Bendigo will face consecutive 40-degree days for the first time in 12 months today and tomorrow.
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The mercury is expected to climb to 40 degrees today before reaching 43 on Friday. On February 9 and 10, 2017, temperatures reached 41.6 and 41.3.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stuart Coombs said it is not that unusual to have consecutive days above 40 degrees.
“The next two days take the cake for being the least unpleasant. On Saturday, a weak change comes northward to restrict temperatures to 36 but that is still a hot day,” he said.
“It will stay in the mid to high 30s through to Monday before a fresher breeze on Tuesday cools us down ahead of it warming up for Australia Day.”
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a heat health alert for the Northern Country region for Friday.
Residents are advised to stay well hydrated, never leave children, pets or people in cars, keep cool and plan ahead.
If the forecast for Friday remains at 43 degrees, the Bendigo Country Week cricket grand finals will an hour earlier and be shortened to 35-over games.
The Bendigo region has a history of facing a string of 40-degree days. Bendigo had four days above 42 in 2014 (January 14-17), three days above 40 in 2010 (January 9-11) and four days above 42 in 2009 (January 28-31).
“It’s a very episodic thing in summer and the climate record in January in Bendigo in last 30 years shows a few cases of consecutive 40-degree days,” he said.