Heatwave, storms over parts of Australia with 'above average' temperature for Melbourne Cup Day

Punters are enjoying warm and clear weather at the Melbourne Cup as Victoria experiences temperatures up to six degrees above average.

Temperatures reached 19.5 degrees in Melbourne by midday with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting it to climb to 25 degrees by the time races start at 3pm.

Conditions will remain dry and sunny into the evening.

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Forecaster Jonathan How said the temperature in Victoria wais up to six degrees above the average.

"You're reaching the mid to high 20s in the south and the low 30s in the north," he said.

Hot and warm conditions are being felt across most of Australia with the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland currently under a heatwave warning.

How said the rural town of Birdsville in Queensland wouldbe the hottest in the country at 44 degrees today.

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The bureau has issued fire weather warnings for Western Australia and South Australia.

How said there would consequently be a severe thunderstorm risk for north-eastern parts of New South Wales and south-eastern parts of Queensland.

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The mercury is set to continue to climb tomorrow.

"The focus will be around Victoria and New South Wales where the maximum temperature is even higher than today," How said.

"At this stage, we're expecting temperatures up in to the high 30s for northern Victoria and southern New South Wales and up into the 40s for northern parts of New South Wales.

"Hot days and warm nights will also continue through southern and western Queensland, where we are seeing locally severe intensity heatwave conditions."

How said there would be a cool change starting in South Australia tomorrow before it reaches Victoria by the afternoon and New South Wales by the night or Thursday morning.