With the temperature topping 42 today and having reached 37 yesterday, the Victorian government has called for a total fire ban across the state. More than 1000 houses lost power yesterday and more are expected to in the inner Melbourne and suburbs.
Even during the night, the temperature did not go below 28. The mercury would not drop under 30 until the early morning hours.
One man in his 20s lost his life yesterday while swimming while paramedics treated several heat-related cases. Today is expected to be the hottest day for summer so far.
Many Melburnians headed out to the nearest beaches yesterday and lied in water to survive the heat, or opted for air-conditioned shops in the city where they remained from the morning till late in the evening.
The stores in Bourke street as well as Emporium, Myer and David Jones were packed with people protecting themselves from the sun rather that actual shoppers. The sting winds today as well as the thunderstorm said to heat Melbourne after 6.00 pm, are keeping most Victorians indoors.
Metro cancelled six train services yesterday due to the hot weather. Some outbound and city bound services might also be cancelled today due to heat-related speed restrictions across the Metro network.