Thousands of sweltering Sydneysiders have flocked to the beaches to find respite from an intense heatwave.
Temperatures in parts of New South Wales soared to 38C on Saturday, with no relief in sight for the rest of the weekend.
Beaches surrounding Sydney were overflowing with swimmers, with some of the busiest being Bondi, Coogee and Maroubra in the city’s east.
Sydneysiders have flocked to the beaches to sweat through a sweltering heatwave captivating the entire state
Bondi Beach (pictured) was filled to capacity on Saturday, only days after 30,000 flocked to the landmark on Christmas
Suburbs in the city’s west endured scorching heats of 38C, with no cool change forecast for the rest of the weekend
The entirety of New South Wales is enduring a meteoric heatwave, with a cool change not expected until New Year’s Day
Surf Live Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said beaches were at capacity on Saturday.
‘Compared to the last couple of days it is definitely busier on the beaches today,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Lifeguards had their hands full on Saturday, with six swimmers needing a ‘serious rescue’ in metropolitan beaches.
The foreshores have been packed since Christmas, when about 30,000 beachgoers made their way to Bondi to celebrate the festive season.
Lifeguards had their hands full on Saturday, with six swimmers needing a ‘serious rescue’ in metropolitan beaches
But relief from the blistering heat is only temporary, with Saturday’s scorcher just a taste of what’s to come for the weekend
The foreshores have been packed since Christmas, when about 30,000 beachgoers made their way to Bondi to celebrate the festive season
But relief from the blistering heat is only temporary, with Saturday’s scorcher just a taste of what’s yet to come for the rest of the weekend.
Weatherzone forecaster Graeme Britton said temperatures are only going to get higher as the days roll on.
‘We are looking at a pretty much repeat performance [on Sunday] – if anything it could be even hotter in the CBD,’ Mr Britton said.
The statewide heatwave is being felt in the countryside too, with Griffith recording 40C just after midday Saturday, Wagga Wagga reaching 38C and Albury 36C.
Temperatures in Sydney’s west marched towards 40C for the third consecutive day, with another two forecast before a cool change on New Year’s Eve.
Surf Live Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said beaches surrounding the city were at capacity on Saturday
Weatherzone forecaster Graeme Britton said temperatures are only going to get higher as the days roll on
Nearly 100 swimmers were stung by bluebottle jellyfish on Gold Coast beaches in the Christmas period
Majority of Australia has been placed on a heatwave warning, one rural town surpassing a blistering 49C
Uluru, in the Northern Territory, was the hottest place in Australia on Saturday, registering at 46C and coming shy of the record for the hottest maximum by only one degree.
Canberra also peaked at a steamy high of 38C on Saturday, expected to cool slightly to 34C on Sunday.
Adelaide will also see a cool change, but only slightly, from a high of 36C Saturday to 30C Sunday.
Darwin and Cairns are experiencing typical late December weather – humid and in the low-to-mid 30s.
Marble Bar, in northwest Western Australia, built a reputation as one of Australia’s hottest towns. The minuscule town with a population of only 174 residents recorded 48.4C at just 11am on Thursday, surmounting that to pass 49C later in the day.
The state’s capital, Perth, is forecast to stay warm and humid on Sunday at a balmy 30C.
Brisbane and much of Queensland is expected enjoy temperatures in the low 30s over the end of the weekend, but not before nearly 100 swimmers were stung by bluebottle jellyfish on Gold Coast beaches.
Meanwhile, a cool change swept through Melbourne, with the temperature diving by 7C around lunch time to 29C with showers in the southeast, after sweltering heats in the days after Christmas.
A heatwave was forecast for the weekend in the days after Christmas, with some areas remaining over 40C for days on end
Temperatures in parts of New South Wales soared to 38C on Saturday, with no relief in sight for the rest of the weekend
Those swimmers who didn’t want to brave the surf at Bondi could be seen at the adjacent wave-free paddle pool
Politicians have called on those making their way to the beach to enjoy the warm weather to ‘be smart’ and avoid taking risks
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews urged swimmers to stay safe over the festive season after three people drowned in only two days.
He called on those making their way to the beach to enjoy the warm weather to ‘be smart’, avoid taking risks and only swim between the flags.
‘Don’t have what should be such a special time for you and your family turn into a tragedy,’ he said.
‘Be aware of the circumstances, don’t drink and swim and if you are not confident in your swimming ability, then the only place you can swim is at a supervised beach.’