Simon Timcke, senior meteorologist for the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), said the heat was due to a broad pressure trough which was dragging hot air down from the north.
“Over the next couple of days we’ll see temperatures gradually rise,” Mr Timcke said.
“On Thursday most places (in the region) will be in the high 30s, and the hottest couple of days will be Friday and Saturday, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see numerous locations across your region in the low-40s on Saturday, and then there will be a change moving across.
“Either later Saturday, or early Sunday that change will bring some relief from the heat and we’ll see maximum temperatures back into the early 30s or high 20s. We will see temperatures gradually rise next week, but there is certainly some relief on the way.
Wednesday, January 11, is forecast to be 38℃ in Echuca, Thursday is expected to be 39℃, and Friday and Saturday are both expected to reach 40℃.
Sunday is expected to be the coolest day of the next seven days, with a high of temperature of 36℃, with a 30 per cent chance of rain.
Mr Timcke said there might be a chance of thunderstorms to come with the cool change on the weekend.
“There is a chance for showers or thunderstorm activity on Saturday or Sunday and Monday early next week,” he said.
For those who have trouble sleeping during hot summer nights, Mr Timcke has bad news.
“Overnight Wednesday into Thursday we will see some minimum temperatures in the very high teens, and similarly Thursday into Friday minimum temperatures will be very high teens,” he said.
“Ahead of the change on Friday-Saturday a lot of places may have overnight temperatures in the low 20s.
“High minimum temperatures are a factor with heat waves as well — if you’re not sleeping very well overnight then your body doesn’t recover quite so well from the hot days.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has also released its annual climate data, and 2022 became equal 22nd warmest year on record with a mean temperature that was 0.50℃ warmer than the 1961-1990 average.
According to the bureau, one of the main climate influences active during 2022 was La Niña.
“It’s been reasonably widespread wet conditions, and the main driving force has been La Nina which has been well documented,” Mr Timcke said.
“The latest on that is that we are expecting that to slowly weaken now: we are still in La Nina but it is slowly weakening.
“As a result, the longer-term outlooks are predicting a lower change of above-medium rainfall for the three-month period of February through to April.
“It’s about a 50/50 chance, but there is no strong signal for more than average rainfall for that period. Not to say that the long-term outlook says there won’t be any rain, but not more than average for the region.”
The 2022-23 La Niña was the third year of the atmospheric phenomenon in a row.
The bureau will release its full annual climate statement for 2022 in February.
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