Sydney is in for a scorching start to the week before Christmas as temperatures soar to the high 30s.
Temperatures are forecast to hit 36 degrees celsius in the city and 39 in the west today and will climb to 39 tomorrow. (wed)
A severe fire danger warning is in place for the lower central west plains and the south, eastern and northern Riverina districts.
Meanwhile a total fire ban has been declared for parts of Victoria's north and west with temperatures there set to rise up to 39 degrees.
Claire Yeo from the Bureau of Meterology has told the ABC we've had quite a cool and wet spring seaon leading up to summer
Yeo says: "We are seeing fire danger rating into that very high to severe range with fire weather warnings out across quite a large extent of the country, including Victoria, NSW, SA, and even the east coast of Tasmania, so we are starting to see - we are starting to get into that period of the year where we are seeing - we will see more frequently those fire danger ratings there on a lot more days."
