Record heat and wildfires affect the Southern Hemisphere in 2026

Record heat and widespread wildfires have struck parts of the Southern Hemisphere in early 2026, with temperatures near 50°C reported in Australia and fires reported in South America and South Africa.

Record heat and widespread wildfires are affecting parts of the Southern Hemisphere at the start of 2026. Temperatures near 50°C were reported in Australia during a January heat dome. Fires have been reported in areas of South America, including Patagonia and coastal Chile, and parts of South Africa are seeing unusually severe fire activity. Scientists say these extremes are occurring even while a weak La Niña is influencing global weather patterns. What is known: - Record-setting heat has been reported across Australia, parts of South America, and South Africa. - A January heat dome in Australia produced temperatures near 50°C. - Wildfires have been reported in Patagonia, coastal Chile, and parts of South Africa. - These extremes occurred while a weak La Niña was present in the Pacific. - Climate scientists report that human-caused warming is overwhelming natural variability and that a shift toward El Niño could further amplify heat events. Summary: The events continue a run of recent record warm years and are being described by scientists as consistent with human-driven warming. As climate patterns potentially move from La Niña toward neutral or El Niño conditions, experts say additional amplification of extreme heat is possible.