But relief is on the way with a cool change expected tomorrow, and today’s minimum temperature of 26 degrees will become the maximum on Saturday.

Up to 5mm of rain is expected tomorrow, with between 15mm and 25mm forecast for Saturday.

The cool change will bring the temperature down by five degrees to 38 tomorrow and a further 12 degrees on Saturday to 26.

Today’s extreme temperatures have also called for the season’s first Total Fire Ban in north-western Victoria. A ban continues for south-western New South Wales.

While some South Australian schools have been closed in the face of catastrophic bushfire conditions, Sunraysia schools will continue as usual, with most students kept indoors.

Year 12 students will continue working through final exams in air-conditioned spaces, while other high school students are encouraged to keep fluids up and avoid strenuous lunchtime activities.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 19/11/2009.