Friday, December 31 will be the hottest day of summer so far.

The summer heat will be with us all week and into the weekend.

As of 1pm on Wednesday, December 29, it's approximately 26°C in Ararat.

It will heat up on Thursday, December 30 with a forecast top of 36°C.

IN OTHER NEWS:

For New Year's Eve day, it is forecast to reach 39°C, the hottest day Stawell has seen since January 24 where it reached 38.8°C.

Saturday, January 1 will continue to bring the heat with a top of 37°C, so just two degrees cooler.

Fireworks for New Year's Eve celebrations might be cancelled if a Total Fire Ban is issued.

Sunday, January 2 continues the heat, with a top of 32°C.

The UV rating will be high on all days, so it is important to wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours, wear light clothes that cover your body, wear a hat when outdoors and drink plenty of water.

Make sure your pets have plenty of water as well and shade to get out of the sun.

Check in on older friends, neighbours and family members to make sure they have their air conditioning working and are drinking fluids.

Signs of heat stroke/heat exhaustion include headache, nausea or vomiting, tiredness, muscle cramps or dizziness.

For tips to treat visit: betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/heat-stress-preventing-heatstroke

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