Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Damaging Winds

for East Gippsland, North East and parts of Northern Country, West and South Gippsland and North Central Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:58 pm Thursday, 8 January 2026.

Localised damaging winds with thunderstorms over parts of central, northern and eastern Victoria.

Weather Situation
Very hot and moderately unstable conditions across central, northern and eastern Victoria to the east of a surface trough will support the development of high-based thunderstorms capable of producing localised damaging wind gusts.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
East Gippsland, Northern Country, North Central, North East and West and South Gippsland
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Shepparton, Wangaratta, Orbost, Corryong, Bright and Falls Creek.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
* Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
* Be aware - heat, fire or recent storms may make trees unstable and more likely to fall when it's windy or wet.
* Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
* Stay indoors and away from windows.
* If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
* Stay away from fallen powerlines - always assume they are live.
* Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks. Heavy rainfall may also increase the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
* Stay informed: Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.

The next warning is due to be issued by 6:00 pm.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Damaging Winds

for East Gippsland, North East and parts of Northern Country, West and South Gippsland and North Central Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:58 pm Thursday, 8 January 2026.

Localised damaging winds with thunderstorms over parts of central, northern and eastern Victoria.

Weather Situation
Very hot and moderately unstable conditions across central, northern and eastern Victoria to the east of a surface trough will support the development of high-based thunderstorms capable of producing localised damaging wind gusts.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
East Gippsland, Northern Country, North Central, North East and West and South Gippsland
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Shepparton, Wangaratta, Orbost, Corryong, Bright and Falls Creek.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
* Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
* Be aware - heat, fire or recent storms may make trees unstable and more likely to fall when it's windy or wet.
* Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
* Stay indoors and away from windows.
* If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
* Stay away from fallen powerlines - always assume they are live.
* Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks. Heavy rainfall may also increase the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
* Stay informed: Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.

The next warning is due to be issued by 6:00 pm.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Heatwave Warning

Issued at 02:33 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026
Valid for Thursday 08 January 2026 to Saturday 10 January 2026

Warning for the following areas:
Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central
Warning for the following areas:
Mallee, Wimmera, Central and South West

Safety Advice:
Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone.
Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell.
Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.

Maximum Temperatures ranging from the low thirties in the Southwest and the Central coastal areas and even milder along the Southwest coast, to the low to mid forties in the north Thursday. Maximum temperatures peaking Friday with low to mid forties expected through all but the far southwest of the State. Overnight minimum temperatures range from the mid to high teens in the south to the mid to high twenties in the north.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions will ease from the southwest with a cooler change developing during Friday and extending throughout most of the warning area by Saturday morning, although struggling to clear the northeast till later Saturday. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Shepparton and Wangaratta.

The next heatwave warning will be issued by 3:00pm EDT on Friday 09 January 2026

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

Fire Weather Warning

for Mallee, North East and Northern Country fire weather districts

Issued at 03:45 AM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026

Weather Situation
Very hot and dry conditions with moderate to fresh north to northwesterly winds expected to develop over northern Victoria on Thursday during the mid to late morning and persist through the afternoon. Winds easing during the evening and mostly tending northeast to southeasterly. Isolated thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon and evening, with very little precipitation expected and the risk of dry lightning and damaging wind gusts.

For the rest of Thursday 08 January:
Extreme Fire Danger for the following areas:
Mallee, North East and Northern Country

The CFA advises that you:
Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.
Monitor the fire and weather situation through ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV, www.emergency.vic.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.
Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

For information on preparing for bushfires go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
No further warnings will be issued for this event, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings issued if necessary.