Victoria is expected to experience its hottest day since 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, with its main power stations at reduced capacity after a third of coal-fired generator shut down overnight.
Temperatures in Melbourne reached 35 degrees by 8am this morning and hovered at 30 degrees overnight.
Melbourne was forecast to reach 44 by mid-afternoon, approaching the all-time hottest day of 46.4 degrees for 7 February 2009.