BENDIGO is forecast to reach its first 40-degree day of the year, after experiencing eight times as many last January.
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The temperature is expected to hit 43 degrees on Friday, after reaching only a top of 39.1 degrees on Thursday.
In January 2019, there were eight days above 40 degrees, including three consecutive days of 40.7 degrees, 42.9 degrees, and 43.6 degrees. The warmest day was January 25 when the temperature hit 45.9 degrees.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Tom Delamotte said this January would end with warmer conditions.
"The peak of the heat will be on Friday," he said. "It will then become quite humid overnight into Saturday.
"Along with that humidity, it will be a very warm day. There will be a warm minimum of 25 degrees on Saturday morning before a maximum of 37 degrees."
Mr Delamotte said the humid conditions were coming from northern Australia.
"There has been quite a bit of rain over the inland parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory," he said. "Those northerly winds are dragging down the heat and pushing more tropical air into Victoria."
Mr Delamotte said there would be some rain for the region, with thunderstorms pushing through the state on Friday afternoon. But he said there would only be a few millimetres for Bendigo on Friday.
"On Saturday, there will be a band of showers and thunderstorms during the day," Mr Delamotte said. "At this stage, we're thinking the heaviest rain will be to the south of Bendigo.
"But Bendigo will potentially pick up some further rainfall on Saturday before that clears."
Country Fire Authority District 2 Commander Hugh Kelly said people in the region needed to stay alert with a total fire ban declared for Friday.
"We want people to keep situationally aware," Commander Kelly said. "It will be severe fire conditions. We have 43 degrees and northerly winds hitting between 35km/h to 55km/h."
Commander Kelly said people should monitor conditions through the VicEmergency app.
"We're right in the heart of the fire season," he said. "Conditions are very dry. The CFA and other agencies are preparing as they usually do for a total fire ban, but we want everyone to be as cautious as they can be."
Mr Delamotte said a cool change would pass through Victoria late on Sunday, which would bring a more comfortable 21 degrees on Monday.
"We will have a predominately easterly flow across Victoria to finish off next week," he said. "Temperatures will return towards the 30-degree mark next Thursday and Friday."
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Tara Cosoleto
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
