An intense burst of heat will hit Victoria this weekend and early next week, with temperatures reaching up to 45°C for the first time in four years.

A hot continental air mass will drift over southeastern Australia from this weekend as a stream of northwesterly winds develops ahead of an approaching cold front. This air mass will bring the highest temperatures of the year to much of Vic, including Melbourne.

Current forecasts suggest the temperature in Melbourne should reach the low thirties on Sunday before soaring to 40°C on Monday. If it gets this hot, it would be Melbourne’s first 40°C day of 2024.

Image: Forecast wind and temperature at 5pm AEDT on Monday, December 16.

The heat will be even more intense in northern Vic, with computer models predicting maximums of 45°C in the Mallee on Monday. Victoria hasn’t reached 45°C since 2020.

Image: Daily forecast on the Weatherzone app for Mildura, Vic, from Friday December 13 to Wednesday December 18, 2024.

Monday’s heat will combine with a surge of northwesterly winds that should get strong enough to cause extreme to locally catastrophic fire danger ratings over central and western Vic on Monday. A blustery southwesterly change will further exacerbate the risk of dangerous fires during the afternoon and evening.

Image: Forecast fire behaviour index on Monday afternoon.

You can stay up to date with the latest information about fires in Vic by visiting the CFA website.