Melbourne has been battered by thunderstorms which brought hail the size of golf balls, just hours after the city sweltered through 36-degree heat.
Thunderstorms rolled through the city on Tuesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds.
In the north-west, Mildura copped the worst of the storm with 90km gusts causing significant damage.
The wet weather did bring a cool change to the city, with temperatures dropping around 10 degrees.
Melbourne was battered by storms on Tuesday afternoon, just hours after the city sweltered through 36-degree heat
In the north-west, Mildura copped the worst of the storm with 90km winds causing significant damage
The storm lasted around half an hour, with the SES receiving more than 400 calls for help, the Herald Sun reports.
The Bureau of Meteorology have issued a severe thunderstorm alert for areas near Dandenong, with storms also forecast for Cranbourne and Lang Lang.
Meanwhile, Sydney has been warned to brace for a warm Wednesday with temperatures set to peak at 38C.
It follows temperatures of 44C in parts of the New South Wales state on Tuesday.
In the east, Penrith sweltered through the hottest day ever recorded for the area.
Temperatures hit 44.1 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded for the first month of summer, ABC reports.
In the far west, Bourke reached a maximum of 45C, making it the hottest spot in the state.
Meanwhile, Sydney has been warned to brace for a warm Wednesday with temperatures set to peak at 38C
It follows temperatures of 44C in parts of the New South Wales state on Tuesday, including at Penrith in the east
But the warm weather won’t stick around long, dropping down to just 23C on Thursday and 25C Friday.
While temperatures will pick up again in time for the weekend, with Sunday set to hit 34C, those celebrating Christmas Day can expect conditions to sit in the mid twenties with a chance of showers.
Those in Canberra were also urged to keep cool and stay hydrated as the mercury pushed a scorching 39C.
Bureau of Meteorology’s Meteorologist Craig Ryan told Daily Mail Australia temperatures are expected to cool overnight.
‘The overnight temperature is expected to be 21C as well, with the record currently standing at 21.2C, so we will be keeping an eye on that too,’ Mr Ryan said.
‘There will be a change coming through later in the week, with some relief from the high temperatures.’
The forecast has temperatures soaring to a glorious 34C on Christmas, with sunny and warm conditions in the lead-up
It comes as a heatwave crosses the Tasman seas, with Sydney experiencing a stifling 38C Wednesday before temperatures drop to the mid-twenties Thursday and Friday
Brisbane will enjoy sparkling weather, with the mercury sitting in the low thirties right up until Christmas.
Hobart was treated to a windy and warm Tuesday as well, with 32C forecast for the Tasmanian city before things cooled off considerably on Wednesday to just 21C.
Over on the west coast, Perth was treated to mild conditions as the week began, but will quickly turn things around to become the hottest capital city for the big day.
The forecast has temperatures soaring to a glorious 34C on Christmas, with sunny and warm conditions in the lead-up.
Over on the west coast, Perth was treated to mild conditions as the week began with a forecast of 34C and sunny skies