VICTORIA is set to experience some of its worst fire conditions since Black Saturday, with most of the state expecting 40C+ on Friday.
In Victoria's northwest, Mildura is tipped to have six days in a row above 40C.
Country Fire Authority state duty officer Brett Boatman said abundant growth in the dry grasslands and drying forests mean there will be a very high fire danger.
He said conditions will be extreme in the southwest and very high in other areas.
"It is certainly one of the higher fire danger days I have seen since Black Saturday, no doubt," Mr Boatman said.
"We have had a couple of quiet fire seasons and reasonably damp summer last year, a good winter, abundant growth, especially in the grasslands.
"There is a lot of fuel out there. So then you add that into the hot, dry weather we are experiencing at the moment; that brings together all the elements that bring about severe and extreme fire conditions."
Mr Boatman said it was likely there would be total fire bans, but he does not expect a code red day to be declared.
He said with a lot of people on holidays it was important they understand the conditions in the area they are in.
Melbourne is tipped to reach 39C on Friday, with Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Stewart predicting many suburbs would likely hit 40C.
He said while Melbourne would have cooler weather on Saturday and Sunday, the change would not have any impact north of the Great Dividing Range.
Mildura's six-day hot spell will begin tomorrow and peak with a 45C day on Tuesday.
In the state's northeast Yarrawonga is expected to have five days above 40C.
Consecutive days of 44C for Swan Hill on Monday/Tuesday and Ivanhoe NSW on Saturday/Sunday.
Southeast Australia’s weaner calf sales start tomorrow and Friday at Wodonga with forecast temps of 36C and 39C.
Forecast top of 38C forecast for the Western District's opening calf sale at Hamilton on Monday.
The forecast:
AlburyThursday 36C
Friday 39C
Saturday 42C
Sunday 40C
Monday 39C
Tuesday 41C
Bairnsdale
Thursday 33C
Friday 40C
Saturday 30C
Sunday 29C
Monday 33C
Tuesday 33C
Deniliquin, NSW
Thursday 36C
Friday 40C
Saturday 43C
Sunday 41C
Monday 41C
Tuesday 43C
Hamilton
Thursday 37C
Friday 40C
Saturday 28C
Sunday 32C
Monday 38C
Tuesday 36C
Hay, NSW
Thursday 37C
Friday 41C
Saturday 43C
Sunday 43C
Monday 41C
Tuesday 42C
Horsham
Thursday 39C
Friday 42C
Saturday 35C
Sunday 39C
Monday 42C
Tuesday 42C
Ivanhoe, NSW
Thursday 39C
Friday 42C
Saturday 44C
Sunday 44C
Monday 41C
Tuesday 43C
Melbourne
Thursday 36C
Friday 39C
Saturday 27C
Sunday 31C
Monday 38C
Tuesday 34C
Mildura
Thursday 40C
Friday 44C
Saturday 42C
Sunday 43C
Monday 44C
Tuesday 45C
Sale
Thursday 33C
Friday 39C
Saturday 29C
Sunday 27C
Monday 32C
Tuesday 33C
Swan Hill
Thursday 39C
Friday 43C
Saturday 42C
Sunday 43C
Monday 44C
Tuesday 44C
Wagga Wagga, NSW
Thursday 34C
Friday 39C
Saturday 41C
Sunday 39C
Monday 37C
Tuesday 40C
Warrnambool
Thursday 33C
Friday 38C
Saturday 23C
Sunday 26C
Monday 30C
Tuesday 29C
