Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather will apply the heat on the Australian Open this week

Australian Open fans can expect a couple of hot and dry days for the Grand Slam event, which gets underway at Melbourne Park tomorrow.

Melbourne’s weather is expected to turn it on, albeit briefly, during the opening week of the Australian Open with temperatures tipped to reach the low thirties.

The opening Grand Slam of the season, which usually starts in January, will begin on Monday at Melbourne Park.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan Howe said it would be a short-lived but pleasant warm spell for fans heading to the Australian Open, especially the outside courts, before a cool change sweeps through later in the week.

Rod Laver Arena will be basked in sunshine during the opening week of the Australian Open with temperatures tipped to hit the low thirties. Picture: Paul Crock

Mr Howe said to would be cold with below-average temperatures on Sunday and Monday, before warming up during the week.

“It’s going to be getting into the low thirties on Wednesday and Thursday which will be much better tennis weather,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“Unfortunately, another cool change is coming in on Friday morning so next weekend is going to be cooler and showery, so it is only going to be those two days which will be great tennis weather.”

A spectator enjoys the warm weather during an Australian Open at Melbourne Park.The heat will be on again this week. Picture: David Crosling

Melbourne will be nowhere near as wet as Perth where about 80mm was dumped in one suburb overnight.

Mr Howe said the rainfall would have helped ease the bushfires the WA’s southwest with more rain on the way.

“They’ve had some pretty decent totals and thankfully that has helped the bushfire situation there,” he said.

“Overnight, they had 85mm at Lancelin East which is (110km) north of the city and around the Perth area there was around 30 to 50mm which is great news for them.

“The rain will continue towards the southwest of WA.”

Smouldering bushland near Perth. Picture Paul Kane

Across the nation temperatures will be below average for the next few days except in Queensland, which will have near-normal average temperatures, he said.

Sydney would be “going for a run of days” with cooler-than-average temperatures, he said.

“Brisbane will, out of all the capital cities, have temperatures closer to average.”

Brisbane-based BOM forecaster Matt Marshall said a hazardous surf warning for the Gold Coast was likely to be withdrawn on Sunday.

Surf Lifesaving Queensland has closed nine beaches along the Gold Coast and a further three on the Sunshine Coast.

The three beaches along the Sunshine Coast that are off limits to swimmers are Kawana, Wurtulla and Bokarina, which are located between Caloundra and Maroochydore.

“We haven’t cancelled the hazardous surf warning yet but that will happen later today,” Mr Marshall told NCA NewsWire.

“There’s bit of a south-easterly change which will whip up some waves, but that’s further offshore.

“As far as the beaches are concerned conditions will be easing.