Severe heatwaves and thunderstorms are forecast as high temperatures continue to make their way east through central Australia.
The sea breezes that parts of Sydney rely on for cooling are expected to have little effect on Thursday with temperatures around 10C above average expected.
Sydney is expected to reach 35C near the harbour, rising to 39C out west.
Helen Reid from the Bureau of Meteorology said those temperatures would make it the hottest February day since 2020 for some suburbs.
Temperatures are set to ease on Thursday night in the south of the state, while further north it may not cool down until the weekend.
Parts of western NSW baked in temperatures nudging 40C on Wednesday, with a high of 44C at the outback town of Wilcannia, Ms Reid said.
The hot conditions are expected to continue on Thursday in western and central NSW as well as the Hunter region as the heat makes its way east.
“Some of these temperatures are expected to be late-season records,” Ms Reid said.
The heat will also bring widespread potential for thunderstorms, she said.
There is an elevated fire danger through central NSW which is expected to ease on Friday as cooler air moves through.
Elsewhere, a severe heatwave warning is in place in South Australia’s north with maximum temperatures forecast to reach the mid-40s.
A top of 42C is expected at Coober Pedy, while it could hit 43C at Marla, Marree and Oodnadatta.
The hot air is coming from Western Australia after scorching temperatures throughout the week.
Severe heatwave conditions continue over the state’s southern interior but have eased in northern districts, the bureau said.
Tops of 44C are still forecast in several areas on Thursday around the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions in the northwest of the state, as well as further south at Warburton.
Temperatures reached 40C on Wednesday afternoon in the Kimberley at Fitzroy Crossing and 44.8C at Eliwana Airport in the Pilbara.
However, Perth residents are facing showers and a possible thunderstorm on Sunday despite the 35C forecast.
Severe heatwave conditions in the ACT are expected to start easing after a mid-week peak but maximum temperatures could still approach the mid-30s on Thursday, the bureau warned.
PERTH FORECAST
FRIDAY: 34C, sunny
SATURDAY: 35C, partly cloudy
SUNDAY: 35C, possible storm
MONDAY: 30C, cloud clearing
TUESDAY: 31C, mostly sunny
WEDNESDAY: 33C, mostly sunny