Daily London
The Victorian capital already reached its peak temperature of 37 degrees shortly before noon and the heat is forecast to hang around well into the evening – still expecting to be sitting about 30 degrees at sunset.
Some Victorian towns may nudge 40 degrees, including Mallee in the state’s north-west which could reach 44 degrees.
Horsham, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo and Wangaratta are also expected to hit over 40 degrees today.
A watch and act warning is in place for residents in Benalla and Goomabilee.
The hot, dry heat has also sparked a nearby grass fire in the Broken Creek area.
There is also a fire ban in the Wimmera in Victoria’s Grampians, where temperatures are expected to be 42 degrees.
Tomorrow will bring similar extreme heat with a top of 34 degrees.
“This is the hottest day of the current spell of warm weather,” Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus How said.
“Temperatures will cool off towards the back half of the day for southern Victoria.”
The pre-weekend heatwave in Melbourne is expected to subside by Saturday.
Saturday’s temperature is forecast to reach just 24 degrees and it is expected to be a rainy Sunday with similar cooler temperatures.
There is an 80 per cent chance of rain for Sunday in Melbourne.
Slightly cooler in Sydney
It will be cooler today in Sydney as temperatures nudge 30 degrees.
But tomorrow will bring a fresh heatwave as the bureau forecasts a top of 36 degrees.
However, some NSW towns may brush 40 degrees, including Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina region.
An extreme heatwave warning is in place for the South Coast region until Saturday, while a severe warning is active for the Mid-North Coast, Northern Tablelands, Hunter, Illawarra, metropolitan Sydney, Snowy Mountains and Riverina regions.
“Extreme heatwaves can be dangerous for everyone,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“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.
“Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.”
Temperatures soar in Canberra
An extreme heat warning is also in place for Canberra in the ACT.
Temperatures are similarly high, with a top of 36 degrees expected to arrive by 3pm.
Tomorrow will also bring a peak of 36 degrees before a few days of rain in the nation’s capital.
Fire bans in South Australia
It’s just as hot over in Adelaide as the temperatures look to reach 40 degrees too.
The summer heatwave has also prompted several total fire bans in South Australia after hot and blustery conditions sparked a fire near American River on Kangaroo Island.
Further north in SA, areas including Orroroo, Jamestown and Booborowie are sweltering under temperatures in the high-30s.
