Winter heat records are forecast to fall in some parts of Australia, with days of unseasonably warm weather on the way.

The weather bureau says heat is building across central Australia, with daytime temperatures of up to 10 degrees above average on the way by the end of the week.

Forecaster Weatherzone said Alice Springs was forecast to reach 35 degrees on Friday and Saturday .

“There’s every chance that its August record temperature of 35.2 degrees (which is also the record winter high) could be exceeded,” it said.

Meteorologist Alison Osborne told Sky News Australia on Monday that the central Australian town had just enjoyed its warmest morning in months.

“Alice Springs recorded a minimum temperature of 18.4 degrees this morning – 12.5 degrees above average and the warmest morning since April,” Osborne said.

“Current forecast is for seven days in a row to hit or exceed 30 degrees – which would be the equal longest run for any August since 2009.

Warm weather is forecast for much of #Aus, with daytime temps around 2-10°C above the Aug average.

Heat is building in central parts of the country today, peaking this weekend and spreading into the weekend for parts of #SA, #VIC, #NSW & #TAS

Latest: https://t.co/jlOoTZL1iF pic.twitter.com/UrE3iDINTB

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 20, 2024

It will also be warm further east and south, although temperature records are less likely to fall.

Weatherzone said early Sunday forecasts were for tops of 24 degrees in Adelaide, 23 in Melbourne, 21 in Canberra and 19 degrees in Hobart. Sydney will shoot for a maximum of 25 degrees.

“No records are likely to be broken down south due to the influence of a relatively weak cold front clipping the south-east corner of the continent, but it will still feel decidedly un-wintry this coming weekend, which is the last full weekend of winter,” it said.

It will also be warm in northern South Australia, with Coober Pedy heading for 33 degrees on Friday, followed by tops of 34 and 33 on Sunday. Its winter record is 34.3 degrees.

“Also in northern SA, Oodnadatta (which holds Australia’s equal-highest recorded temp in any month of 50.7 degrees) is heading for a pair of 36-degree days on Friday and Saturday,” Weatherzone said.

“Its winter record, as well as the state’s winter record, is 36.5 degrees.”

The forecaster said the unseasonable late winter warmth was due to a strong, near-stationary high pressure system centred on the nation’s red centre.

“Central Australia is like the oven of Australia. When it heats up, that warmth often spreads to other parts of the continent,” Weatherzone said.

“As the high slowly moves into the Tasman Sea later this week, winds circulating anticlockwise around it will push warm air southwards.”

But the warm spell should be enjoyed while it lasts. Weatherzone said early models showed a strong cold outbreak towards the end of next week, although it was “too far in the future to discuss with confidence at this stage”.