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Some like it not: Heatwave breaks temperature records

Keeping cool at Bondi as Sydney swelters on Saturday.

Keeping cool at Bondi as Sydney swelters on Saturday. Photo: AAP

NSW has sweltered through the night amid the state’s first heatwave of the season, with no respite to arrive until late into Sunday.

Parts of Sydney – including the CBD – broke the 40-degree barrier on Saturday while swathes of western NSW, South Australia and northern Victoria baked through even higher temperatures approaching 45C.

While temperatures are set to cool in South Australia and Victoria on Sunday, NSW’s eastern and northeastern regions will sweat through another day.

Central Sydney is likely to hit 40C as northwesterly winds hold back the sea breeze, while Penrith will reach 42C.

Temperatures in the Hunter are forecast to hit 43C, while much of northeast NSW will break the 40-degree barrier.

A gusty southerly will not arrive until later on Sunday afternoon, bringing cooler temperatures for Monday before the heat returns to NSW from Tuesday.

Bondi beach was popular place to be on a hit Sydney day on Saturday. Photo: AAP

Southeast and southern Queensland are also likely to experience elevated temperatures from Monday, with no respite until at least Thursday.

The RFS has issued a total fire ban for most of eastern and northeastern NSW for Sunday, including Greater Sydney, Illawarra, the Hunter and north coast.

“It will be a really long, uncomfortable night (on Saturday) and then a really long hot day and then a really windy southerly change,” Bureau of Meteorology manager Jane Golding told reporters on Saturday.

“The body doesn’t really get much respite, it’s quite hard.”

RFS Deputy Commissioner Peter McKechnie on Friday urged NSW residents to have fire plans ready and prepare properties.

“This is the first time since the devastating season last year we’ve seen widespread elevated fire danger,” Mr McKechnie said.

Last summer’s bushfires destroyed 2476 homes and claimed 26 lives.

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