General News
30 January, 2026
Scorching temperatures break records, weather stations
From Horsham to Hopetoun, Nhill to Longerenong, extreme heat pushed temperatures into the high 40s across the Wimmera and Mallee this week.
Victoria’s west copped the definition of extreme midsummer temperatures, with most people seeking refuge by either staying in their air-conditioned home or finding a similarly climate-controlled community location to spend time in.
The residents of Hopetoun were not in a hurry to venture outdoors, with the town of about 700 people enduring a blazing summer sun.
Just 0.1 degrees Celsius above the old state record was enough for Hopetoun to eclipse its prior highest temperature, set in February 2009 on Black Saturday, with the mercury touching 48.9°C just after 3pm on Tuesday.
Sharing the new record with another small Mallee town, Walpeup, about 80 kilometres to the north-west, the scorching heat came from a slow-moving upper-level high-pressure system that heats the air as it sinks to the surface.
Longerenong also recorded its highest temperature of 48.1°C, and Horsham’s population experienced what 47.8°C feels like for the first time at about 3.40pm.
Other weather stations in the broader region reached 46.7°C (Warracknabeal), 46.6°C (Nhill), and 45.3°C (Edenhope).
Refuge sought
In Horsham, Fresca Juice Bar & Ice Creamery owner David Panozzo said they have seen the need to be flexible with closing afternoons and reopening in the evening, as customers tend to avoid the hottest part of the day and then “get out after being locked up all day”.
“In the morning, we opened it earlier at nine, and I think we went till about two o'clock,” he said.
“Then we shut, and then we opened up about six till about 8.30, 9 o'clock.
“So we've been doing that also now, I think, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – to do those four nights that just give people a bit of a retreat rather than when it's very, very hot during the day.”
He said it was great to offer a cool place with water misters at the front to enjoy the experience, and added his recommendation to try the licorice from their recently expanded range of flavours.
“I gave it a go – I thought, wow, it actually tastes like licorice,” he said.
“The older generation love it.”
Horsham Rural City Council’s offer of community spaces was welcome for many residents.
The media team reported the library had been used “for extended periods at a time” and had “a lovely, relaxed vibe during this heatwave”.
“We’ve pulled the blinds down, the air con is keeping the place nice and cool, and we’ve been drawing customers’ attention to the coffee machine and chilled filtered water, so they can make themselves at home,” they said.
The foyer at the town hall continued to be used as a cool place for lunch, the uptick of visitations to art gallery was also observed, and the aquatic centre’s offer of $2 entry on 35°C-plus days was well-utilised.
This summer to date, there have been eight days over 35°C in Nov and Dec and 10 days so far in January.
Visitation to the Horsham Aquatic Centre during January, up until 28 January 2026 was 13,248 – the attendance for January 2025 was comparable.
Technology stuggled to weather heat
Yarriambiack Shire mayor Andrew McLean, living in the just about worst possible location on Tuesday - about halfway between Hopetoun and Walpeup - said he couldn’t verify just how hot it got as his own weather station was showing a consistently inaccurate minus 40°C.
“The outside sensor, I think, is stuffed!” he laughed.
On a more serious note, he said he thought it was “sensible” that the decision many businesses and shops had made to close early, as the conditions made working intolerable and unreasonable, with some starting earlier in the morning to escape somewhere to beat the worst of the heat.
“There's a lot of people putting out heat warning announcements to make sure that people do what they need to do in the morning and rest up in the afternoon in that cool spot,” he said.
Mr McLean said he was aware there was still a considerable amount of summer left, with Friday again looking like heading over 40°C – “We haven’t got rid of the heat yet” and was relieved Tuesday’s record wasn’t associated with the same outcomes as the previous one.
“It's not a record we want to hold, really,” he admitted.
“But, hopefully, it lasts a long time.
“(People) were talking about the matching new temperatures – I just remembered Black Saturday, and didn't want to finish the day in a similar manner there.
“We (should) begin to do that, which is (be) very grateful.”
There was one fire in the region at Telangatuk East in the Yat Nat State Forest, about 10km north-east of Balmoral – reported in the late afternoon, the fire burnt about 68 hectares.
It was contained late in the evening with about 40 CFA units in attendance.