Update, 4.45pm:
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The Country Fire Authority has issued a total fire ban for the whole of Victoria for Friday, January 4.
It means no fire can be lit in the open air or be allowed to remain alight in the open air between 12.01am and 11.59pm on Friday.
Restrictions apply for the use of barbecues, campfires, lawn mowers, chainsaws, farm machinery and incinerators.
The ban comes as temperatures above 40 degrees are forecast for parts of the state.
For more visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au
Earlier:
Weather observers in Bendigo have had difficulty watching the latest observations with the automated weather system in Bendigo experiencing an electrical fault shortly before Christmas.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said it was yet to be repaired due to limited staff during the holiday period.
“It’s a fairly high priority to get those repairs done as soon as possible but it hasn’t happened unfortunately,” he said.
“Today the first day back for (many staff), so we are chasing it today. Hopefully as people return to work it will be looked at quickly.
“We have numerous other observation equipment around as well and it doesn’t impact the service we provide aside from not having those observations available for people who like to see them.”
Weather sites are taking observations and current weather recordings from the Redesdale weather station, which is the closest to Bendigo.
Bendigo is forecast to have temperatures above 40-degrees Celsius on Friday as the mercury rises in the region.
BOM is tipping Bendigo to reach 44 degrees on Friday while other areas north of Bendigo such as Echuca (45 degrees) and Swan Hill (46 degrees) are expected to be even hotter.
Thursday will see Bendigo reach 38 degrees while the weekend will see temperatures cool slightly to 31 on Saturday and 27 on Sunday.
Castlemaine is set to reach a top of 36 on Thursday and 42 on Friday.
A BOM spokesman said temperatures would only be extreme for a short time.
“This looks like the hottest day we've seen of the summer,” he said. “Conditions will get gradually warmer up to Friday.
“Friday is that real peak day with hot north-westerly winds before a cold front. We’re looking at 44 in Bendigo between 44 and 45 everywhere else.
“It will be that one extremely hot day, then a cooler change on Friday in the late afternoon or early evening.”
The CFA is yet to issue any total fire bans for regions throughout Victoria.
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