The weather at this year's Melbourne Cup will be on form, with a stream of warm and dry air possibly delivering the first 30-degree Cup Day since 2005.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions preventing crowds from attending the 160th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington today, it will be a beautiful day to get out and about in the city.

Image: Blue sky day in Melbourne on Tuesday. Source: @melodymissnic / Instagram

A stream of warm air being driven over southeastern Australia ahead of an approaching cold front could see Melbourne reach 30ºC this afternoon. This would be eight degrees above average for this time of year and the city's highest temperature since March.

The temperature in Melbourne had already reached 25.8ºC by 10:30am. The last time it hit 30ºC on Cup Day was 30.7ºC in 2005. If it beats 30.7ºC, it will be the hottest since 1969, when it reached 31.4ºC.

The hottest Melbourne Cup Day on record was 35.1ºC in 1902.

Tuesday's warmth will also spill into South Australia and Tasmania. Adelaide (34ºC) and Hobart (29ºC) are forecast to have their warmest days since March and February, respectively.