RELAX: Bruce and Suzanne Gould enjoy Lake Eppalock with guide dog Bluey. Picture; Jim ALdersey
March has arrived but autumn weather has yet to be seen in Bendigo, with residents sweltering through a lengthy run of hot days.
A number of Bendigoians spent yesterday doing all they could to beat the heat, with a maximum temperature of 36 degrees recorded at 3.33pm.
Lake Eppalock proved to be a popular spot for families, including Bendigo residents Suzanne and Bruce Gould and dog Bluey.
Ms Gould said she and her husband had not been to the lake since the drought three years ago and she was pleased that it was full of water.
“It has been a long time since we have been here, so (this) was a bit of a rediscovery,” she said.
“There is lots of shade to sit in and the breeze that comes off the lake is cooling, so we have enjoyed it.”
Mr Gould said he has lived in Bendigo for about 33 years and said it was the hottest start to March he had experienced.
Also staying cool at the lake were Dianne and Adam Rouse and their two children Lachlan, 10, and Caelan, 8, who travelled from Daylesford.
“Usually the water is too cold for me but this is nice and warm,” Caelan said.
“It is very hot and I am looking forward to winter.”
Despite the run of hot weather, forecasters have predicted a cool change to hit Bendigo this week.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Christie Johnson said a cool change was expected in Bendigo tomorrow, with the temperature to drop to about 29 degrees.
Ms Johnson said the cool weather would continue until Friday, when it was expected to rise back into the thirties but would drop to 24 degrees on Saturday.
She said it was not unsual for Bendigo to experience warm weather in March and a temperature of 31 degrees was recorded in Bendigo last year on March 31.