The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a top temperature of 41 degrees, which would surpass our hottest day of 2023.
Echuca’s top this year was 39.0 degrees on January 14.
But there is some relief on the way according to the BOM’s senior meteorologist Christie Johnson.
“The forecast timing of the cool change has sped up – it is now expected through Echuca on Friday night,” Mrs Johnson said.
“The heat will build to a peak on Friday with hot northerly winds, and then cooler south-westerly winds behind the change will moderate the temperature on Saturday.
“It will not be a strong cold front, but more of a low pressure trough causing a change in wind direction.
“There will not be a sharp drop in temperatures, but while the temperatures may be in the 20s on Friday evening, they will likely drop to the mid-teens by early Saturday as the winds swing around to the south-west.”
Overnight temperatures for the next few days suggest the fan should stay on.
“Temperatures will stay warm overnight with a minimum of 21 degrees on Thursday night.” Mrs Johnson said.
“That means that temperatures will remain in the 20s for most of the night for the next two nights, which contributes to the assessment of a low-intensity heatwave, as the body has less chance to recover from the hot days.”
A high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea is the reason for the higher-than-average temperature, Mrs Johnson said.
“The heatwave is caused by a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea directing northerly winds over Victoria,” she said.
“This is dragging hot air down from inland New South Wales today. A low-pressure trough will approach western Victoria on Thursday, causing the winds to tend north-westerly and drag even hotter air down from central Australia.
“The trough will cross Victoria on Friday and Saturday, bringing milder south-westerly winds that will give some relief from the heat.”
20°C