Total fire ban in west Victoria

A total fire ban has been declared for the Mallee region in western Victoria with temperatures set to spike to 40 degrees.

The mercury will hit 38C in Melbourne on Monday, and 41C in Mildura in the state's northwest.

"The CFA advises people living in areas at risk of fire to activate their bush fire plan," the CFA said in a statement.

Victoria is expected to experience fresh and gusty northerly winds ahead of a late cool change in the west.

Most of the state has high-to-very high fire danger, reaching severe in the Mallee.