The first service affected is the 12:05 SCS to Albury train. It has been replaced by road coaches due to the initiation of the extreme temperature timetable. For the latest information, please visit the V/Line website. 

Bruce Copplestone, Technical Officer for the Bureau of Meteorology at Wagga Wagga says the high temperatures we are experiencing on the border so early in January are a result of two weather patterns colliding.

“There’s high pressure in the Tasman and a trough over NSW, bringing warm air from inland Australia,” he said.

The official weather records compiled since 1973 show Albury-Wodonga’s hottest day in the past 40 years was 44.8 degrees on Black Saturday, February 7, 2009, when 173 people were killed in Victoria and 2000 homes were destroyed.  However, the highest January temperature recorded was 43.6 degrees on January 16, 2014. On Friday, a new record could be set with Albury-Wodonga, Wangaratta and Rutherglen forecast to reach 44 degrees and Holbrook 41 degrees. 

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Fortunately there’s some relief from the heatwave on Saturday, with a weak cold front bringing the temperature closer to the January median average of 32.3 degrees. 

“We have a cold front through on Saturday, with some relief to those high temperatures dropping down to an average 34 degrees on Sunday,” Mr Copplestone said. 

For the border and north east, residents expect this weather in February but not necessarily the first week of January. The BoM’s long-range forecast hints at the early heatwave.  

“Our seasonal outlook for January to March suggests higher maximums and above average maximums. It’s early January, it’s a very hot start to the month but we do see a change back to normal temps,” Mr Copplestone adds.

Regardless of records, we can guarantee one thing. It will be unbearably hot so please check your travel plans and take precautions. 

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