Heat is set to return to parts of southern and southeastern Australia this weekend as another hot airmass sweeps across the region.

Strengthening northerly winds will drag a pool of warm air across parts of SA, TAS, VIC, NSW, the ACT and QLD this weekend, ahead of a deepening low-pressure trough and cold front.

The impending hot air will cause a low intensity heat wave across southern Australia from the weekend, which will spread further east and northwards early next week.

Melbourne’s heat is likely to peak on Sunday, with a maximum temperature of 34ºC on the forecast, as hot northerly winds strengthen ahead of the approaching cold front. However, it may reach around 35-37ºC in the city on Sunday if northerly winds prevent a cooling sea breeze from developing.

Unfortunately, the mercury will remain in the thirties well into Sunday evening in Melbourne, before a weak southerly change later in the evening provides some relief. This weak southerly will only be temporary though, with temperatures forecast to bounce back to the low thirties on Monday.

The map below shows the warm airmass moving over southern Australia on Sunday, January 13.

Image: ECMWF forecast surface air temperature at 5pm EDT on Sunday, February 13.

Across the border, Adelaide’s daytime temperatures will peak in the low to mid thirties on Sunday and Monday. Saturday night is also expected to be a particularly warm night, with the temperature likely to stay above 22ºC, which is five degrees above the February average.

A weak southerly will arrive in Adelaide on Sunday afternoon, preventing extreme heat, but not enough to cool the capital significantly. A stronger southerly is set to arrive on Tuesday in both Adelaide and Melbourne, finally dropping maximum temperatures below 30ºC.

Hobart will not miss this round late summer warmth, with temperatures peaking at 30ºC on Sunday, eight degrees above the average maximum for this time of year. The cold front will clip TAS on Monday and drop temperatures back to the low twenties in Hobart.

Looking ahead, the warm airmass will spread over Australia's eastern states next week, with several days of high twenties to low thirties on the forecast for both Sydney and Brisbane.