Canberra has started on a heatwave which should last until the weekend, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Temperatures reached 32 degrees in the ACT on Tuesday with a similar above-average peak expected on Wednesday.
Thursday is expected to reach a sizzling 39 before falling back towards the weekend.
Meteorologist Rosemary Barr said Canberra was seeing "some very significant warm temperatures" as high pressure in the atmosphere sucked in hot air from central Australia.
She said the temperatures on Thursday would reach more than 15 degrees above the usual for November.
It counts as a "low intensity heatwave" - one that's hot but where most people can cope with the level of heat. It is not an emergency.
The Bureau's longer term climate model forecasts a hot Summer.
Scientists do not blame particular weather events like one particular heatwave on global warming.
"At his stage we aren't able to attribute this specific heatwave to longer term climate patterns. That's something we would need dedicated research to do," Ms Barr said.
Let other people know what your plan is and what you're doing. Communicate with your family, friends and neighbours. Share your plan with them.
Rohan Scott, Acting Chief Officer, ACT RFS
"However, our climatologists are able to say that increases in temperature are observed across Australia in all seasons with both day and night-time temperatures showing warming.
"The shift to a warmer climate in Australia is accompanied by more extreme daily heat events."
The ACT Emergency Services was considering a fire ban as temperatures rise through the week, particularly with strong winds and little rain expected.
The ACT RFS's acting chief fire officer, Rohan Scott, said that there was a chance of an "elevated fire danger" and Canberrans needed to start enacting their fire plans.
"Let other people know what your plan is and what you're doing," he said.
"Communicate with your family, friends and neighbours. Share your plan with them."
He said that now was the time to start cleaning out gutters, making sure you have hoses which stretch around the house and cutting back vegetation which might catch fire.
There is one innovation this year. Solar-powered CCTV cameras are being placed in bushland to prevent cars being torched there.
It follows a deliberate fire near the Cotter Dam when a stolen ute was torched among the tinder dry pines. The resulting blaze burned 204 hectares before being brought under control.
