Sydney and parts of NSW swelter through temperatures in the 30s before plummeting 10C within hours
Temperatures in Sydney’s outer west peaked at 35C and 32C in the city on Monday before a cool change from the south-east Sydney and parts of New South Wales have sweltered through an “unseasonably warm” weekend, with temperatures climbing more than 10C above the September average, before a cool change swept much of the coast on Monday. The early burst of heat, part of a classic “ spring…
Sydney and portions of New South Wales experienced unseasonably warm weather over the weekend, with temperatures soaring over 10 degrees Celsius above the September average. The heat peaked on Monday, with Sydney's outer west hitting 35.4C in Richmond and 35C in Penrith. By Monday afternoon, temperatures in Sydney's city center had plummeted by around 10C within a few hours, reaching a high of 32.7C at Observatory Hill.
The Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson attributed the unseasonable warmth to a wave of heat sweeping across southeastern Australia, with eastern Sydney benefiting from easterly sea breezes that kept it cooler than the western suburbs. Authorities issued high to extreme fire danger warnings for Monday due to hot, dry, and windy conditions ahead of the southerly change.
Sydneysiders can now anticipate a cooler, wetter outlook for the following days under the influence of a cool southerly airstream. By Tuesday, temperatures in Sydney will hover between 18C - 19C, before increasing slightly to 22C - 24C on Wednesday. Regional centers like Cessnock, Muswellbrook, and Singleton were expected to reach 35C with extreme fire risk, but the fire danger was expected to lessen for much of the state by Tuesday due to the cool change.
A strong El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean is expected to peak in late spring or summer, potentially reaching record highs, and combine with climate change to push global temperatures to record highs in 2027. This winter was Australia's third-warmest on record and the hottest on record for New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria.
Authorities advised residents to consult the NSW Rural Fire Service website for the most current information on local fire risks and warnings.
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