Dr Liz Hanna said it was 'unfathomable' that Victoria had not learnt from the catastrophic 2009 heatwave.

Baking again: Victoria will heat up this week. Photo: Glenn Campbell



After sweltering through a blistering 39 degrees, Melburnians will be hit with a cool change about 8pm on Tuesday, giving way to much cooler conditions in southern Victoria on Wednesday.


Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster James Taylor said fresh and gusty winds will move across Melbourne during the afternoon, cooling the mercury as it spikes to a possible 40 degrees between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday.


Statewide, northern Victorians should prepare for a scorching day as temperatures soar into the low-40s, with the Mallee and Wimmera regions – including Mildura, Swan Hill and Horsham – hitting 42, 42 and 40 respectively.


Passengers hide from the heat at Richmond station.

Long-suffering commuters should prepare for more hot days.



Mr Taylor said fresh northerly winds were already coming in, and would stay fresh as they gradually move through western Victoria.


"It's reasonable to expect a severe weather warning to be issued later today, as wind gusts are expected to reach 90 to 100km/h while moving south-west during the afternoon," Mr Taylor said.


Portland, in the state's south-west, will be the first to experience the cool change about 2pm.


Meanwhile, the Country Fire Authority has issued a total fire ban across the state, as weather conditions range from high to extreme.


A state control centre spokesman said the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country and Central regions have all been issued severe and extreme warnings.


"We're heading towards a pretty hot day, and we just ask everybody to pay heed to the warnings of total fire ban," the spokesman said.


At 9am, advice had been issued for several regions, including the Grampians, where a fire destroyed 17 properties during the state's most recent heatwave a fortnight ago.