The Mallee and Wimmera will face elevated dangerous fire conditions on Tuesday, with the Country Fire Authority declaring total fire bans and a "severe" fire danger for both districts.

Temperatures are tipped to hit 35C in Mildura and hover in the 30s for the rest of the northwest, while a strong westerly is also expected to create damaging wind gusts up to 90km/h.

As well as raising the bushfire threat, the damaging winds could kick up dust in the area.

It comes after the CFA responded to several burn-off and recreational bonfires lit during Saturday's total fire bans in the Mallee, Wimmera and Northern Country.

Deputy Chief Officer Alen Slijepcevic said the deliberately-lit fires were disappointing and hoped there would no repeat on Tuesday.

"That's dozens of volunteer hours spent putting out unnecessary and dangerous fires, and we really urge people to stop being reckless with their own safety and that of others," Mr Slijepcevic said in a statement.

Several other fires last week were also ignited by farm machinery including harvesting headers, and the CFA urged operators to take extreme care.

The blustery conditions won't be isolated to the state's west, with northerly winds tipped to develop to the east on Tuesday morning ahead of a cold front.

"That pretty much means the entire day tomorrow will be quite windy, with the exception of late night," Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Richard Russell said.

"It should start easing after dark essentially."

Mr Russell expects the strong winds to arrive in Melbourne about 10 to 11am, as the city climbs to a forecast top of 27C.

Australian Associated Press