts of western New South Wales and south‑west Queensland on Wednesday, with forecasts of up to 48C in some NSW towns and about 49C in Thargomindah, Queensland. By midday Wilcannia had reached 45.4C and was forecast to peak at 48C, while Bourke was 41.3C with a forecast maximum of 47C.

Ivanhoe could reach 48C, and Thargomindah was forecast to hit 49C, close to Queensland’s all‑time record of 49.5C set in Birdsville in 1972. In South Australia, Leigh Creek was 43.2C and Coober Pedy 40.2C at midday, with Coober Pedy expected to climb to 45C. Several local and state records were reported earlier in the week, including a new Victorian state record of 48.9C at Walpeup and Hopetoun and readings such as Renmark 49.6C, Fowlers Gap 49.1C and a manual station at Pooncarie of 49.7C, which is the equal second‑highest temperature in NSW history.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the most pronounced heat had shifted northward and that focal points for potential record‑setting conditions would include far western NSW, southern and western Queensland and parts of Victoria’s far north‑east. He also said extreme heat was expected to arrive in the central and southern tablelands and Canberra, with a forecast top of 42C, and that parts of the NSW Riverina could see 44–47C.