Heat Risk in Raleigh, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Raleigh, New South Wales· UNKNOWN
Raleigh is likely to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves. This poses a risk to vulnerable populations and infrastructure.Updated 1 May 2026

Heat Risk Score

7.1/10

Raleigh is likely to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves. This poses a risk to vulnerable populations and infrastructure.

Key Facts

Heat Risk
Raleigh is likely to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves. This poses a risk to vulnerable populations and infrastructure.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Raleigh, NSW
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
2454
Highest high-risk exposure
12.4% of land (bushfire)

Heat Risk Analysis

Raleigh in New South Wales faces elevated extreme heat risk. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reports that Australia's average temperature has increased by approximately 1.5 °C since 1910, with the frequency of extreme heat days rising across most regions.

The urban heat island (UHI) effect can make built-up areas of Raleigh warmer than surrounding rural areas, particularly on summer nights. Dark roof materials, limited tree canopy cover, and heat-absorbing surfaces contribute to localised heat stress that varies by property.

Raleigh experiences several days above 35°C each summer, increasing the risk of heat stress for vulnerable residents.

Get an address-level heat risk assessment from ClimateNest for Raleigh including cooling cost estimates, heatwave vulnerability scoring, and adaptation recommendations tailored to your property.

Raleigh (postcode 2454) is tracked in ClimateNest's suburb hazard model, which maps the share of the suburb's land exposed to each hazard at high and moderate levels. The suburb's highest high-risk exposures are bushfire (12.4% of land in high-risk zones), extreme wind (5.2% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (4.3% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Raleigh — individual properties can sit well above or below these averages, so an address-level check is recommended before buying, selling or insuring.

Local Hazard Evidence

Avg January Max Temp28.5 °C
Heat Stress Events/Year3
Urban Heat ContextRaleigh experiences several days above 35°C each summer, increasing the risk of heat stress for vulnerable residents.

Historical Events

2017
Moderate

Raleigh experienced a prolonged heatwave with temperatures exceeding 35°C for several days.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve Flood Defenses

Near-term

Invest in infrastructure to mitigate flood risk, such as levees and improved drainage systems.

Est. cost: High

Bushfire Preparedness

Near-term

Implement bushfire management strategies, including controlled burns and community education programs.

Est. cost: Medium

Heatwave Action Plan

Immediate

Develop a heatwave action plan to protect vulnerable residents during extreme heat events.

Est. cost: Low

Coastal Management

Long-term

Implement coastal management strategies to protect against sea level rise and storm surges.

Est. cost: High

Council & Emergency Services

Bellingen Shire Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 1 May 2026

Explore Raleigh Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

How hot does Raleigh get in summer?

Raleigh in New South Wales experiences summer temperatures consistent with the regional climate. BOM publishes historical temperature data for weather stations near Raleigh. Get a property-specific heat exposure assessment with projected cooling costs from ClimateNest.

Is extreme heat increasing in Raleigh?

Australia-wide, extreme heat events have become more frequent since the mid-20th century, and this trend is consistent with CSIRO climate projections for New South Wales. Continued warming is likely through 2050 under all emissions scenarios.

How does heat affect energy costs for Raleigh properties?

Higher temperatures increase cooling demand, which raises electricity costs. ClimateNest provides energy cost projections based on your property's specific exposure to extreme heat days in Raleigh and the performance of your building envelope.

What heat mitigation measures work best in Raleigh?

Effective heat mitigation includes light-coloured roofing (cool roofs), ceiling and wall insulation, double-glazed windows, external shading, cross-ventilation design, and increasing tree canopy around the property. These measures reduce indoor temperatures and cooling costs.

What share of Raleigh is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 12.4% of Raleigh in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 66.1% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform — individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.

Is Raleigh Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Raleigh, New South Wales, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

Free instant previewCSIRO-powered data

What A$69 could save you from

$7.2B
2022 insured disaster losses*
$300B+
climate risk to property by 2050*
30-120%
insurance premium increases in high-risk areas*

*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA

Full report from A$69 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections