Weatherzone’s Tim Woebbeking has alerted residents of Adelaide and Melbourne to brace for a sizzling peak in temperatures on Wednesday, marking it as the hottest day of the week for both cities. In Adelaide, the heatwave might persist into Thursday, potentially pushing the thermometer to a scorching 40 degrees as a hot air mass hovers over South Australia.

Melbourne is set to experience the heat spillover on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures climbing to a sweltering 30 degrees and 35 degrees, respectively. However, relief is expected over the weekend as showers are predicted to roll in, bringing a cooler reprieve with Sunday’s temperatures dipping to a more comfortable 21 degrees.

In contrast, Adelaide’s heatwave will be more intense, with predictions of 39 degrees on Thursday and slightly cooler at 38 degrees on Friday. Meanwhile, Sydney, although spared from the 40-degree mark, will endure a stretch of heat starting Wednesday, peaking at 36 degrees by Saturday.

It will be even hotter in Adelaide, with Thursday peaking at 39 degrees, while Friday is forecast to reach 38 degrees.

Although the harbour city won’t see temperatures hit 40 degrees, there will be four days of heat beginning on Wednesday, with the mercury peaking on Saturday at 36 degrees.

However, showers on Sunday will drop temperatures below 30 degrees, with up to five millimetres of rainfall expected.