<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Scorching hot temperatures above 40 degrees are set to blanket Australia from west to east later this week, covering thousands of kilometres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/widespread-weekend-heat-to-exceed-40c-from-port-hedland-to-penrith/1891058" rel="" target="_blank" title="Weatherzone has reported"><span>Weatherzone has reported</span></a><span> a mass of hot air currently sending temperatures spiking in Western Australia will begin to move east, covering South Australia and the Northern Territory today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Later this week it will extend further over to the eastern seaboard, sending temperatures swinging upward rapidly.</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/adelaide-news-woman-84-seriously-injured-in-unprovoked-alleged-attack/b9ec2b9c-f9ac-481e-b96e-3a6fa677245b"><strong><span>Woman, 84, seriously injured in unprovoked alleged attack</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melbourne, which endured maximums of just 16 degrees on Monday, its coldest summer day in years, is currently forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology to hit 33 degrees tomorrow, just three days later.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Heatwave warnings are currently in place for the Northern Territory and New South Wales, while the NT and South Australia are also subject to fire weather warnings in certain districts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney's temperatures will peak on Saturday, with a forecast top of 36 degrees, compared to 34 in Canberra, 30 in Brisbane, and a cooler 22 in Melbourne.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/weather-forecast-australia-set-for-high-heat-this-weekend/17b75f74-ffd0-4a9e-8c37-929bf3282b73" data-widget-id="AR_5"></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/logan-shooting-man-killed-in-park-queensland/ce8f6faa-1fc3-495f-8117-0370994a1334" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Man shot dead in Logan park overnight</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Weatherzone reported that peaks above 40 degrees could be expected across multiple states.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some areas in central Australia could reach around 46 to 48 degrees on Saturday afternoon, with temperatures also forecast to exceed 40 degrees as far west as about Onslow and Karratha in WA and as far east as part of Sydney and the Mid North Coast in NSW, an area stretching almost 4000 km across five states and territories," the website said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At this stage, Australia's December maximum temperature record of 49.9 degrees at Nullarbor, SA in 2019 is not expected to be challenged by this week's heat."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>