Emergency services are bracing for more bushfires this week as a potentially record-breaking heatwave pushes temperatures in parts of the state to the high 40s.
Towns in the Mallee,including Mildura and Swan Hill,will face Victoria's hottest-ever December day if they reach their forecast maximums of 47 degrees on Friday.
The existing record is 46.6 degrees,set at Robinvale in 1976.
The hottest Victorian day on record was set in February 2009 when the mercury soared to 48.8 degrees in Hopetoun.
Other towns in the Mallee can also expect maximums of 46 or 47 degrees,according to Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Rod Dickson,while Echuca and Horsham may hit 45 degrees.
Melbourne is set to swelter through 39 degrees on Wednesday and 41 degrees on Friday.
The heatwave,already moving across the Mallee and Wimmera regions,has prompted a warning from Emergency Management Victoria for an increased risk of new bushfires and the worsening of fires already burning in Gippsland and the north-east.
“It’s critical that if you live,work or are on the move to new areas,you must know where you are in relation to these existing fires because conditions can change very quickly,"Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said.
"It’s also important to stay informed of any new fires or emergencies,listen to information and warnings and be ready to enact your plan."