Summer has well and truly arrived in Australia, with temperatures expected to soar into the 40s around the country this week.
Northwest Victoria will be hit with the brunt of the heatwave on Wednesday, with a high of 43 degrees in Mildura.
The rest of the state won’t be much cooler, with temperatures in the high 30s expected throughout, and a top of 37 in Melbourne.
Australia will be hit by a record-breaking heatwave beginning on Wednesday and not expected to ease in some parts of the country until next week
Weatherzone meteorologist Kim Westcott told Daily Mail Australia a hot air mass ahead of a low pressure trough was causing scorching weather nationwide (pictured)
Sydneysiders have a day to prepare, with temperatures in the mid to high 30s not expected until Thursday.
When the heatwave does arrive, it will be the hottest series of December temperatures in 17 years.
In Canberra, residents will be feeling the heat all week, with temperatures rising above 30 degrees for five days straight.
The scorching weather will make it the worst heatwave the city has seen in 54 years.
The last time Canberra has seven consecutive days over 30 in December was in 1963.
Canberra this week will see their worst heatwave in 54 years as temperatures sit above 30 degrees for five days straight
Warnings have been issued as Australia faces nationwide heatwaves and record stretches of high temperatures (pictured is Coogee Beach in Sydney)
Clouds might provide some shade, but Brisbane locals will be soaking up the sun this week, enjoying temperatures in the early thirties until at least next Tuesday.
A cold front will bring some relief for parts of the country in the middle of next week.
Weatherzone meteorologist Kim Westcott told Daily Mail Australia the sizzling heat is the result of a hot air mass ahead of a low pressure trough.
‘South Australia is going to cool down after Wednesday, while New South Wales and Victoria are likely to cool down temporarily next week,’ she said.
‘But the heat will probably build up again within a few days due to that low pressure trough.’
Brisbane locals will be soaking up the sun this week, enjoying temperatures in the early thirties until at least next Tuesday
Every capital city is expected to experience highs of over 30 degrees for several days before a cold front brings relief in the middle of next week (pictured is Brisbane)
Wednesday will be Melbourne’s hottest day of the summer so far, while Western Sydney could break the 40 degree mark on Thursday
Central and northwest New South Wales are bearing the brunt of the warm weather, with towns such as Bourke expecting to sweat through five or six days over 40.
Those temperatures are the hottest in the region since 1997, and Dubbo is seeing a similar heatwave with six or more days over 37 to come.
Wednesday will be Melbourne’s hottest day of the summer so far, while Western Sydney could break the 40 degree mark on Thursday.
Temperatures ranging from the high twenties to the mid thirties are forecast for the next week, unusual in Sydney in December.
Sydney has not had 10 days in a row over 26 degrees since the year 2000, and night temperatures will hover around 20 degrees throughout the week.
Perth was hit with a 37.6 degree max on Monday, and is forecast to stay hot all week, while Adelaide is expected to hit 38 degrees tomorrow.
Wednesday will be Melbourne’s hottest day of the summer so far, while Western Sydney could break the 40 degree mark on Thursday (pictured is Melbourne)