The temperature in Melbourne was still 30 degrees at 8pm on Thursday, following the city's hottest day October day in four years.

Northerly winds carrying warm air from central Australia sent the mercury soaring across Victoria on Thursday.

Image: Forecast surface temperature on Thursday.

Some parts of the state experienced their hottest October day in 10 to 13 years, including Rutherglen (34.2C), Swan Hill (38.1C), Cape Otway (32.8C) and Mount Moornapa (33.7C).

Melbourne's 33.8 degrees was the city's warmest day in seven months and its warmest October day since 2015.

Temperatures will remain well above average on Thursday night before a gusty cool change sweeps across the state on Friday, reaching Melbourne in the morning.

Damaging winds are likely in some parts of the state during Thursday night and Friday, ahead of and near the cool change. Thunderstorms are also possible across the state on Friday, some of which could become severe.

Visit https://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp for the latest warnings.