UPDATE 7.15pm: IT HAS been a scorcher in Bendigo, with the mercury reaching 40.8 degrees at 4.30pm.
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At the same time, Charlton hit 42.8 degrees.
Elsewhere, Redesdale got to 41 degrees and Kyabram to 41.5 degrees.
While the dry, hot and windy conditions put central Victoria on high alert for bushfires, there were no major incidents in the region.
The weather will tell a different story on Wednesday, with a medium chance of light rain this morning and a more pleasant top of 27 degrees forecast for Bendigo.
Maximum temperatures are expected to hover in the mid to high 20s for a few days, but things look set to begin heating up again by Sunday.
EARLIER: TUESDAY has officially become the hottest day of summer so far in Bendigo, with the temperature cracking the 40-degree mark.
The temperature peaked at 40.6 degrees at 3.30pm and at 4pm, was still hovering around that figure.
The mercury had already surpassed 30 degrees by 10.30am
It has been even hotter further west: Charlton broke the 40 degree barrier about 1.30pm and hit a searing 41.7 degrees at 4pm.