Melbourne and most of the country's south-east are in for a sweaty few days as a hot air mass sweeps across southern Australia.
Monday's top exceeded the forecast, with 32.6 degrees recorded in the city at 4.18 pm. Geelong Racecourse pipped the city, with 34.8 degrees half an hour later.
More WA News Videos
- Video duration
- 01:59
How to stay safe in the sun
How to stay safe in the sun
Mark Strickland from the Cancer Council WA shares his top five tips to stay safe in the sun this summer.
Up Next
Summer in Perth: Drone captures city and Swan River
- Video duration
- 01:20
- Video duration
- 01:20
Summer in Perth: Drone captures city and ...
Summer in Perth: Drone captures city and Swan River
Drone operator Mackenzie Buck filmed Perth city and the Swan River on a summer day in Perth. Vision courtesy Airspace Media
Up Next
Roe 8 protester collapses
- Video duration
- 00:20
- Video duration
- 00:20
Roe 8 protester collapses
Roe 8 protester collapses
A protester has collapsed with a medical condition. Vision: Nine News Perth.
Up Next
Butler dad seriously assaulted on his way home
- Video duration
- 01:42
- Video duration
- 01:42
Butler dad seriously assaulted on his way ...
Butler dad seriously assaulted on his way home
A family's pleading for help over a mystery attack after a Butler father was found unconscious, metres from his home. Vision courtesy Nine News Perth
Up Next
Kids' cricket game held up by dugite
- Video duration
- 00:44
- Video duration
- 00:44
Kids' cricket game held up by dugite
Kids' cricket game held up by dugite
Clinton Joynes filmed a snake which slithered from one side of the cricket pitch to the other.
Up Next
Perth couple 'tasered' awarded more than $1million
- Video duration
- 01:57
- Video duration
- 01:57
Perth couple 'tasered' awarded more than ...
Perth couple 'tasered' awarded more than $1million
A Perth couple will be awarded more than $1 million after launching legal action against police over a botched arrest, where a law professor and his wife were tasered. Vision: Nine News Perth.
Up Next
Dolphin surprises swimmers at Cottesloe
- Video duration
- 00:52
- Video duration
- 00:52
Dolphin surprises swimmers at Cottesloe
Dolphin surprises swimmers at Cottesloe
Swimmers were given a pleasant surprise when a dolphin swim near the shore at Cottesloe Beach.
Up Next
Tribute video for Manny the Cow
- Video duration
- 01:03
- Video duration
- 01:03
Tribute video for Manny the Cow
Tribute video for Manny the Cow
Facebook group Animal Equality has made a tribute video to Manny the Cow.
How to stay safe in the sun
Mark Strickland from the Cancer Council WA shares his top five tips to stay safe in the sun this summer.
A build-up of warmth in the interior of Australia has the potential to lift each of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra above 33 degrees on Tuesday, the first time in 51 years for such a threshold to be crossed this early in summer, Weatherzone's Brett Dutschke said.
That result is possible, with Melbourne tipped to reach 34 degrees on Tuesday, lagging Adelaide and Sydney's predicted top of 36 degrees. Canberra is expected to reach 33, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Related Content
In line with other bursts of heat for Melbourne this warming season, the mercury spike is likely to be short-lived, with mild even cooler-than-average days stretching out until early next week, Mr Dutschke said.
Tuesday's forecast overnight low of 20 degrees, about 7 above normal for December, "is likely to be warmer than all of Wednesday and possibly Thursday", he said.
The scale of the heat is large, with much of eastern Australia rising in the mid to high 30s, particularly on Tuesday. (See Bureau of Meteorology chart below for maximum temperatures on Tuesday.)
Along with the mercury spike, fire danger ratings are also set to soar.
On Monday, the Country Fire Authority has "high" fire ratings for all of Victoria, except for the northern country region.
By Tuesday, though, most of the state will be rated as "very high" fire danger with the Mallee, Wimmera and northern country ramping up to "severe" fire risk. At this point, none of the regions has a total fire ban for Tuesday.
This latest bout of heat will likely accelerate the browning off of vegetation already well under way across South Australia, Victoria and western NSW after a very wet winter and spring, Mr Dutschke said.
"The greener areas are contracting to where the rivers are," he said. "The surrounds...are drying out very rapidly."
Follow Peter Hannam on Twitter and Facebook.
Weatherzone is owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.