A scorching heatwave will sweep across southeastern Australia and millions of people will sweat as temperatures soar to 15 degrees above average.
Strong northerly winds will combine with a trough and bring the warm weather system to Victoria and South Australia this weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a fire warning for the Mallee and Wimmera, in northwest Victoria, due to strong winds and hot weather.
Melbourne hit highs of 37 degrees on Friday and is expected to welcome even swelter weather on Saturday before a cool change arrives.
Most of northern, central and eastern parts of Victoria are also expected to reach temperatures above 30 degrees.
BOM meteorologist Christie Johnson said southeastern areas of New South Wales are experiencing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above average.
Ballarat and Essendon Airport in Victoria, as well as parts of South Australia, set records for the warmest November night on Friday.
“Coonawarra, in south-east South Australia, had its warmest day in November, hitting 37.8C on Friday,” Ms Johnson said.
A damaging heatwave will sweep across south-east Australia and millions of people will swelter as temperatures soar to 15 degrees above average (pictured, sunbathers at Bondi Beach)
“We also set a couple of records overnight with minimum temperatures in places like Mount Gambier.”
But the heatwave will come to an end this weekend with rain and southwesterly winds bringing a cool change to southern Australia and Victoria.
Johnson said forecast thunderstorms with heavy rain could cause flash flooding in inland South Australia throughout Saturday.
“That storm risk also extends to western Victoria on Saturday, and is related to storms occurring in northern WA and the NT,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sydney will be stiflingly hot through the weekend and much of next week.
According to Weatherzone, a high pressure system off the Tasman Sea has allowed warm air to slowly build up over the Sydney Basin.
The air mass will also hit eastern New South Wales until the middle of next week.
Farther north, east and inland parts of Queensland will be drenched in rain for most of Saturday.
Northerly winds are expected to sweep the warm weather system towards Victoria and South Australia with the warm conditions brought on by a trough (weather map pictured)
Johnson said there were flood warnings for parts of Queensland as rain that had fallen in previous days moved through river systems and moved downstream.
The SES received 84 calls overnight from residents in Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, mainly about leaking roofs, as the area was soaked by rain.
A similar weather system will sweep across parts of Western Australia, with strong gusts of wind and heavy rain forecast for the northern interior.
brisbane
Saturday: Possible shower. Maximum 27
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 18. Max 27.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 19. Max 28.
Sydney
Saturday: Sunny. Maximum 28.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Min 18. Max 29.
Monday: sunny. Min 19. Max 28.
Canberra
Saturday: Sunny. Maximum 32.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Min 14. Max 33.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 15. Max 33.
The heatwave will come to an end this weekend in Victoria and South Australia with rain and southwesterly winds bringing a cool change (weather map shown)
Melbourne
Saturday: great change. Late shower or two. Maximum 37.
Sunday: Rain. Min 18. Max 23.
Monday: Possible shower. Min 17. Max 23.
hobart
Saturday: Possible rain developing. Maximum 29.
Sunday: Cloudy. Min 14. Max 19.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 12. Max 21.
Adelaide
Saturday: Rain, easing later. Maximum 30.
Sunday: shower or two. Min 18. Max 26.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Min 16. Max 26.
Sydney will be sweltering over the weekend and the heatwave is forecast to last most of next week (pictured, people on Bondi Beach)
Perth
Saturday: Sunny. Maximum 29.
Sunday: Sunny. Min 17. Max 33.
Monday: sunny. Min 16. Max 28.
Darwin
Saturday: shower or two. Possible storm. Maximum 32.
Sunday: shower or two. Possible storm. Min 25. Max 32.
Monday: shower or two. Min 25. Max 32.