Northern Australia will experience a severe to extremely hot heatwave this week.

As per news.au, In the first three months of the new year, above average temperatures are forecast for much of the country, according to the season prediction.

Maximum temperatures in northern Australia are expected to be 4 to 8 degrees Celsius above average this week, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Maps of heatwave warnings illustrate the extent of the potentially dangerous conditions.

BOM advises Australians to seek out a cool location, which, if not your home, could be a library, community center, or shopping mall.

Early in the day, the warning advises, "Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains, or awnings to keep the heat out of your home."

Marble Bar in Western Australia’s Pilbara region – known as the hottest town in the country – is forecast to reach 45C on Monday, which Sky Weather meteorologist Rob Sharpe said is the first time 45C has been recorded this late in the season since 1999.

The town is forecast to hit a top of 46C on Wednesday.