Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds

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

Issued at 4:30 pm Thursday, 8 January 2026.

Damaging wind gusts developing across large parts of Victoria on Friday.

Weather Situation
Gusty northwesterly winds are expected to develop from Friday morning, mainly about the ranges, while a cool change moving through the state will produce broadscale thunderstorm activity increasing the risk for damaging wind gusts across the state during the afternoon and early evening. Conditions will ease for most of Victoria during Friday evening, but the risk of damaging wind gusts is likely to persist over the alpine peaks until Saturday morning.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts around 90 km/h are likely to develop after sunrise on Friday morning about the western, central and eastern ranges, then extend throughout the warning area, including MELBOURNE, from around midday and remain a risk into early Friday evening. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS could reach up to 110 km/h with thunderstorms and over elevated terrain.
Winds will ease below warning thresholds for most areas during the evening, but will likely persist over the alpine peaks until Saturday morning.
Locations which may be affected include Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Seymour, Maryborough, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.

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 Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 pm AEDT Thursday.
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 Weather Warning
for Damaging Winds

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

Issued at 4:30 pm Thursday, 8 January 2026.

Damaging wind gusts developing across large parts of Victoria on Friday.

Weather Situation
Gusty northwesterly winds are expected to develop from Friday morning, mainly about the ranges, while a cool change moving through the state will produce broadscale thunderstorm activity increasing the risk for damaging wind gusts across the state during the afternoon and early evening. Conditions will ease for most of Victoria during Friday evening, but the risk of damaging wind gusts is likely to persist over the alpine peaks until Saturday morning.
DAMAGING WINDS for the following areas:
Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts around 90 km/h are likely to develop after sunrise on Friday morning about the western, central and eastern ranges, then extend throughout the warning area, including MELBOURNE, from around midday and remain a risk into early Friday evening. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS could reach up to 110 km/h with thunderstorms and over elevated terrain.
Winds will ease below warning thresholds for most areas during the evening, but will likely persist over the alpine peaks until Saturday morning.
Locations which may be affected include Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Seymour, Maryborough, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.

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 Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 pm AEDT Thursday.
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

Fire Weather Warning

for Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North Central, North East, Northern Country, South West, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera fire weather districts

Issued at 04:16 PM EDT on Thursday 08 January 2026

Weather Situation
Very hot and dry conditions with fresh to strong and gusty north to northwesterly winds expected to develop over Victoria during Friday morning and persist through the afternoon. A cooler and gusty west to southwesterly change is forecast to develop over the southwest in the early afternoon then extend eastwards during the afternoon and evening. Isolated thunderstorms are expected, mainly near and south of the ranges, with most activity likely in the afternoon and evening ahead of and near the change. Little precipitation is likely with thunderstorms, bringing the risk of dry lightning and damaging wind gusts.

For Friday 09 January:
Catastrophic Fire Danger for the following areas:
North Central, Northern Country, South West and Wimmera
Extreme Fire Danger for the following areas:
Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, North East and West and South Gippsland

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.
The next warning will be issued by 5:00 am EDT Friday.

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