Extreme temperatures forecast for Victoria with heat warning issued

Residents across Victoria have been warned of an impending heatwave, with the mercury forecast to reach a stifling 40 degrees in large parts of the state over the weekend.

The Victorian government issued a heat warning today ahead of expected extreme temperatures.

Most of the state will see its first heatwave conditions of the summer on Sunday, with temperatures reaching the hottest they've been in a year.

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Melbourne is expected to hit 34 degrees, which would be the highest temperature the city has recorded since last February.

Mildura is expected to reach a top of 44 degrees, Wodonga 40, Horsham 39, and Bairnsdale is expecting 36 degrees.

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Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas today encouraged Victorians to prepare for the heat.

"With temperatures expected to soar across the state this weekend, we're urging Victorians to be prepared – stay hydrated, stay indoors as much as possible and make sure you check in on loved ones," Thomas said.

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"This weekend will be the hottest in a year – after a cooler, wetter period it's easy to forget things like chronic conditions that could be exacerbated in the heat, or the deadly risk of leaving kids in hot parked cars."

Meanwhile, residents across Western Australia have been experiencing scorching temperatures, with the mercury surpassing 40 degrees in large parts of the state.

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The Bureau of Meteorology issued an extreme heatwave warning for areas of the Gascoyne region, while a severe alert is in place for much of the west coast.

Temperatures have already soared into the high 30s and low-to-mid 40s, where they will remain for much of the rest of the week.