Australians are set to swelter as a severe heatwave kicks in across parts of the country with temperatures predicted to rise as high as 47C.
Melbourne is expected to hit 35C on Monday, giving tennis players and fans a particularly warm welcome on day one of the Australian Open, with temperatures predicted to continue in the 30s until Friday.
Meanwhile north of the state is expected to experience a record-breaking heatwave according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), with towns along the Murray River in for 40C for a number of days in a row. While towns between Mildura and Albury Wodonga are forecast to hit 46C by midweek.
Further north in Menindee, New South Wales, the week has been forecast to kick off at a high of 46C with fears it could lead to a mass fish kill. Sydneysiders are also bracing themselves for five days in a row of 40C plus days.
Similar conditions have been predicted for Adelaide with 39C, while Oodnadatta in South Australia’s outback is expected to hit 47C on Monday.
Severe to extreme weather conditions will continue across the country until Friday, with a cool change expected to set in by the weekend.
“Temperatures are expected to fall back to humane levels, in the 20s around the coast,” said Chris Godfred, forecaster at BoM.
MELBOURNE FORECAST, 14-19 JANUARY, 2019:
Monday: 35C
Tuesday: 35C
Wednesday: 32C
Thursday: 31C
Friday: 31C
Saturday: 22C