11 C
Byron Shire
July 16, 2026

NYE and January 1 weather

Latest News

Renewables and battery storage stable amid global uncertainty

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) today released the GenCost 2025–26 Final Report, finding renewable energy supported by storage is helping to protect Australia against global energy shocks and continues to provide the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system to achieve net zero emissions.

Other News

Byron Shire Rebels men’s XV vs Lismore on Ladies Day

The Rebels men’s XV made the trip to Lismore Rugby Park on Ladies Day and delivered a commanding 38-17 victory.

Lismore Boulevard Project announced

Design concept plans for the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project are now available for community consultation, following Lismore City Council securing $2,383,030 in funding through the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

A place that has stayed

Byron Bay has always been a place that draws people in. Some come for a weekend, others for a season, and many end up staying for a lifetime.

Bumpers to Bruns

Last Sunday, antique chrome and stylish engineering was on display in Brunswick Heads as the Back to Bruns hot rods came to town. Jeff Dawson was there to capture it.

From refugee to community contributor – a personal story

When I first arrived in Australia from Syria, I carried many emotions with me. Like many refugees and newcomers, I was grateful to be safe, but I was also overwhelmed by the challenges of starting over in a completely new country.

Alleged native tree removal continues in Lennox, says councillor

With a government agency now investigating the alleged clear felling of natives on a large private block in Lennox Head, Ballina Greens councillor Kiri Dicker has told The Echo that contractors were felling trees all morning, ‘trying to get the job done’.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Miriam Bradbury. Image BoM.

The weather forecast is for a warm New Year’s Eve for most parts of Australia, but a little cooler along the east coast, where there is the chance of some showers and thunderstorms bringing heavy falls. The east coast capitals should avoid the worst of it.

The Bureau of Meteorology. Image BoM.

Showers and thunderstorms

 early this morning said New Year’s Eve, it will be dry and settled for the south east states today and across the southwest of the country. ‘Showers and thunderstorms do continue, however, across parts of the tropical north, with more humid conditions as well for New Year’s Day, cooler with a few showers for far south east Australia, with the risk of storms continuing along the east coast, drier, with thunderstorms possibly impacting parts of the west coast as well.’

Generally warm New Year’s Eve

Bradbury said New South Wales can expect a generally warm New Year’s Eve, humid along the coast, with temperatures in the mid to low 30s. ‘Storms through North East New South Wales, including the northern ranges, slopes and North West Plains, may become severe with the risk of heavy falls and dangerous driving conditions later today, damaging wind gusts and large hail are also possible with severe storms, but heavy rain is the greatest risk.

‘Drier conditions are forecast inland, with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s.’

‘We’ll see low 20s for New Year’s Day across New South Wales, mild to warm conditions, with showers and storms continuing in the east, most frequent through the north east, the majority of southern and western inland New South Wales will remain dry.’

Queensland storms

Bradbury said Queensland can expect a storm on New Year’s Eve for many areas, particularly through the south east. ‘Through those South East areas, cloudy conditions will keep things fairly mild, but severe storms may bring heavy rain to the scenic rim, the Darling Downs and granite belts, the southern Wide Bay and Burnet area and parts of the Central Highlands and coalfields and the Maranoa and warriorgo districts at this stage, the more populated centers in the far south east, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast and The Sunshine Coast are likely to avoid the worst of the Severe Storm Risk, although non severe storms may still be on the radar.

‘For the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Brisbane about the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, conditions will be mild and humid, with partly cloudy skies and a possible shower or two, but this will ease towards midnight. More scattered showers in the odd thunderstorm are possible through the afternoon and evening, most likely inland, but again, these should ease towards midnight, and by 12am midnight, temperatures around Brisbane City will be in the low 20s for New Year’s Day across Queensland.

‘Showers and thunderstorms will become more extensive through southern and central parts of the state, with the risk of severe storms continuing in some areas, showers and storms will continue right up the east coast and in the north as well, with the only dry parts of the state likely to be the far north west.’

You can find all the latest information at www.bom.gov.au via the Bom weather app or through our social media channels.



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Lismore Boulevard Project announced

Design concept plans for the Lismore Boulevard – Shared User Path project are now available for community consultation, following Lismore City Council securing $2,383,030 in funding through the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active 2025–2026 program, administered by Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

Community responds to detention dams proposal

More than 110 residents gathered at Rock Valley Hall on Sunday 12 July and rejected claims that the recently released CSIRO report on flood mitigation was informed by strong community consultation.

Data shows biggest danger to wildlife is people, not cats

Human-created hazards are responsible for most wildlife rescues in New South Wales, and researchers are calling for more prevention strategies to save threatened species.

Try pickleball and support a great cause

Northern Rivers Pickleball Club are holding a marathon day of pickleball on Sunday, 19 July at the Goonellabah Tennis and Pickleball Club on Reserve Street, Goonellabah.