Beginning Saturday, Melbourne is in for a sizzling three-day spell with temperatures edging up into the high thirties towards 40°C, and if you didn't know better, you'd swear that the AFL knew about the hot spell months ahead.

The AFL has scheduled just four games this weekend in what it is calling "Opening Round", ahead of "Round One" featuring all 18 clubs the following weekend, beginning Thursday, March 14.  

All four Opening Round games are being played in much milder conditions outside Melbourne, with two in SE Queensland and two in Sydney (including last night’s game where the Sydney Swans beat the Melbourne Demons at the SCG).

The BoM's Melbourne maximums forecast for the next three days are:

• Saturday 39°C
• Sunday 38°C
• Monday 38°C

If the mercury does rise to 38ºC or higher over the coming three days, it will be the first time since 1942 that Melbourne has seen three consecutive March days so hot.

For that, you can blame the blocking high pressure system which we wrote about earlier this week.

Saturday's synoptic chart (above) shows a strong high pressure system centred over the Tasman Sea, with air moving anticlockwise around it, directing hot northerlies to inland NSW and all of Victoria.

Monday's chart (below) reveals a very similar picture. That lazy high is parked on the couch enjoying the footy and is in no hurry to go anywhere, hence the prolonged hot spell under the influence of northerlies.

Even Mallacoota in East Gippsland at the SE tip of mainland Australia – one of the mildest Victorian towns outside the alpine region – can expect a three-day spell of max temps of 30°C or higher, while numerous spots in northern Victoria along the Murray can expect at least one day of 40°C or higher in coming days.

This event is classified as a Low-Intensity to Severe Heatwave by the BoM across all of Victoria as well as most of Tasmania and parts of SA and NSW, including the ACT, so please stay well hydrated if you're doing outdoorsy things, and check our warnings page for the latest info https://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings

Source: BoM.