It’s so hot in Tasmania the bitumen and records are melting away.

It hit 40C in Melton Mowbray, north of Hobart, on Tuesday with the state experiencing temperatures well above average, even for summer.

Bureau of Meteorology weather forecaster Vicky Lucas said several records were broken as the mercury reached 30C at Mount Read, 38.6 at Scotts Peak and 36 at Strathgordon in the western region.

Strahan reached its second equal highest temperature of 38.

Ms Lucas said the temperatures were about 18 degrees above the average for this time of year.

A total fire ban has been declared for the state’s northern and southern regions on Wednesday.

Tasmania Fire Service acting deputy chief officer Jeremy Smith said the hot dry weather being experienced in the state’s south is expected to continue on Wednesday and extend into the north of Tasmania.

“Any fire outbreak could be difficult to control,” Mr Smith said.

Police say they had reports of melting bitumen amid the hot temperatures around the state.

Hobart went over the 30C mark and will get up to 36 on Friday.

Launceston reached 34.6 on Tuesday and is forecast to hit 38 on Wednesday, remaining in the mid-30s for the rest of the working week.

Ms Lucas said it will be a bit cooler in the southern half of the state on Wednesday but the temperature will again be in the mid-30s for much of the north and west on Thursday.

It will get up to 40C in the Derwent Valley on Friday.

Ms Lucas said the temperatures will remain high until Saturday.

“We’re expecting some places could get above 30 every single day this week and that’s unusual in itself,” she said.