October heat records broken across Australia as Sydney braces for temperatures ‘way above the norm’

<p>Birdsville sets new high as BoM forecasts more record hot weather, with heatwave warnings in place in some states</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/oct/21/australia-news-live-michaelia-cash-china-jet-raaf-prime-minister-anthony-albanese-donald-trump-white-house-critical-minerals-deal-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>October heat records have been broken in several states this week as authorities in New South Wales prepare for “temperatures way above the norm” to hit Sydney and the east coast of Australia.</p><p>The Queensland outback town of Birdsville broke a new record on Tuesday, hitting 46.1C at 2.28pm local time, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, making it the highest temperature recorded in the state in October.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/australia-weather-october-heat-records-sydney-birdsville-temperature-forecast">Continue reading...</a>