The North East will reach 39 degrees on Saturday with 39- and 40-degree temperatures persisting until peaking at a forecasted 43 degrees on Wednesday.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Rod Dickson said there was some uncertainty about what affect cloud cover and a weak southerly change could have at the end of next week.

“It’s possible we might see a system come through that can push that heat further northwards out of the state,” he said.

“We’re still forecasting 39 degrees on Friday … it will be a prolonged period of heat.”

Mr Dickson said there would be a period of severe fire danger on Saturday afternoon, and otherwise winds were not expected to be strong throughout next week.

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“The fire danger will remain pretty high throughout the region,” he said.

“Minimum temperatures during the week will not get much lower than the low-20s, so it really does build up after a while when you don’t have much respite.

“In late December a couple records were broken in the North East.”

There were 10 days hotter than 34 degrees in December, the maximum being 43.2 on December 27, and so far in January six days have exceeded 34.

Border residents are encouraged to stay cool, keep an eye on their pets and neighbours and leave out a dish of water for wildlife – though don’t expect to see the likes of the animals that visited the Wangaratta Turf Club with the Wild Action show last weekend at your doorstep.