NSW: Residents brace for heatwave
05 Jan 2009 5:39 PM
SYDNEY, Jan 5 AAP - NSW residents are bracing for a heatwave not seen in the state for two years, with some areas predicted to hit a scorching 41 degrees on Tuesday.
Sea breezes will help keep Sydney and coastal towns cool, but temperatures further inland are expected to peak at 41 for Penrith, 39 for Liverpool and Richmond and 38 for Parramatta.
The forecast for central Sydney is 31 degrees.
In the far west of the state, Ivanhoe is tipped to reach 41, with Singleton in the Hunter Valley expected to hit 40.
Broken Hill and Wagga Wagga are both headed for 39, while Newcastle is expecting 38 and Grafton in northern NSW is expecting 34.
Temperatures are also expected to soar on Wednesday, before an expected cool change on Thursday.
Weatherzone meteorologist Jessica Trevena said the relief on Thursday was likely to be brief before another hot spell next week.
"It will stay hot before a cool southerly change finally reaches Victoria and southern and coastal NSW on Thursday," she said.
"Northern inland areas of NSW are likely to stay hot through the weekend.
"Initial forecasts for next week look even hotter."
She said the hot air being funnelled over the south-east of Australia ahead of an inland trough was typical for summer.
"Though, thanks to a strong La Nina last year, it's around two years since we have seen a heatwave like this," she said.
