Victoria's north is sizzling, with temperatures tipping over 40C.
And the Bureau of Meteorology says northerners will feel no relief until Saturday night when a cool change begins to sweep across the state.
"Temperatures are sitting around 42 or 43C currently near Victoria's northern border and tracking pretty close to the forecast," senior forecaster Rod Dixon told AAP on Friday afternoon.
While Melbourne is only expected to reach a pleasant top of 28C on Friday, the state's northern towns and cities have been struck by a heatwave, with 44C expected for Mildura, 43C in Yarrawonga, Swan Hill, Wodonga and Rutherglen and 42C in Cobram and Kerang.
The Bureau of Meteorology says conditions in northern Victoria are classified as a "severe heatwave".
While records haven't been broken during this heatwave, temperatures have been "very high", particularly Mildura's Wednesday overnight temperature of 31C and Thursday high of 46.9C.
Another hot day is forecast in the north of the state on Saturday with temperatures expected to again reach the low 40s.
However relief is expected to be in sight for the entire state by Sunday, with a cool change starting to move through over Saturday night.
State Health Commander Paul Holman has reminded Victorians to "remain vigilant" during the coming days, keeping an eye on elderly people and young children, who are less able to regulate their body temperatures in extreme weather.
