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January 13, 2026 - Fires in Southeastern Australia
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A searing heatwave across southeastern Australia in early 2026 set the stage for an outbreak of ferocious bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales. According to the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), the early January heatwave “has become one of the most intense on record”. AccuWeather reported that temperatures soared to 111°F (43.9°C) in Melbourne, Victoria and as high as 109°F (42.8°C) in Sydney, New South Wales in the last few days. The hottest locations in Victoria, according to ABC, included Wudinna, Tarcoola, and Walpeup, which recorded 48.2°C (118.7°F), 48.1°C (118.6°F), and 46.5°C (115.7°F), respectively.
The sizzling summer heat and lack of rain has rendered vegetation tinder dry and ready to ignite at the slightest spark. By January 11, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image, many dozens of fires were burning across Victoria (south) and New South Wales (east).
More than 500 structures, including 180 homes, have been damaged or destroyed by the raging fires in Victoria alone as of January 12, reports ABC. One farmer has been confirmed to have died in the bushfires, with up to four more reported by various sources. Thousands of people have lost power, several schools have been closed, and widespread smoke has created hazardous air quality in numerous areas across both Victoria and New South Wales.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/11/2026
Resolutions:
1km (515.8 KB), 500m (1.3 MB), 250m (1.9 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
A searing heatwave across southeastern Australia in early 2026 set the stage for an outbreak of ferocious bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales. According to the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), the early January heatwave “has become one of the most intense on record”. AccuWeather reported that temperatures soared to 111°F (43.9°C) in Melbourne, Victoria and as high as 109°F (42.8°C) in Sydney, New South Wales in the last few days. The hottest locations in Victoria, according to ABC, included Wudinna, Tarcoola, and Walpeup, which recorded 48.2°C (118.7°F), 48.1°C (118.6°F), and 46.5°C (115.7°F), respectively.
The sizzling summer heat and lack of rain has rendered vegetation tinder dry and ready to ignite at the slightest spark. By January 11, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image, many dozens of fires were burning across Victoria (south) and New South Wales (east).
More than 500 structures, including 180 homes, have been damaged or destroyed by the raging fires in Victoria alone as of January 12, reports ABC. One farmer has been confirmed to have died in the bushfires, with up to four more reported by various sources. Thousands of people have lost power, several schools have been closed, and widespread smoke has created hazardous air quality in numerous areas across both Victoria and New South Wales.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/11/2026
Resolutions:
1km (515.8 KB), 500m (1.3 MB), 250m (1.9 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
