Severe heatwave envelops South Australia as Victoria braces for record-breaking weather and fire threats

Maximum temperatures are forecast to approach 50C in parts of inland Australia, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, and the heatwave is expected to persist across the week. Photograph: Fabien Astre/Alamy

South Australia faced another day of searing heat on Monday, as Victorians prepared for conditions forecast to be the hottest in history and more than 1,100 residents told to get ready to evacuate ahead of extreme fire danger.

Tuesday could see heat records broken throughout Victoria and eastern South Australia, with maximums expected to be near 50C across inland areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.