Fire bans for eight of nine Vic regions

Total fire bans have been issued for almost all of Victoria on Tuesday, with heat tipped to exceed 40C in some areas with strong northerly winds ahead of a gusty cool change.

Fire bans cover the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Central, North Central and Northern Country districts, where fire danger is listed as severe on Tuesday.

The bans extend to the North East and South and West Gippsland districts, where the fire danger rating for Tuesday is very high.

Only the East Gippsland district is unaffected but fire danger there is also very high.

The Bureau of Meteorology says Tuesday is expected to be hot with cloud increasing from the west, though milder near the west and central coasts.

Northwesterly winds will become fresh and gusty inland ahead of a southerly change in the south extending to mountain areas and the northwest later in the afternoon and evening.

Isolated late showers are expected only in the southwest.