Severe fire warning as state hit with sudden burst of heat

Melbourne is set to swelter through another sudden burst of heat this week, with a total fire ban issued for parts of the state.

Emergency services are battling 50 fires across New South Wales
as officials fear temperatures could hit 48 degrees in some areas.

The city sweated through a hot start to the week, with temperatures still hovering around 34 degrees for the commute home from work at 5pm on Monday.

There is not much relief in sight for Tuesday, with the mercury expected to rise again to 36 degrees in Melbourne and temperatures in the low 40s forecast across the state.

Melburnians are expected to toss and turn through another hot night on Monday, with temperatures not dropping below a sticky 25 degrees.

Read Melissa Cunningham’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Severe fire warning as state hit with sudden burst of heat.”