A burst of late-summer heat will sweep across southern Australia this week, causing temperatures 10 degrees above average in some states.

A break in the monsoon is allowing hot air to build up over central and northern Australia.

This heat will briefly drift across southern Australia this week as northerly winds develop ahead of a low pressure through. The hot air will move from west to east during the week, sending temperatures soaring from Perth to Hobart.

The hottest air will target southwestern Australia early in the week, where Perth is forecast to reach 37ºC on Monday and 34ºC on Tuesday. This warmth won't come as a shock though, following the city's 7th warmest January on record.

By the middle of the week, temperatures will be soaring in South Australia as inland heat gets driven towards the nation's south coast. Some places on the West Coast and Eyre Peninsula should reach 40ºC on Wednesday or Thursday. Adelaide is forecast to reach at least 30ºC each day between Monday and at least Friday, peaking at 36ºC on Wednesday and Thursday. This is well above the city's February average of 28.5ºC.

Image: Forecast surface temperature and wind on Thursday, February 18th, showing hot air spreading over southern Australia.

As the hot air spreads further east, a string of hot days and warm nights will cause a Low-Intensity to Severe heatwave in parts of Victoria and Tasmania towards the end of the week.

Melbourne is tipped to have five days of 31-33ºC starting from Tuesday, with the highest temperatures likely to occur on Friday or Saturday.

Hot air will also drift across Bass Strait and cause temperatures to climb around 10ºC in parts of Tasmania later in the week.

Hobart is forecast to reach the high-twenties to low-thirties between Wednesday and Saturday, topping out at 32ºC on Friday. The city's average maximum temperature during February is 22ºC.

The impending hot weather will elevate fire danger ratings in some areas of southern Australia this week, so keep up to date with the latest fire information in your state.