Heatwave Australia: December 2024 temperatures, warnings and outlook
Introduction: Why the heatwave Australia matters
The mid‑December 2024 heatwave Australia was a significant event for public safety, infrastructure and emergency services. Heatwaves are the deadliest natural hazard in Australia, historically causing more fatalities than bushfires, cyclones or floods. The scale of the December event — with multiple populated settlements recording temperatures well above 40°C — underlines both the immediate risks to health and property and the broader relevance of changing heat patterns for communities and planners.
Main body: What happened and where
Geographic extent and peak temperatures
Beginning in mid‑December 2024 the heatwave affected multiple states and territories, including South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Numerous locations recorded daytime maxima above 40°C, with several settlements exceeding 45°C. Notable measurements recorded during the event include 45.1°C, 45.0°C and 45.3°C on 16 December, 47.1°C on 16 December and 47.2°C on 26 December, alongside readings such as 41.3°C and 40.0°C on 16 December in other areas.
Fire danger and public warnings
Authorities issued heightened fire danger advisories in response to the conditions. South Australia declared extreme fire danger for 15 December, and New South Wales forecast high fire danger across inland regions on 16 December. Such warnings reflect the combined risk of high temperatures, dry fuels and strong fire behaviour potential during heatwaves.
Historical context and health impacts
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology and cultural records show that extreme temperatures have been recorded historically — the Bureau’s heat map previously reached 50°C, and only twice has land temperature exceeded 50°C since European settlement. The Bureau definition of a heatwave (three or more days of unusually high maxima and minima for a location) helps frame why sustained hot spells are particularly hazardous; past events have caused large numbers of deaths, with the 2009 heatwave in Victoria and South Australia linked to 432 fatalities.
Conclusion: Outlook and significance for readers
Climate assessments indicate that average warming will increase the frequency and severity of heatwaves. Projections cited by Australian climate services show that at +1.5°C global warming Australia may see about two additional severe or extreme heatwave days per year on average; at +2.0°C these days more than double; and at +3.0°C an additional 14 severe or extreme days could occur. For readers, this means heightened personal and community preparedness is likely to be necessary as extreme heat becomes more frequent, with implications for health services, emergency planning and fire management.
