It may feel like this summer is cooler than usual, but that is only compared to last year's record-breaking scorcher.

The summer of 2013-14 was burned into Victorians' memories because the state sweltered through seven days over 40 degrees, including a once-in-a-century heatwave of four consecutive days over 40 degrees. This year feels cooler, but in fact it has been warmer than usual, with an average maximum of 23.9 degrees in December and 26.5 degrees in January.

Don't be fooled: January 2015 is cool by recent standards, but is still warmer than average.

The Bureau of Meteorology's outlook for the rest of January is a median maximum temperature of 26.4 degrees in Melbourne, 32.4 in Mildura, 30.1 in Shepparton, and 24.6 in Wonthaggi. It is forecasting a median maximum of 25.8 degrees in Melbourne until the end of March, but with a strong chance of higher temperatures.

"We have had a run of hot Januarys in the last decade - all of the last 10 Januarys have been above average - so even though [this January] is running above the long-term average, [it] is on track to be the second coolest of the last decade," Bureau climatologist Blair Trewin said.