Record-Breaking Heat Triggers Fire Ban in NSW and Queensland

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A total fire ban has been declared for Sydney and many other regions after statewide temperature records tumbled in NSW and Queensland.

Both Queensland and New South Wales shattered their October temperature records yesterday, as thermometers soared past 40 degrees Celsius.

In Birdsville, located in Queensland’s remote outback near the South Australian border, temperatures reached a scorching 46.1 degrees. This surpassed the previous record set in 1995 by a full degree.

Birdsville in the deep Queensland outback near the border with South Australia hit 46.1 degrees (Matt Williams / Birdsville Races)

This temperature ranks as the eighth hottest ever recorded in October across Australia, and notably, it’s the only entry in the top ten outside Western Australia.

Meanwhile, in New South Wales, Bourke experienced a sweltering 44.8 degrees, nearly a degree higher than the 1919 record of 43.9 degrees set in the same location.

Meteorological service Weatherzone reported several local monthly records across the eastern states. In Queensland, Thargomindah reached 45.1 degrees, dramatically exceeding its previous October high by two degrees. Similarly, Tibooburra in New South Wales climbed to 42.8 degrees, beating the former record by 0.2 degrees.

Records aren’t officially declared until 9am the following day but there was no chance of the daily maximums being exceeded overnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting another scorcher for NSW and Queensland today, with a top of 39 in Sydney, but the residents of Bourke and Birdsville will be breathing a sigh of relief with temperatures expected back below 40 degrees.

An extreme total fire ban kicked in at midnight for the Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven and Upper Central West Plains regions.

A huge swather of Australia was over 40 degrees on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. (Bureau of Meteorology)

“Take action now to protect your life and property,” the Rural Fire Service warned yesterday.

“These are dangerous fire conditions. Check your bush fire plan and ensure that your property is fire ready.

“If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts.”

North-west NSW is under a high total fire ban.

An investigation is under way after the suspicious death of woman was found in NSW west. Police were called to Parkdale Road in Bourke in response at 8am today and set up a crime scene. — Bourke broke the state temperature record. (Nine)

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines said there was a “bubble” of heat through the eastern interior of the country, covering western Queensland, north-western NSW and northern South Australia.

“The interior is seeing these incredibly hot temperatures, including a top of 31 degrees as the minimum for Thargominhad in the far south-west of Queensland,” he said yesterday afternoon.

“Then after a warm morning, there’s going to be a warm day.”