Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane weather: Heatwave strikes

NSW is set to swelter through another day of heatwave conditions with temperatures reaching well into the 30s across much of the state.

Sydney is headed for a top of 34 on Tuesday after the city recorded its hottest temperature in two years on Monday, nudging 38 degrees in the CBD.

Maximum temperatures are forecast to be around six to 12C above average across eastern parts of NSW, before easing on Wednesday and Thursday.

The blistering conditions sparked more bushfire warnings, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting extreme fire danger for the Central Ranges where a total fire ban is in place, as well as in the Greater Hunter.

‘Hot and dry conditions combined with fresh and gusty west to northwesterly winds are elevating fire dangers,’ the BOM said on Tuesday.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible in the northeast during the afternoon.

Firefighters are still battling an out-of-control blaze in the Central West where Hills End properties came under threat from embers on Monday but conditions have eased overnight.

‘There is likely to be a prolonged firefighting effort over the coming days,’ the Rural Fire Service said.

The BOM says it’s not unusual to experience heatwaves during early autumn.

‘The bureau’s long-range forecast for autumn indicates it is likely to be drier and warmer than usual for much of Australia.’

BOM forecaster, Sarah Scully said a ‘much cooler’ air mass would arrive over the state on Wednesday bringing relief.

‘The west, northwesterly winds are notorious for bringing really hot conditions over eastern NSW, and that’s because the air is brought from over the inland continent and it’s really hot and generally dry,’ Ms Scully said.

‘As well as that, west, northwesterly winds prevent or delay the sea breeze from bringing relief to coastal communities.’

A severe weather warning remains for damaging winds in parts of South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Canberra and South West Slopes.