Sydneysiders were gifted an early Christmas present on Sunday morning with sunny conditions across the city.
People flocked to Bondi Beach as temperatures climbed to above 30C before lunchtime.
Beach-goers were seen eating water melon, bathing in the sun and cooling off in the water.
Sydneysiders were gifted an early Christmas present on Sunday morning with sunny conditions across the city
People flocked to Bondi Beach as temperatures climbed to above 30C before lunchtime
But the perfect conditions will be short lived with storms predicted across the city on Sunday afternoon, and continuing on Christmas Day
Lifeguards got into the Christmas spirit with some wearing hats and reindeer ears.
But the perfect conditions will be short lived with storms predicted across the city on Sunday afternoon, and continuing on Christmas Day.
While the majority of the country will enjoy a spectacularly sunny day on December 25, the sunshine will struggle to peek through the clouds with intermittent showers predicted across NSW and Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a quiet Christmas with generally fine weather across much of the country, however most cities are set for a bumper Christmas Eve.
It has been one of the warmest years on record, with many parts of Australia reaching 40C heat earlier in December, but the weather looks to be a mostly gloomy affair for Sydney and Brisbane on Christmas Day.
‘It’s going to be a beautiful day for many parts of the country, probably one of the most stable and quietest weather days we’ve seen for most, not all, parts of the country,’ senior forecaster Dean Narramore said.
Santa Selfie: These two were seen enjoying the sunshine at Bondi Beach
Beach-goers were seen eating water melon, bathing in the sun and cooling off in the water
Christmas Eve at Bondi was a festive affair
Lifeguards got into the Christmas spirit with some wearing hats and reindeer ears
He said showers and thunderstorms are expected for the area between Sydney and Brisbane, the Top End and the Kimberley Coast.
Sydney will experience light showers and mostly cloudy weather for much of the day, reaching a top of only 22C.
The rain is set to ease off around lunchtime but is forecasted to return later in the afternoon and early evening.
People flocked to the beach as temperatures soared above 30C
Sydneysiders soaked up the sun on Sunday morning
While most of the country will enjoy a spectacularly sunny day on December 25, the sunshine will struggle to peak through the clouds and intermittent showers across NSW and Queensland (Pictured is Sydney)
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a quiet Christmas with generally fine weather across much of the country, however most cities are set for a bumper Christmas Eve (Sydney pictured)
Meanwhile, Melbourne is set to have a pleasant sunny day on Christmas Day with tops of 23C, a few clouds but mostly sunshine.
The city will experience a deluge of early morning clouds however they are predicted to clear up by the afternoon.
The following two days in Melbourne will be a welcome change from the heavy rains which battered the region this week.
Boxing Day is predicted to reach 29C while December 27 will be a hot one at a top of 34C.
He said showers and thunderstorms are expected for the area between Sydney (pictured) and Brisbane, the Top End and the Kimberley Coast
Sydney (pictured) will experience light showers and mostly cloudy weather for much of the day, reaching a top of only 22C
The weather looks to be a mostly gloomy affair for Sydney and Brisbane (pictured) on Christmas Day
‘It’s going to be a beautiful day for many parts of the country, probably one of the most stable and quietest weather days we’ve seen for most, not all, parts of the country,’ senior forecaster Dean Narramore said (Brisbane pictured)
However Christmas Eve in Sydney (pictured) will be a scorcher with tops of 34C and a small chance of thunderstorms
Mr Narramore said the best forecast for warm and sunny weather on Christmas Day will be in Perth and Adelaide.
Inland areas will probably hit the 40C mark, which will be a few degrees above average but does not represent record heat, he said.
Mr Narramore said the temperature will warm up mid-week in much of southeast Australia before the next ‘weather maker’ moves through on Thursday into Friday, which could result in some showers and storms.
It is too early to predict the weather for New Year’s Eve, he added.
Senior climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins said Sydney and Brisbane should be a little cooler than normal during January, while Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth are looking a little warmer.
Senior climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins said Sydney and Brisbane should be a little cooler than normal during January, while Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth are looking a little warmer (Stock image)
The following two days in Melbourne (pictured) will be a welcome change from the heavy rains which battered the region this week
‘We’re looking at some warmer conditions through southeastern Australia and also in the southwest as well – warmer days but also unfortunately a few warmer nights, a bit more uncomfortable for sleeping,’ Dr Watkins said.
‘In terms of rainfall, possibly a little wetter through NSW and Queensland, particularly in the eastern half of the state, but elsewhere the odds aren’t really strongly swinging towards a wetter or drier January.’
Dr Watkins said Australia is experiencing La Nina conditions, but nowhere near as strong as the last La Nina in 2010-12 that caused widespread flooding rain over January.
He said 2017 is expected to have been among the top five warmest years on record for Australia, and in the top 10 for NSW, Queensland, Victoria and possibly South Australia.
Annual rainfall will have been close to average.