Melbourne families planning backyard parties, picnics in gardens or just wanting to head to the beach for a barbecue on Christmas Day can breathe a sigh of relief: the festive forecast has arrived and it predicts a pleasant spray of sunshine on the big day.
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A cool change in the afternoon on Tuesday will deliver thunderstorms and pull temperatures into the 20s, where they are set to hover all the way to Christmas Day.
Season's greetings from all at the Bureau ... and here's an early gift for all Melburnians to place under their tree.
The official #Melbourne forecast for #Christmas Day is out: Mostly sunny with a top of 24??C ???????? ???? ???????? https://t.co/SNEhci3iKT pic.twitter.com/5vQ7aG1tF0??? Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) December 18, 2017
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Stephen King said the heat drifting through the state from central Australia will most likely fade quickly after the thunderstorms.
Melburnians felt the heat through a warm Monday night - with temperatures staying in the mid 20s all night. The mercury is expected to continue to rise until it peaks at about 3pm on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the state, firefighters are on high alert, with a very high fire danger rating for the north-central areas.
The CFA has declared a total fire ban for the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country and North East districts for Tuesday, warning no fires can be lit in the open air until midnight Wednesday.
Today's Fire Danger Rating is SEVERE in Mallee, Wimmera & Northern Country, VERY HIGH in South West, Central, North Central, North East, East Gippsland, and HIGH in West & South Gippsland. A Total Fire Ban is current for Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country & North East districts. pic.twitter.com/nR8efdSt2L??? VicEmergency (@vicemergency) December 18, 2017
Mr King said once the cool change moved in temperatures would drop - and remain - in the 20s all week.
By Christmas Eve on Sunday, a maximum of 23 degrees is forecast with some showers during the morning. On Christmas Day, a sunny day is forecast with a maximum of 24 degrees predicted.