Temperatures set to soar to 40C in Melbourne and Adelaide as health alerts are ...

Summer is over but the weather is showing no signs of cooling down.

Heatwave and health warnings have been issued as Victoria and South Australia swelter through their hottest start to autumn in 30 years with temperatures set to nudge 40C in the coming days. 

Melbourne is in the middle of a four-day heatwave of 36C temperatures while parts of regional Victoria are expected to soar into the 40s. 

Adelaide will swelter through two consecutive days of 40C temperatures in the South Australian capital on Friday and Saturday.

Australia's southern states are sweltering through a heatwave as temperatures soared on Friday (above)

Australia's southern states are sweltering through a heatwave as temperatures soared on Friday (above)

Melburnians flocked to the beach on Friday to escape the heat as temperatures soared to 37C

Melburnians flocked to the beach on Friday to escape the heat as temperatures soared to 37C

Melbourne had already reached 26C by 5.30am on Friday after the city sweltered through one of its hottest March nights ever, with 26.3C at Laverton. 

It was just shy of the 26.5C record set in 2013. 

The city's Route 30 tram services have been cancelled while buses will replace route 78 and 82 due to the scorching weather.

Melbourne is experiencing a four-day heatwave of 36C plus temperatures

Melbourne is experiencing a four-day heatwave of 36C plus temperatures

The heatwave has been caused by northerly winds dragging heat into Australia's southern states. 

'A severe heatwave warning is in place for most Victoria until the cool change is expected to come through late Sunday,' Bureau of Meteorology Matthew Michael told Daily Mail Australia.

'A total fire ban is in place for Victoria's south-West on Friday, which is expected to continue into the weekend.'

The hottest March day on record for Melbourne was in 2016 when it hit 38.9C.

'While the maximum record is unlikely to be broken, there's a slight chance the minimum March temperature could go with two more hot nights to come,' Mr Michael told Daily Mail Australia.

The statewide heatwave promoted Victoria Health to issue an alert for residents living in the state’s central region to take care.

'Heat can cause heat illness, including cramps and heat exhaustion which if left untreated can lead to life-threatening heatstroke,' the alert states.

An extreme heatwave emergency warning is in place for South Australia, where authorities have warned residents to stay indoors, check on pets and elderly neighbours and to keep hydrated throughout the day.

Melbourne's minimum March temperature record could be broken in the coming days. Pictured is Chelsea Beach on Friday

Melbourne's minimum March temperature record could be broken in the coming days. Pictured is Chelsea Beach on Friday

'Babies and young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those who are already unwell are especially at risk but, in an extreme heatwave, even healthy people who do not take action to

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