Heatwave and bushfire warnings issued as sweltering conditions hit Australia on long weekend’s final day

Multiple heatwave and bushfire warnings are in place with sweltering conditions expected as the nation soaks up the last day of a long weekend.

Hot, dry and windy weather will cause extreme fire dangers for western and central Victoria and much of eastern South Australia.

A total fire ban has been declared on Monday for the Wimmera, Mallee, southwest, central and north central regions of Victoria as temperatures are forecast to reach the high 30s to mid-40s, with gusty winds of 70 to 80km/h.

Country Fire Authority chief officer Jason Heffernan said the conditions would make it difficult for firefighters to suppress any blazes that started.

“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the total fire ban declaration,” he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of low to severe heatwave conditions for much of the country including Western Australia, the Northern Territory, western Queensland and NSW.

“We’re going to see temperatures for many of our inland areas get in the high 30s to low 40s, and that heat will get down to the Sydney area on Tuesday with temperatures in the mid-30s,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told ABC News.

“We could see temperatures get into the high 30s for Adelaide before a cool change, but much of Victoria is likely to see low 40s - including Melbourne at 42 - and could even see mid-40s along the Murray.”

A gusty cool change is expected to hit Victoria on Monday afternoon, with thunderstorms forecast for NSW on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, authorities have issued a total fire ban for southern Tasmania, amid hot, dry and windy conditions.