Western Australia swelters under near record-breaking temperatures as autumn heatwave grips state

Perth is set to swelter under an usually hot March heatwave this week with temperatures looking to break a 40-year record.

The Western Australia capital city is forecast to bask under temperatures reaching tops of 38 degrees until Thursday and the hot spell is tipped to be the hottest sequence of March days on record, Weatherzone reports.

Consecutive days of temperatures like this in the second-half of March haven't been seen since 1985.

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A severe warning was issued for eastern parts of the Perth metropolitan area including Mandurah and Busselton.

An extreme warning is also in place for Carnarvon, while the severe weather is stretching over to Esperance and Gascoyne.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned south-western parts of WA could even see temperatures in the mid-40s.

Perth's temperature is forecast to sit above 35 degrees over the next five days.

Historically, the average maximum temperature for March is 29.6 degrees.

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According to Weatherzone, the severe autumn heatwave is being triggered by a near-stationary high pressure system above southern Australia.

The tropical cyclone brewing on the north coast of WA is also bringing hotter temperatures too as the system brings unusually hot air to the west.

Meanwhile, Sydney and Melbourne are also forecast for warmer than usual temperatures this weekend.

Sydneysiders will enjoy balmy tops of 27 degrees on Saturday and those in Melbourne are looking at tops of 28 degrees on Friday

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