Parts of Australia’s east coast will swelter over the weekend as a heatwave sweeps across the southern states.
Victoria is expected to cop the brunt of the heat, with the state set to reach 37 degrees today and 38 degrees on Sunday.
The Melbourne metro area, Ballarat, Moe, Mallacoota, Omeo, Shepparton, Traralgon, Wangaratta, Albury-Wodonga and Warragul will be the most impacted by the heatwave.
It is forecast to be Victoria’s hottest weekend in a decade.
The heat is expected to carry over to Monday until conditions ease.
It comes as a fire in the Grampians continues to burn at a “watch and act” level.
In New South Wales, the heatwave is expected to peak on Sunday and Monday, with temperatures forecast to reach the low 40s in regional areas, and the high 30s along the coastline.
The areas facing the most intense heat include Albury, Batemans Bay, Bega, Braidwood, Bombala, Eden, Nowra and Narrandera.
Residents will feel some relief from the heat by late Monday.
Tasmania will also be impacted by the heatwave, and is expected to reach temperatures of 30 degrees over the weekend.
“Most places will see temperatures in at least the mid to high 30s,” Miriam Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“As we go further inland, those temperatures will easily spill into the low 40s… so that includes much of South Australia, inland Victoria, inland NSW with the east coast and Sydney, particularly the further west you go.
“Even Tasmania is not escaping the heat, even though the temperatures are milder down there, they’re still well above average and that’s what counts.”
While South Australia has not been issued a heatwave warning, temperatures are still expected to soar to a hot 36 degrees in Adelaide over the weekend.
Monday will bring some cool relief to the state, with temperatures dropping to 24 degrees.
The ACT has not been issued a heatwave warning, but will still reach a warm 35 degrees.
Queensland will not be impacted by the heatwave, but Brisbane residents can expect a warm 28 degrees today before a cool 20-degree day tomorrow and Monday.
On the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, warm weather is expected all weekend without the threat of a heatwave.
There is no heatwave warning for Western Australia, but residents in Perth can expect a warm 29 degrees today before temperatures peak at 32 tomorrow.
