Victoria's Christmas heatwave in the severe category
Date: December 21 2016
Neelima Choahan
Victoria's first summer heatwave will be severe, the weather bureau warns, with a cool change not expected until three days after Christmas.
The weather bureau released new maps on Wednesday showing the predicted Christmas heatwave is in the severe category for much of Victoria.
The orange areas on the map below show the parts of Victoria where the heatwave will be most severe over the three-day Christmas period.
The mercury is set to soar on Friday, with Mildura set for a top of 38 degrees, Swan Hill 37, Echuca 36 and Bendigo 33.
The scorcher will continue on Christmas Day, with Melbourne set for a top of 35 degrees, Mildura and Swan Hill 41 degrees and Echuca 39 degrees.
In Bendigo, the peak will come on Tuesday with a maximum of 39 degrees.
"On Christmas Eve, the temperature is going to be low-30s," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Tony Bannister said.
"But Christmas Day itself is going to see a further increase, so it's going to be pretty hot for your Christmas lunch It's probably a better idea to have it inside than outside."
On Boxing Day, the mercury is set to top 31 degrees in Melbourne.
"If you are going to the cricket, you'll want to take your Esky and have some cool drinks ready," Mr Bannister said.
"But up in the north you might be wanting to watch your cricket inside, because those northerly winds will strengthen and it will stay very hot in the low-40s."
Photo: Leigh Henningham
Wednesday may bring some relief from the extreme heat.
"It really depends upon the movement of the low-pressure system from the north-west of Western Australia," Mr Bannister said.
"One scenario will be, it will be another hot day with temperatures still in the mid- to high-30s ahead of a cool change during the day. The other one is - the heat may continue without a cool change."