Extreme heat – information for health professionals

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Heatwaves and extreme temperatures can lead to serious health risks. Health professionals are key to identifying, managing and preventing heat-related illnesses.

As of Tuesday 6 January 2026, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a heatwave warning. 

• A prolonged period of heat is forecast for Victoria this week peaking over the next few days.
• In the north, maximum temperatures in the low to mid forties and overnight minimum temperatures in the high teens to low twenties, increasing to low to high twenties by Friday.
• In the south, maximum temperatures in the mid thirties to low forties and overnight minimum temperatures in the low to mid teens, increasing to high teens to low twenties in the southeast by Thursday.
• Severe to Extreme heatwave conditions forecast to ease from the southwest with a cooler change over the weekend. Locations likely to be impacted include Melbourne Metropolitan Area, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura, Melton, Maryborough, Seymour and Shepparton.

Extreme heat – patients at risk

Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell. These groups are at greater risk of heat-related problems, such as heatstroke:

• people aged over 65 years
• babies and young children
• females who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• people with existing medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and mental illness
• people who work outdoors
• people who are overweight or with obesity
• people who are taking certain prescription medicines
• people who are socially isolated or homeless

Resources for health professionals

• Department of Health – Extreme heat – information for clinicians
• Department of Health – Extreme heat and heatwaves
• HealthPathways Melbourne – Heat-related Illness
• RACGP – Heat health in general practice: An evidence-based approach to the prevention of heat-related illness
• RACGP – Heat illnesses: a hot topic in the setting of global climate change
• National Centre for Farmer Health – Heat stress and heat stroke

Resources for patients

• How to take care of yourself in a heatwave | healthdirect
• Better Health Channel – Extreme heat (available in multiple languages)
• Department of Health – Extreme heat factsheets (available in multiple languages)

Stay informed

• emergency.vic.gov.au 
• VicEmergency Hotline: Free call 1800 226 226 
• VicEmergency app 
• Vic Emergency on Facebook