South Australia faced another day of searing heat on Monday, as Victorians prepared for conditions forecast to be the hottest in history.

Tuesday could see heat records broken throughout eastern South Australia and Victoria, with maximums expected to be near 50C across inland areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Temperatures in Ouyen and Mildura in north-west Victoria were forecast to reach 49C on 27 January, which – if reached – would exceed the state’s all-time top recorded temperature, 48.8C at Hopetoun on black Saturday 2009.

Maximum temperatures of 44C were forecast for Melbourne, nearing the city’s all-time record of 46.4C, also on black Saturday.

“We’ll likely see numerous locations approach or exceed January, and some annual records tomorrow,” Dean Narramore, the senior meteorologist, said.

On Monday, 46C was forecast for Adelaide in what was likely to be the city’s hottest day since black summer. By lunchtime, temperatures in the city had already hit 39C, while Oodnadatta, in the state’s north, was 44C and Ceduna, on the Eyre Peninsula, was 45.9.

For inland areas across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, the severe-to-extreme heat, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s, was expected to persist into next weekend.

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“We’re looking at a week of temperatures in the mid-to-high 40s and overnight lows in the high 20s to low 30s,” Narramore said, adding that such a prolonged run was unusual.

“Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay indoors, stay out of the sun,”

Life Saving Victoria urged anyone heading to the beach or pool to stay safe in the water, with the risk of drowning doubling on public holidays. The public is encouraged to swim at patrolled locations, to supervise children at all times and check the conditions before entering the water.

More records could be broken on Wednesday as the heat moves into inland and western New South Wales and north-east Victoria, with widespread temperatures in the high 40s.

Total fire bans were in place for South Australia’s west coast and New South Wales central ranges.

A statewide total fire ban will be in place across Victoria on Tuesday, as fires continue to burn out of control , including in the Otways, where a fire has jumped containment lines at Carlisle River on Saturday threatening the small community of Gellibrand. The Country Fire Authority said conditions would significantly increase the likelihood of that fire spreading, which could pose a serious threat to homes, properties and lives.

CFA chief officer, Jason Heffernan, said the heat would be a challenge for firefighters as well as communities. Residents in the state’s north could see eight days above 40C, he said.

“There’s a heat emergency going on, in addition to a fire emergency across the state of Victoria.”

Six major fires were still burning in parts of Victoria after an intense heatwave earlier in January, which analysts said was made five times more likely due to global heating.

Australia experienced its fourth-warmest year on record in 2025, with average temperatures up 1.23C nationally, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and bushfires.

Hotter-than-average days and nights were expected to continue until April for much of the country, according to the latest long-range forecast. Sea surface temperatures would remain warmer than average globally, including around Australia.