October’s two-day heatwave: Temperatures set to soar

Melbourne is heading for a once in a century hot spell, with temperatures forecast to reach 35 degrees today and tomorrow.

A gusty change is due through tomorrow afternoon, producing a big drop in the mercury.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Phil King said this kind of heat is extremely rare for this time of year.

‘We’ve never seen temperatures into the mid-30s this early in October and we are within spitting distance of the hottest October day recorded for Melbourne,’ he said.

‘Across the state it’s a similar story, temperatures are approaching close to 40 degrees in the north-west.’

Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley told 3AW Breakfast there was a severe fire danger warning in the south-west, central and north-central areas.

‘The bureau has been very clear that it will be a long hot dry summer,’ he said.

‘I think we will see a far bit of this weather in October.

‘Hopefully it drops off a bit on November, but certainly it will be back in December, January and February.’

Bureau Senior Forecaster Chris Godfred said there has never before been a 35-degree day in the first week of October, and we’re a ‘good chance’ of getting there on Monday.

‘There’ll be a fairly squally change later on Tuesday,’ Mr Godfred said.

‘Northerly winds are really going to pick up. People should watch out for severe weather warning for damaging gusts.’

It’s going to be a warm Monday night, with temperatures only set to drop to 22 degrees.