There was an after-school rush at Eureka Pool yesterday as the temperature reached a top of 31.8 degrees at about 3pm.

Emma Carter enjoyed the afternoon poolside while sons Wade, 10, and Jimmy, 7, frolicked in the water.

“The kids are off school, so we decided to come to the pool to cool off and relax,” Ms Carter said. Stacey Wilson and her two-month-old daughter Ada Ryan enjoyed the sunshine by drawing in the sand at the Lake Wendouree adventure playground.

“We weren’t really doing much, so we decided to come down to the playground,” Ms Wilson said.

Meanwhile, Corrie Gannon spent the afternoon showing off the Ballarat Botanical Gardens to visiting Melbourne friend Helen Fuller.

“The gardens are just beautiful,” Ms Fuller said.

A top of 29 degrees is expected today, with a chance of a shower in the early afternoon. After 18 degrees and rain tomorrow, the temperature will plummet to 13 degrees on Thursday with a few showers.

Ballarat is expected to warm up again at the weekend.