Summer’s hottest day to hit Victoria, amid wind and extreme fire danger ratings in some areas

Melbourne is set to swelter on Sunday with the temperature tipped to reach 37 degrees — and other parts of the state will be hotter still, with the mercury soaring to a scorching 43.

Melburnians are on Sunday expected to swelter through the hottest day of the year, while some parts of the state face a total fire ban.

It has been only a matter of days since Melbourne faced a summer without any days being classified as “hot” – or more than 35C – by the Bureau of Meteorology.

But all that is tipped to change on Sunday as sunny and windy conditions deliver an expected high of 37C degrees across the metropolitan area and warnings of extreme conditions.

Winds up to 40 km/h prompted CFA Victoria to announce a total fire ban on Sunday, from 12.01am to 11.59pm, for northwest parts of the state.

Melbourne is set to swelter. Picture: David Crosling

“The Fire Danger Rating is Extreme in the Mallee and Wimmera tomorrow so community members in those areas need to be alert,” CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.

“We’re expecting northwest to north-easterly winds around 25 to 40 km/h and a south-westerly wind change in the afternoon. The wind change will make it challenging for firefighters on a fireground.”

BOM forecaster Morgan Pumpa said while Melburnians would undoubtedly face a toasty day, regional areas would endure much higher temperatures – likely in the mid 40s.

“Mildura will be among the hottest temperatures and expected to reach 43 degrees,” Ms Pumpa said.

Keeping cool will be a challenge across the state. Picture: Gail Makinson

Beaches will be packed with people trying to find relief from the heat. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Pumpa said while conditions this year had not proven “as hot” compared to years prior.

“Temperatures are often higher in February,” she said.

“Keep in mind the sea breeze may be uncomfortably hot if you go to the beach and ensure to keep watch for fire danger alerts in your area, excluding east Gippsland.

Sunny conditions were, however, expected to be short-lived this week with a cool change change “moving through” the state.

“Temperatures are expected to drop on Monday to 21 degrees and will continue into next week with mid-20 degrees,” Ms Pumpa said.

The steamy weather is a change from much of December and January when wild storms battered the state, with hail, damaging winds and floods causing havoc for many Victorians.