<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne is heading for record heat today as it becomes one of the first capital cities to feel the impact of a monster heatwave sweeping through south-eastern Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The mercury in the Victorian capital is forecast to hit 42 degrees over the coming hours, smashing the previous record of 40 degrees in January 2020, during the deadly Black Summer blazes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scorching heat has been building this week and is forecast to smother parts of Victoria, NSW, Queensland, WA, SA and the NT into the weekend, reports weather data firm </span><a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/extreme-heatwave-and-fire-danger-to-affect-multiple-states-this-week/1891121" rel="" target="_blank" title="Weatherzone"><span>Weatherzone</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-deal-with-heat-humidity-hot-weather-australia-explainer/98f003ed-0130-47d4-b815-2e1dff3a25dd" rel="" target="_blank" title="The heat making for a terrible night's sleep? Beer, cold showers and sleeping naked might not help"><span>T</span><strong><span>he heat making for a terrible night's sleep? Beer, cold showers and sleeping naked might not help</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Melbourne and Adelaide residents will be sweltering, Inland regions will bear the brunt of even warmer conditions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The regional city of Mildura in north-west Victoria is heading for top temperatures of 45 degrees over the next three days, while a maximum of 46 degrees is expected in the town of Renmark in SA's Riverland region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The CFA in Victoria has issued a total fire ban today for the Wimmera, South West and Central fire districts.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-melbourne-and-adelaide-heatwave/6a05417b-0231-488d-9de8-470a5c6569d3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victorian authorities are especially concerned Friday will pose a dangerous day for fires, with temperatures of about 40 degrees or more combined with wind speeds from 40km/h to 70km/h.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wind changes will make the job of firefighters controlling any bushfires much harder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brain-cancer-perth-mum-dad-katie-britton-greg-britton-diagnosed-months-apart/4ce7426c-75e3-4eef-8359-d82665517558" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Aussie mum and dad both diagnosed with brain cancer months apart</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan urged residents to be prepared.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is really important people take the actions needed to protect themselves and their family, and that preparedness starts early.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Understand how the increased fire risk will impact you and ensure your fire plan covers all possible contingencies. Download the VicEmergency App to stay well informed."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney and large parts of NSW will also be blanketed by a heatwave until the end of this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW capital will sweat through multiple days in the mid-30s, while Saturday is expected to bring the warmest temperatures in Sydney with a top of 39 degrees. Some inland parts of NSW may nudge 40 degrees over the next few days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Deputy Coordinator-General of the National Emergency Management Agency Katarina Carroll said the heatwave conditions will last until the weekend.</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2008637252868444228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She told Today this morning that more people die from heat-related conditions than any other natural disaster.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You have to prepare for those four days. So stay hydrated .. wherever you can, keep cool as much as you can and look after the vulnerable.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That is incredibly important the children, the elderly and listen to local emergency services."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/Z8tJCf"><strong><span>Sign up here</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.</span></strong></div></div>