Victorians are set to live through the hottest temperatures on record as the mercury will sit above 40 degrees for 4 days in a row. Courtesy Channel Ten
Oliver of Glen Waverley at the Oakleigh Pool during the heatwave. Picture: Derrick den Hollander Source: News Limited
SCORCHED Melburnians are being warned to brace for damaging storms - and possible hail - this afternoon before sizzling 44C heat arrives tomorrow.
The weather bureau this afternoon issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Melbourne and other parts of Victoria including the Central, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland, South West and North Central districts.
The storms are expected to bring damaging winds and the possibility of large hailstones on the second day of a heatwave which has seen temperatures climb to 42.4C yesterday and 41.5C today.
Then Melbourne will sizzle in 44C heat tomorrow in the hottest day so far forecast during the city's predicted record heatwave.
The Bureau of Meteorology revised its projection after its computer modelling signalled temperatures would climb even higher than the searing conditions recorded so far this week.
But in the meantime Melburnians are enjoying a slight reprieve, with a cool southerly wind bringing down the mercury in bayside suburbs from the forecast maximum of 41C to 38C.
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But Bureau duty forecaster Michael Halfpenny said the cool relief hadn't extended to the hottest parts of the state, where the temperature could still rise this afternoon.
Melburnians keep cool at Brighton Beach on January 14, 2014 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Charlton has recorded a temperature of 45.6C, while it is 45C in Walpeup and Swan Hill.
"It's quite likely they might go up a degree or so more, although they've probably reached their maximum by now," Mr Halfpenny said.
But he said Melbourne's relief would be short-lived as the temperature was likely to keep lingering in the high 30s for the rest of the afternoon.
People sunbath at Brighton Beach on January 14, 2014 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Experts are still expecting the overnight minimum to stay around 24C before the temperatures begin to heat up early tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow's predicted top is just 2C cooler than it was on Black Saturday.
The temperature in Melbourne hit the forecast 41C at 1.30pm, climbing almost 2C from just half an hour earlier.
People jump into the sea to keep cool at St Kilda Beach on January 14, 2014 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
The Mallee has recorded the most extreme temperatures with residents in Charlton (43C), Mildura (42.7C), and Swan Hill (42.7C) suffering the worst this afternoon.
Elsewhere in Victoria it was 41C in Horsham, 41.5C at Bendigo, 41.7C at Bairnsdale and 39.3 at Wangaratta.
Temperatures will continue to peak above 40C tomorrow and Friday, with wind gusts of up to 100km/h expected to create dangerous fire conditions on Friday.
People sunbath as they enjoy the warm weather at Elwood Beach on January 14, 2014 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Victorians endured a hot night with temperatures in the mid 30s for most of the night.
It dipped to 29.3C just after 5am - close to the January record of 30.6C in 2010.
The city reached 42.8C yesterday, while Charlton in the state's northwest recorded 46.5C.
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At the Australian Open a player hallucinated that he saw Snoopy on court before he fainted mid-match.
A ball boy collapsed and water bottles melted on court as the tournament sizzled in extreme heat.
People kitesurf at Brighton Beach on January 14, 2014 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
The heat has driven the highest electricity demand since the heatwave before Black Saturday and by the end of the week could set new records, Energy Supply Association of Australia says.
Some Victorians were left without electricity for part of yesterday with electricity company SP AusNet going ahead with bushfire mitigation works in some areas despite the heat.
The Victorian Government has issued a heat health alert and is urging people to stay hydrated and check on the elderly.
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