The city sweated through a hot start to the week, with temperatures still hovering around 34 degrees for the commute home from work at 5pm on Monday.

There is not much relief in sight for Tuesday, with the mercury expected to rise again to 36 degrees in Melbourne and temperatures in the low 40s forecast across the state.

Melburnians are expected to toss and turn through another hot night on Monday, with temperatures not dropping below a sticky 25 degrees.

Those close to the city's CBD can expect temperatures to peak at about 3pm Tuesday, with a cool change moving in at about 5pm and a chance the city will be hit with rain, wild thunderstorms and heavy hail.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Stephen King said the highest tempeatures will be recorded in Albury Wodonga with a top of 42 degrees forecast, while Wangaratta and Shepparton will hit 41 degrees.

Seymour, Echuca and Swan Hill will also hit peak temperatures of 39 degrees.

Firefighters will be on high alert, with a very high fire danger rating for the north-central parts of the state.

The CFA has declared a total fire ban for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country and North East districts for Tuesday, warning no fires can be lit in the open air until midnight Wednesday.

Warm and mild conditions will continue for the rest of the week with a top of 25 degrees and light showers predicted for Wednesday, and sunny top of 24 degrees forecast for Thursday.

The mercury will rise again Friday with a top of 27 degrees expected before the weather heats up again hitting 29 degrees on Saturday.

The question on everybody's lips, however, is what the tempeature will be on Christmas Day.

The weather gods are shining down on Victoria this year, with the perfect conditions gifted to Melbourne this Christmas.

The temperature will drop just in time for Santa's trip to Melbourne.

Mr King delivered the official festive forecast on Monday afternoon, and said the weather was "looking pretty good" for Christmas Day after Melburnians sweltered through a 36 degree scorcher last year.

Victorians can also look forward to fine weather on Christmas Eve, with light breezes accompanying a maximum of 23 degrees before the mercury rises to 24 degrees on Christmas Day.

"Christmas Eve, we've got 23 degrees on the way after a morning shower, so the conditions should be pretty good for the carols in the evening," Mr King said.

"By Christmas Day, we are expecting a minimum of 13 (degrees) so a cool start, and then getting up to a top of 24. Only partly cloudy skies expected, so perfect weather."