Victoria may this week record the hottest start to November in over a century, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
With a top of 34 degrees forecast for today and 32 degrees for tomorrow making it four days in a row of over 30 degrees, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan said we have to look back to 1902 for a comparably steamy start to November.
"The first four days of November 1902 were above 30, then it cooled off for one day," he said.
"We had 10 days in total above 30 in November 1902, but the other days were cool as well.
"That's the thing about November. We do get stretches of warm weather but you can get strong changes still."
For those who don't like the heat, Mr Ryan said the good news is 40 degree days are unlikely this month, with only three recorded in 150 years of records.
But he added the cool changes could bring lightning and some fire danger with them.
"With any change in November the chance of thunderstorms is pretty high, normally," he said.
"So far, with the lightning we've had, the storms have been wet and the fires have been put out by the rain we've had."
"The grasslands are still very green and we haven't really seen any grassland fires yet, which suggested the drying of fuel still has some way to go. It will dry out though. Every dry day helps to dry out the forests."
A bushfire burning in East Gippsland may not be posing a risk to property but it marks an uncomfortable start to a week of sweltering heat and high fire danger, the Country Fire Authority says.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment said the fire, in a coastal park between Cape Conran and Bemm River in East Gippsland, is approximately 800 hectares in size but poses only a minor risk to nearby homes.
Smoke will affect the townships of Cape Conran, Cabbage Tree, Marlo Plains, Manorina and surrounding areas. Back-burning operations will continue throughout the day.
With temperatures forecast to climb above 30 degrees for all but two days this week, the CFA said the fire danger across the state was "pretty high".
Parts of the state including Swan Hill, Mildura, Corangamite and the Colac-Otway region already have fire restrictions in place.
