The 'heat dome' is on its way: How almost the ENTIRE continent of Australia will hit 37 degrees next week - as 'unprecedented heatwave' leaves no part of the country untouched

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Nearly the entire Australian continent could see temperatures of more than 37 degrees next week as a 'heat dome' parks itself over the country. 

Meteorologists have blamed a 'dome of heat parked over southern Australia' for a long-lasting pattern of very dry and hot weather which will last through next week and the following weekend.   

South Australia is expected to see the hottest temperatures with some climate models forecasting the mercury climbing to 50 degrees next Thursday. 

'A large mass of hot air will spread over Australia during the next 10 days, causing a widespread and intense heatwave that looks set to challenge records.' Ben Domensino from Weatherzone wrote. 

Mr Domensino said a high pressure system off the Great Australian Bight is causing the heatwave. 

Nearly the entire Australian continent could see temperatures of more than 37 degrees next week while what has been called a 'heat dome' sits over the country 

The hot weather will be good news for those near the beach but the rest of the country will swelter 

The hot weather forecast for next week will be tough for farmers already struggling with drought conditions 

Meanwhile, Perth is expected to see an unprecedented heatwave for Christmas time, with the city to set to reach 40C for four consecutive days until at least Sunday.

The hot air mass, which has lingered around Western Australia, will then move across the country towards the end of next week. 

'The intense and prolonged nature of next week's heat means that large areas of the country are at risk of Severe to Extreme heatwave conditions,' Mr Domensino wrote.

Weatherzone says that temperatures are currently forecast to reach 45 degrees in every mainland state and territory except the ACT next week.  

'Some places will also see December heat records broken, with Australia's December record of 49.5 degrees a chance of being exceeded'.  

'A number of forecast models suggest that temperatures may exceed 50 degrees at some point next week. At this stage, the area most likely to near 50 degrees would be in the northwest of South Australia or southeast interior of Western Australia mid-to-late next week, although this may change in the coming days.' 

A second meteorologist, American Ryan Maue, tweeted: 'Nearly the entire continent of Australia will be 100F (37.7C) or hotter next week.' 

'Why? Stuck weather pattern w/heat dome parked over southern Australia.'   

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a maximum temperature of 49 degrees is forecast at Oak Valley, South Australia on Wednesday. 

The Bureau of Meteorology's forecast for Friday (pictured) as Australia prepares for an unprecedented heatwave

Two women (pictured) enjoy scorching temperatures at Henley Beach in Adelaide in October, with the area due to hit temperatures of 35C by Monday

'We're expecting some incredibly warm conditions as we head into next week, potentially record-breaking for a number of areas across southern Australia over the next seven days or so,' BOM meteorologist Diana Eadie told the ABC. 

'It is not out of the realms of possibility that we could break our highest ever recorded temperature of 50.7C at Oodnadatta, which is in South Australia.' 

That record temperature was set on January 2, 1960.  

A woman enjoys the ocean at Bronte Beach in Sydney in October. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 30 degrees on Sunday in the city

Experts have warned residents to avoid all sun exposure between 7.50am and 4.20pm, with a UV Index of 14 (Extreme).

Perth has never endured more than two days at 40C or hotter in December, but that record will be challenged over the weekend.

And while those temperatures will fall to a more manageable 33C on Monday, it will see the hot air plume pushed interstate and across the country. 

Ms Eadie explained that to get a more accurate picture of temperature, it is best to combine all of the maximums across the country on any given day. 

By that measure, the hottest day on record January 7, 2013, with an average temperature across the country of 40.3C. 

'At this stage with these sorts of temperatures that we're forecasting … it looks like we could break that record over a number of consecutive days towards the end of next week,' she said. 

'We will potentially see the hottest day on record across all of Australia.'

Adelaide and Canberra are also expecting temperatures around the 40C mark next week. 

People enjoy a hot autumn day on St Kilda Beach in Melbourne back in April. By Tuesday, the area will reach 33C

But the hottest parts of the country will be inland, with the heat creeping into South Australia by Monday.

This is then expected to extend to parts of Victoria and NSW, particularly the southern and western areas of NSW which will feel 'exceptional heat'. 

Adelaide and Canberra are expecting temperatures near the 40C mark next week,.

The forecast is likely to be devastating reading for the country's firefighters, already exhausted from battling hundreds of blazes for several weeks.

The combination of drought conditions and unusually-high temperatures has made it nearly impossible to handle the blazes, many of which are still burning out of control.