Millions are forecast to sizzle under sweltering temperatures until at least Friday, triggering a total fire ban in some regions.
The extreme heatwave conditions across multiple cities may see temperatures climb above 40 degrees in a burst of heat expected to be the worst since the Black Summer bushfires.
Large parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia are forecast to sizzle under sweltering temperatures until at least Friday, triggering a total fire ban in some regions, including Melbourne, as authorities prepare for hot, dry and windy weather.
The heatwave is shaping up to be the worst since the bushfires in the summer of 2019-2020, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.
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Authorities are already on high alert in the north-east corner of Victoria, where an out-of-control fire is ripping through bushland east of Wodonga.
Residents in Bungil, Thologolong, Guys Forest, Granya, Burrowye, Koetung and Mount Alfred have been warned to monitor conditions as the blaze moves in a south-easterly direction through the Mt Lawson National Park.
No properties or lives have been lost as of 5pm Tuesday.
The mercury is set to reach 42 degrees in Melbourne tomorrow, making it the hottest day in almost six years.
The mercury has not exceeded 40 degrees in January since 2020, when bushfires ripped through communities across the state.
An extreme heatwave warning is in place for Victoria's Northern Country, North East, East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland.
A Total Fire Ban will start in the Wimmera, South West and Central districts, from midnight tonight.
All three regions, which include Melbourne, are facing extreme fire risk tomorrow.
"This will see for the first time Melbourne and Geelong and surrounds being in total fire ban conditions this season," CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said.
Elsewhere, Bendigo, Rochester, Echuca and Shepparton in Victoria are now under a total fire ban from yesterday as the rising mercury and forecasted strong winds make for dangerous conditions.
Temperatures in these regions will nudge the mid-40s, with Ouyen in north-west Victoria predicted to reach 46 degrees and Shepparton in the state's north forecast to hit 44 degrees on Thursday.
A bushfire advice warning has been issued for the region of Towong, including the town of Tatong in north-east Victoria.
"It is looking like the most significant burst of heat for south-eastern Australia, particularly in terms of multiple days in a row of mid-40 temperatures, since the summer of 2019-2020," senior forecaster Dean Narramore said.
You can read the latest advice and warnings here.
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A brief cool change will cause temperatures in Melbourne, Ballarat and Warrnambool to dip slightly to a high of 30 degrees on Thursday.
While the city will a slight reprieve on temperature on Thursday, northern parts of the state will continue to swelter, with Mildura set to reach 46 degrees.
Temperatures will again rise to 40 degrees in Melbourne on Friday.
Authorities have warned that more fire bans could be announced over the next few days as temperatures climb across Victoria.
The Bureau of Meteorology yesterday warned that the fire danger will ramp up tomorrow as hot and gusty weather whips up dangerous conditions.
On Thursday, the fire danger will move across northern Victoria.
"Friday we're likely to see extreme fire dangers for much of South Australia and Victoria ahead of that strong and gusty change on Friday night into Saturday," said Narramore.
Sydney to sizzle
Sydney and large parts of NSW will also be blanketed by a heatwave until the end of this week.
The NSW capital will sweat through multiple days in the mid-30s, while Saturday is expected to bring the warmest temperatures in Sydney with a top of 39 degrees.
Some inland parts of NSW may nudge 40 degrees over the next few days.
The fire danger level in Sydney and along the south, central and mid-north coast will remain high from tomorrow until Friday.
A severe heatwave warning is in place for Illawarra, the Central Tablelands, Riverina region, Central West Slopes and South West Slopes until Thursday.
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Severe heatwave warning in SA
The extreme heat will also grip South Australia, including Adelaide, as the south-eastern heatwave sends a burst of high temperatures across the region.
Adelaide is forecast to reach a top of 38 degrees today, before two consecutive days of 40-degree weather.
Temperatures will dip slightly on Friday before a major cool change on the weekend.
There is a heatwave warning in place for the SA West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula and North West Pastoral Districts until tomorrow.
Port Augusta is forecast to be among the hottest in the state with several days of mid-40s temperatures forecast for today until Friday.
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