Sydney is predicted to have its hottest start to October with the mercury set to rapidly rise before hitting 36 degrees later this afternoon, as blustery dry winds sweep across the city.
The northwesterly winds of up to 30 km/h will offer little reprieve from the heat.
Swimmers at Clovelly getting an early start on what is forecast to be a record hot October day.Credit: Jessica Hromas
No part of Sydney will be spared from the high temperatures. Bondi, Penrith and Richmond are all predicted to reach 36 degrees, while Campbelltown and Liverpool in the city’s southwest are set to be slightly cooler at 35 degrees.
The conditions have prompted the NSW Rural Fire Service to declare parts of the state at risk of “extreme” fire danger, including Greater Sydney and the Hunter, and a total fire ban is in force.
BOM senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the heat sweeping across Sydney was thanks to a “heat bubble” that formed last week in Western Australia.
No part of Sydney will be spared from the high temperatures.Credit: Jessica Hromas
“Through the course of the weekend we’ve had a weak cold front move eastwards across southern Australia and that has been pulling the warm air along with it,” Hines said.
It’s common during a heatwave for temperatures to be at their most intense in Sydney’s west, while coastal parts of Sydney have some reprieve, but Hines said that would not be the case on Sunday.
“We’re not getting that cooling effect, all of Sydney is in the same boat,” he said.
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If the temperature reaches 36 degrees as predicted, it would be the hottest start to October ever recorded in Sydney. He said the previous high for October 1 recorded for Sydney Airport was in 1998, when the temperature reached 34.3 degrees.
A cool change is expected to move across Sydney from the south about 10pm.
Hines said the NRLW grand final at 4pm would be played during the heat of the day.
“For the NRLW, they’ll be kicking off in the peak of the heat,” he said.
“By the time the men’s game kicks off, we expect it to be about 30 to 31 degrees and cooling off during the course of the match.”
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