Sydneysiders stream to the beach as temps soar to 30C

Thousands of people flocked to Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday as temperatures along the east coast peaked at 28C. 

Just three days into spring, Sydney-siders appeared to shrug off the cooler weather and embrace the heat. 

Bikini-clad women cooled off in the sea as the wave of warmth hit, while others soaked up the sun on the sand. 

Sydney-siders appeared to shrug off the cooler weather and embrace the heat

While Sydney packed the heat on Sunday, the cold weather won’t be dormant for too long, with Sydney temperatures set to drop below 10C on Tuesday.

However it’s much cooler down south and while the sun was shining in Sydney, wild winds battered Victoria.

Gusts as high as 115km/h were recorded in some parts of the state.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds remains in place for northeastern Victoria and parts of the coast, where 100km/h gusts have been recorded, the Bureau of Metereology forecasts.

Australia hasn’t had such a dry winter since 2002 and Sydney only had 30 per cent of its average August rainfall during last month.

One man and his dog escaped the heat by taking a surf on Sunday 

Bikini-clad beachgoers are seen here soaking up the sun on Bondi Beach

The State Emergency Service received 46 requests for assistance in 12 hours with most of the calls for help regarding downed trees and branches.

Alpine areas have been warned peak gusts of 100km/h may continue into Monday morning.

The top wind gust recorded on Sunday was 115 km/h at Mount Buller, with Mount Hotham airport recording 107km/h winds.