Mid-week scorcher on the way for the southeast

With Weatherzone’s Craig McIntosh

The mercury is set to sizzle in Australia's southeast this week, with some areas likely to push 40 degrees. 

A very hot air mass will gradually approach from the northwest over the coming days, blanketing the southeast in very hot temperatures.

Although tomorrow will be hot in many inland areas of the southeast, even hotter temperatures will begin arriving on Tuesday, with the peak of the heat on Wednesday and Thursday.

In South Australia, many towns in the north will climb over 40 degrees on Tuesday.

Adelaide will reach the mid-thirties, but come Wednesday it is possible Adelaide will strike 40 whilst inland cities and towns swelter through maximums of around 43 with dry north-westerlies.

Victoria will start the significant upward movement of mercury on Tuesday, and by Wednesday parts of the Mallee and Wimmera will also surpass 40 degrees.

Melbourne will be a balmy 37, with dry north-westerlies funnelling through the central ranges.

Luckily for South Australia and Victoria, a cold front will be close behind bringing some relief, but before that hits land the north, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory will also feel some scorching temperatures.

Heat will peak on Thursday across New South Wales and the ACT as the airmass is forced northeast by the cold front.

Canberra is likely to hit the 33 degree mark, about seven degrees higher than average. Western parts of Sydney, and most areas west of the ranges, will hover around the 40 degree mark.

North-easterlies should prevent eastern Sydney from seeing such temperatures, although the mid-thirties are likely.

The cold front will only bring slight cooling to many inland places, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday remaining very hot away from the coast.