Victoria to be smashed by heat on Australia Day long weekend

THE Australia Day forecast looks “pretty feral”, with temperatures climbing into the 40s and north Queensland-style humidity.

VICTORIANS are about to go “troppo” as a heatwave and high humidity smash the state this long Australia Day weekend.

Temperatures are expected to soar into the 40s across most parts of the state while the humidity will make you feel like you are in tropical Queensland from Thursday.

WHY MELBOURNE FEELS MORE LIKE CAIRNS

YOUR GUIDE TO SURVIVING A BUSHFIRE

RADICAL PLAN TO SHOCK IGNORANT SWIMMERS

Bureau of Meteorology state manager Andrew Tupper said there’s “a real risk we might be going a bit troppo over the next few days”.

“We are going to get quite sultry, oppressive conditions and we are really going to be feeling it,” Dr Tupper said.

Matthew, Alex, Hayden, and Macey jump into the water at St Kilda Beach. Picture: Alex Coppel

“Pretty feral Friday, Saturday and Sunday in particular. It is going to feel like we are not getting much relief.”

Melbourne’s humidity is on par with Brisbane today at 63 per cent — after the city was more humid than Cairns yesterday.

The city will reach a sunny top of 23C today before it climbs to 26C tomorrow.

Thursday will hit 29C in the city with a chance of showers or thunderstorm in the northern and eastern suburbs.

Melburnians will be heading to the beach when the hot weather arrives. Picture: Alex Coppel

Thursday will be a muggy 29C in Melbourne before the oppressive heat kicks in.

Showers and thunderstorms may dampen Australia Day festivities in the northern and eastern suburbs — despite a top of 35C.

There’s a chance of lightning and flash flooding due to the hot and humid conditions.

Swan Hill will hit 42C, Mildura 43C and Bendigo will rise to 39C on Australia Day.

“We get humidity once or twice a season. This is the monsoonal season in Australia’s north which can come down ... (it) can be a shock to the system,” Dr Tupper said.

Norwegian Jewel cruiseliner seen near Portarlington this morning. Picture: Supplied/Sheryl Collins

Norwegian Jewel cruiseliner seen near Portarlington this morning. Picture: Supplied/ Sheryl Collins

Norwegian Jewel cruiseliner seen near Portarlington this morning. Picture: Supplied/ Sheryl Collins

“It can actually affect the mood when we are overheated, when it is really humid we can be grumpier, our body struggles to cope because we are not able to release enough heat and it can cause stress on us.”

Going away for the long weekend? Drive safely & check fire danger ratings #BeFireReady https://t.co/3r7UXi60oF pic.twitter.com/w7YdZFlilA

— CFA Updates (@CFA_Updates) January 22, 2018

It will be a scorcher weekend as the temperature hovers at 39C in the city with showers.

The Chief Health Authority has issued above threshold warnings for most of the state on January 26 and 27.

All of Victoria, except the northeast region, is above the threshold for a health warning on Sunday.

Dr Tupper said we may need to change our behaviour during the really humid period to cope.

The temperature will drop 10C on Monday with up to 6mm of rain.