Heatwave to peak at 40C as bushfires rage across NSW – but relief is finally in sight 

‘Unusual’ heatwave continues to ravage east coast as temperatures soar to 40C and dozens of fires burn in NSW – but a welcome cool change will sweep over some parts of the country

  • 40°C or higher is predicted for Sunday in several areas
  • Dozens of fires are still raging across New South Wales

Temperatures are expected to rise to 40C in NSW as an ‘unusual’ heat wave reaches its peak and dozens of fires continue to burn across the state.

Canberra, Brisbane and Perth are also facing a sweltering day, although temperatures in Victoria and South Australia should begin to cool on Sunday.

Sydney’s CBD will reach 32 degrees, but in the west, Penrith is tipped to reach 40C and Richmond and Blacktown should hit 39C, the Bureau of Meteorology predicted.

The ‘unusual’ heat wave in NSW peaks on Sunday. Two women are pictured on Bronte Beach on March 16, 2023 in Sydney

Sydney's CBD will reach 32 degrees, but in the west, Penrith is tipped to reach 40C and Richmond and Blacktown should hit 39C, the Bureau of Meteorology predicted.  Two women are pictured on Bronte Beach

Sydney’s CBD will reach 32 degrees, but in the west, Penrith is tipped to reach 40C and Richmond and Blacktown should hit 39C, the Bureau of Meteorology predicted. Two women are pictured on Bronte Beach

Temperatures in parts of the west of the state – including Forbes, Griffith, Ivanhoe and Cobar – are expected to soar even higher than 40C.

It comes after NSW sweltered through a steamy Saturday that left more than 30 bush and grass fires burning across the state on Sunday morning.

A fire on Craigs Road in Curraweela, in the Southern Tablelands, was contained but had destroyed 3,689 acres, destroying property and livestock.

Another major fire raged out of control at Yarra Station near Mount Hope in the west of the state and much of the state still has a high fire rating.

Elsewhere in the country, temperatures in Canberra are forecast to reach 36°C on Sunday, while Perth is expected to reach 33°C and Brisbane 32°C.

However, Victoria is getting some respite with cooler weather, after temperatures hit the high 30s and low 40s on Saturday.

Residents along the Great Ocean Road in the southwestern part of the state were on high alert for most of the day, with a warning message for a fire near Kennett River, though the warning was lowered in the afternoon.

Several other fires reached advisory levels before a cool change swept across the state on Saturday night.

Victorian temperatures should hover around the low to mid 20s for the next week.

On Sunday, Melbourne is expected to reach a maximum of 21C and Adelaide 27C.

Queensland will have a hot day, with some parts of the state reaching 34C.

The weekend’s heat wave was caused by a hot air mass moving over Australia’s east coast over the weekend, creating hot, sweltering and windy conditions.

The total fire ban has been lifted in Victoria and South Australia.

Dozens of fires continue to burn in NSW, including in the Curraweela area (pictured)

Dozens of fires continue to burn in NSW, including in the Curraweela area (pictured)

Five-day forecast across the country

CANBERRA

Sunday: mostly sunny. Maximum 36.

Monday: Cloudy. Minimum 14 – Maximum 25.

Tuesday: Develop shower or two. Possible thunderstorm. Min 13 – Max 21.

Wednesday: showers. min. 13 – max. 24.

Thursday: Shower or two. min. 12 – max. 24.

SYDNEY

Sunday: morning fog, then sunny. Maximum 30.

Monday: Shower or two. Windy. min. 21 – max. 26.

Tuesday: Shower or two. Minimum 20 – Maximum 25.

Wednesday: The showers are increasing. min. 19 – max. 27.

Thursday: Shower or two. Minimum 20 – Maximum 29.

DARWIN

Sunday: Shower or two. Possible thunderstorm. Maximum 32.

Monday: mostly sunny. Minimum 25 – Maximum 33.

Tuesday: showers. Possible thunderstorm. Minimum 25 – Maximum 31.

Wednesday: showers. Possible thunderstorm. Minimum 24 – Maximum 31.

Thursday: Shower or two. Possible thunderstorm. Minimum 25 – Maximum 32.

BRISBANE

Sunday: mostly sunny. Maximum 32.

Monday: mostly sunny. Minimum 22 – Maximum 32.

Tuesday: Shower or two. min. 23 – max. 29.

Wednesday: Shower or two. Minimum 22 – Maximum 29.

Thursday: Possible shower. min. 21 – max. 30.

MELBOURNE

Sunday: Possible morning shower. Maximum 21.

Monday: Partly cloudy. min. 15 – max. 23.

Tuesday: Shower or two. min 14 – max 23.

Wednesday: Shower or two. min. 17 – max. 23.

Thursday: Shower or two. Minimum 16 – Maximum 23.

ADELAIDE

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 27.

Monday: mostly sunny. min. 14 – max. 26.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. min. 16 – max. 27.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Minimum 15 – Maximum 26.

Thursday: Partly cloudy. Minimum 15 – Maximum 25.

PERTH

Sunday: Sunny. Maximum 33.

Monday: Sunny. Minimum 22 – Maximum 36.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Minimum 20 – Maximum 33.

Wednesday: Sunny. min. 19 – max. 33.

Thursday: Sunny. min. 17 – max. 31.

HOBART

Sunday: Possible late shower. Maximum 21.

Monday: Cloudy. Minimum 10 – Maximum 17.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Min 7 – Max 21.

Wednesday: Possible shower. min. 11 – max. 20.

Thursday: Shower or two. min. 12 – max. 21.