Sydneysiders head for the coast as long weekend heatwave hits

Craig McIntosh, a meteorologist with Weatherzone, said the heat would continue to build across the city before hitting its peak on Australia Day.

Coastal areas would hover in the low 30s until Tuesday, when temperatures would climb into the mid-30s.

Inland areas can expect a string of days in the high 30s, potentially nudging 40 degrees on Tuesday, Mr McIntosh said.

“Tuesday still looks like the standout hot day for Sydney,” he said.

“Basically anywhere away from the sea breeze – you’re not going to have to go too far inland to get the extremities of the heat.”

High humidity along the coastline is expected to make it feel hotter than what the mercury reflects in eastern Sydney.

The conditions have been spurred by a large high-pressure system in the Tasman and an inland trough acting to funnel a hot northerly air mass into the state.

Much of south-eastern NSW is affected, with temperatures reaching the low 40s in the Riverina region on Saturday afternoon.

Mr McIntosh said the heatwave was bringing a run of days about eight degrees above Sydney’s average January maximums.

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“Nights are staying relatively warm, a couple of degrees above average,” he said.

Temperatures are expected to drop back into the high 20s in the second half of the week.

“For Sydney the back end of the week could be wet and stormy, more likely on Thursday or Friday,” Mr McIntosh added.