A heatwave is set to push the maximum temperature in Adelaide past 35 degrees every day this week.

Despite a weak high pressure system over Adelaide today, heat will begin to filter down with hot dry winds from the northwest ahead of a trough. A weak cool change is expected just after midday on Tuesday 26th before we see heat building again as a trough redevelops.

Leading up to today, Adelaide had an average maximum temperature of 27 degrees, 2 degrees below the average maximum temperature for February in Adelaide for the past 50 years. Also, the city has received only 7mm of rain so far this month, less than half of its average. It doesn't look likely that rain will fall in the upcoming week either with the hot and dry weather.

While today may reach 35 degrees in Adelaide, a searing 38 degree day is expected on Monday 25th. The weak cool change will only drop temperatures to around 37 degrees for the following days before we finish off the spell of heat with a pair of days, Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd, that could both reach maximums above 40 degrees.

If Friday and Saturday do reach 40 degrees, it would be the first pair of 40 degree days the month has experienced since 2014, when the 1st and 2nd of February surpassed 41 degrees.

To become Adelaide's hottest February day however, one of the days would have to reach over 45 degrees, which last occured on the 2nd of February 2014. Such a temperature is unlikely to occur during this period of heat.

Furthermore, If both these days are above 40 degrees, then the total days above 40 degrees for 2019 would move to 12, one behind the record of 13 set in 2014.

Fortunately for Adelaide, a stronger cool change is expected to sweep through early on Tuesday 5th of March which should bring the temperatures closer to average. The maximum for Wednesday 6th could drop as low as 26 degrees.