As temperatures soar to a record-breaking 47.3C in Western Sydney, people have flocked to the beach to gain reprieve from the oppressive heat.
Penrith has experienced the all-time highest temperature ever recorded of 47.3C at 3.25pm on Sunday, with the mercury in the city tipped to rise to just shy of the city’s 45.8C record for a January day.
Mercifully, a cool front is expected to bring cooler conditions to coastal areas during the afternoon and through the west in the evening.
Masses of Sydneysiders are headed to the beach to cool off as an extreme heatwave takes hold
Forecaster Helen Reed has told Sydneysiders to make preparations for a long, hot and dry day
People taking to the ocean to beat the heat have been warned to be careful while in the water
A a cool front is expected to bring cooler conditions to the coastal areas during the afternoon
Surf Life Saving NSW has implored people heading to the beach to take care given there have been ten drownings since the beginning of December 2017.
As the relentless heatwave continues to oppress the east coast of Australia and dramatically drive up levels of ozone pollution, asthma sufferers in particular are being urged to stay indoors.
Total fire bans are in place for Sydney and the Hunter region, with a ‘severe fire danger rating’ in place for the entirety of the greater Sydney region.
Meanwhile, the NSW Rural Fire Service is warning residents to prepare their bushfire plans, reminding people considering evacuation that ‘leaving early’ is always better.
NSW Health has also implored people to drink plenty of water and limit their time outdoors because of a rise in ozone pollution as a result of the hot weather.
Nevertheless, forecaster Helen Reed has told people to prepare for a hot, dry day: ‘We do have a southerly change moving its way up the coast during the afternoon,’ she told ABC.
‘It’s expected to come through Sydney at 3:00pm or 4:00pm.’
Temperatures in the inner city hovered in the low-to-mid 40s while residents of the western suburbs suffered in temperatures well above 45C.
Meteorologists have warned residents to prepare for a hot, dry day as temperatures hit 45C
Heading to the beach is a good way to beat the heat as a coastal cool change will bring relief
‘We know over the next two or three days we’re going to experience severe to extreme heat’
Meanwhile, environmental health director Dr Ben Scalley has reminded people in a statement on Saturday that ozone levels are higher outdoors than indoors.
‘Limiting time outside during the heat of the day and in the evening would help people to keep cool and to limit their exposure to ozone pollution,’ he said.
Dr Scalley also warned of the dangers of a heatwave which put strain on the body, can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Australians are strongly advised to limit the time spent outside during extreme daytime heat
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn on Saturday revealed the state’s heatwave plan had been activated to ensure a coordinated response from emergency services.
‘We know over the next two or three days we’re going to experience severe to extreme heat conditions throughout NSW,’ she said.
She also strongly cautioned people against leaving children or pets in vehicles, which is a federal offence and can be fatal: ‘Cars become a furnace very, very quickly in this type of heat.’
NSW Health has warned people to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and heat stroke
Police advised motorists to avoid using the right hand lane of Hume Highway in Broadford, VIC
Map shows the area where residents were ordered to leave after a bushfire threatened homes
Drivers are also warned to avoid stretches of the Hume Highway in Victoria as the scorching temperatures caused parts of the road to start melting.
Authorities are particularity concerned with water safety given the recent spate of near-drownings – a 48-year-old is fighting for his life after he was found face down in the water at Sandon Point Beach on Saturday.
In a separate incident, a 35-year-old man was taken to hospital in a stable condition after being pulled semi-conscious from the Hawkesbury River at Lower Portland.
Meanwhile in Victoria, a15-year-old girl has been charged over a bushfire on Saturday which took 300 firefighters to put out.
The teenager was charged with intentionally starting the blaze, but has received bail to reappear in a children’s court at a later date.
About 30 residents in Carrum Downs, in southeast Melbourne, were evacuated on Saturday during the fire, while emergency services battled through the night to contain it.
A teenage girl has been charged with intentionally setting a bushfire in Melbourne on Saturday