As Victoria’s bout of scorching heat subsides, temperatures in New South Wales and Queensland are set to soar over the coming week as another heatwave looms.

The north of NSW is predicted to be hit hardest, with temperatures reaching the low to mid-40s each day, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

“We’re expecting severe heatwave conditions to spread across the north of New South Wales this week,” BoM severe weather manager and forecaster Simon Louis said.

“Daytime temperatures will reach the low to mid-40s in the north-west of the state and the high 30s in north-eastern New South Wales each day.”

Bourke, a country town in the state’s north-west, will feel the full brunt of the extreme weather, with temperatures exceeding 40C every day this week.

Mr Louis said the sweltering conditions are expected to culminate on Friday with a very hot day, particularly in western NSW.

Sydney will also be subject to extreme temperatures, with a high of 38C forecast on Wednesday.

The city’s west is predicted to cop a hot start to the week, hitting the high 30s on Tuesday, before rising to 40C in Penrith midweek.

A weak change on Wednesday evening should provide some relief for Thursday, dropping temperatures to the low 30s, only for them to rise to a predicted 42C on Friday and into the weekend.

The heat is on: 4 consecutive hot days & warm nights forecast for #WesternSydney. Check meteye for your forecast https://t.co/1yxAIPrpyJ pic.twitter.com/i87MraO4zD

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 7, 2017

High overnight temperatures in the mid-20s each day for most of the week will provide “uncomfortable conditions” for Sydneysiders, Mr Louis said.

Queensland set to simmer

Meanwhile, Queensland is expected to simmer with the southern half of the state facing a week of 40C days.

“Broadly speaking, all the way from Bedourie [in the state’s west], all the way down to St George we’ve got temperatures of 40-46C,” BoM forecaster Andrew Busalino told The New Daily.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions are forecast for central and southern Queensland, and northern NSW. Photo: BoM

Mr Busalino said the heatwave will peak on Friday as a hot air mass plants itself over south-west Queensland for the next few days.

BoM is predicting Thargomindah in the south-west to be the hottest town in the country on Friday, with a scorching 46C forecast.

The town will remain in the 40s every day this week with a minimum of 32C on Thursday and 35C on Friday.

Brisbane is expecting a cooler yet sunny start to the week, with temperatures in the low 30s, before rising to 34C on Friday.

Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth escape heatwave

Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide will avoid the severe heatwave. Photo: Getty

The remaining mainland capital cities can breathe a sigh of relief as they are set to escape the oppressive heat.

In the west, Perth will experience a hot and mostly sunny Tuesday and Wednesday, with tops of 34C and 35C respectively, before a cool change on Thursday dropping temperatures to 24C.

Melbourne will return to its cooler self after a heated first week of 2017 with a top of 25C on Tuesday and 23C on Wednesday.

On Saturday night, the mercury in Melbourne fell just short of the 30.6C record set in 2010.

Friday is expected to reach 32C before developing showers ensure a mild weekend.

Adelaide will reach a hot 37C on Thursday, with the rest of the week more manageable in the mid-to-high 20s.

However, north-east South Australia will be experience severe heat as the region’s towns of Moomba and Oodnadatta are likely to hit 44C-45C until Wednesday, and increase to a top of 46C on Thursday.