The mercury is expected to reach 40 degrees  – well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the old scale – on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a top temperature on Saturday of 41 degrees, after a warm overnight low of 20 degrees.

Sunday is expected to peak at 40 degrees, with minor rain showers predicted.

Saturday night could bring some restless sleep, with the overnight low expected to be 26 degrees.

Those showers are expected to continue into Monday, when the mercury is expected to peak at a lower 35 degrees.

The hottest January day was on January 23, 2001, when recorded maximum temperature was 44.8 degrees, well up on the long-term average of 31.7 degrees.

Junee residents will likewise be feeling the heat this weekend, with maximums of 40 degrees predicted for both days.

Henty is looking at a top of 41 degrees on Saturday and 40 degrees on Sunday.

Cootamundra residents will have to keep an eye on the thermometer to see whether the mercury reaches the 40 degrees expected in neighbouring towns, as it is expected to reach a marginally cooler 30 degrees on Saturday and 40 degrees on Sunday.

In Harden, the mercury is expected to reach 38 degrees on both days of the weekend.