Melbourne sweltered through the hottest day since summer as temperatures soared across Victoria. Hot northerly winds swept across the state today ahead of an approaching trough, dragging in heat from the nation's interior. Melbourne reached a top of 34 degrees just before 2pm, 12 above average and the hottest temperature since February. Nearby, Moorabbin and Essendon both reached 35 degrees, making it their hottest November day in three years. The mercury rose even further in the state's north, where Mildura managed 38 degrees, also the hottest for November since 2009. The trough will cross Victoria from west to east overnight, bringing milder southerly winds in its wake. Sunday will be noticeably cooler, although a lingering mass of warm air to the state's north will allow the city to reach the mid 20s, around four above average.