Victoria has sweltered through its hottest summer day with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees in the state’s north.
Parts of South Australia and New South Wales also recorded some of their highest temperatures in up to three years, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
But the heatwave is expected to be short and sweet, with cooler temperatures on the way from this evening.
Melbourne hit a top of 37.1 degrees today at 5.40pm, which was the highest temperature the city has recorded since last February.
Swan Hill reached 40 degrees at 4.30pm, Hopetoun 41, and Walpeup climbed to 42 degrees.
It was a little cooler in New South Wales, with the temperature in Broken Hill reaching 33 degrees, while Sydney reached 30 degrees.
In South Australia, Adelaide peaked at 39 degrees, while further north at Coober Pedy temperatures reached a stifling 42.9 degrees.
Weather bureau meteorologist Angus Hines said the south-eastern states would likely see high temperatures across today and into tomorrow.
The high temperatures have been drawn across from Perth’s three-day heatwave, where temperatures were well into the 40s.
“Through the course of Saturday, we’ve started to see the weather systems aligned to draw some of that heat from the west out across the centre and eastern parts of the continent, Hines said.
“That is why we’re seeing temperatures really spiking across southern and eastern part today.”
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Hines said a cool change was rapidly following the heatwave and would move to NSW after hitting South Australia and Victoria.
“We’re going to see that cool wind change coming from Perth and moving through Adelaide first, likely sometime this afternoon, then it’s arriving in Melbourne this evening,” Hines said.
“It’ll eventually cross into New South Wales tomorrow.”
