A cool southerly change is sweeping up the NSW coast after the state endured a summer scorcher on Saturday, with temperatures climbing into the mid-40s and residents flocking to swimming spots to try and beat the heat.
Key points:
- Severe weather warnings were in place for the metropolitan and Illawara districts as a cool change arrived
- Badgerys Creek in Sydney’s outer west hit 44C, the highest temperature recorded in the city
- NSW Ambulance said it has had an increase in emergency calls due to the heat
Residents were urged to check on vulnerable friends and neighbours on Saturday as much of NSW sweated it out under a dome of heat that had spread across the continent from the west in recent days.
A late afternoon storm provided some relief to eastern parts of the state, but caused damage to homes on the Central Coast.
Western Sydney locals bore the brunt of the heat with the mercury climbing to 43C at Penrith and Richmond in the late afternoon, and 44C at Badgerys Creek just after 4pm — the highest temperature recorded in the city.
The heat was widespread across the state, with the central and lower western districts also enduring extreme conditions and temperatures. Wilcannia in the North West, as well as Forbes and Condobolin in the Central West all reached 44C.
The weather bureau issued a severe weather warning for the metropolitan and Illawarra districts late on Saturday as the cool change arrived.
“A southerly buster may produce damaging winds over parts of the Sydney and Illawarra coasts,” the warning read.
Winds of 70km/h were expected to reach the CBD on Saturday evening, with potential gusts of up to 90km/h.
A warning for severe thunderstorms threatening large hail and damaging winds is also in place for the Hunter, South Coast, Snowy Mountains and Mid North Coast forecast districts.
“Storms are moving to the east and south-east towards the coast,” the bureau warned.
Services in the region felt the strain of the heat throughout Saturday with about 10,000 homes and businesses without power due to 19 unplanned outages.
Electricity provider Ausgrid said all work that was not critical had been stopped to allow crews to get the electricity back on.
The heat also impacted transport, with trains forced to reduce speeds, and the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford light rail services brought to a halt earlier in the day after a power blackout.
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Sydney airport sets new December record
Alongside the western suburbs, Sydney airport stood out in the city.
“Sydney Airport did observe 43.5 degrees as of around 1pm this afternoon breaking its December record from 1994 of 43.2 degrees,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jordan Notara said.
Across the state there was a 20 per cent increase in emergency calls due to the heat.
“By midnight that would equate to approximately 500 extra calls,” NSW Ambulance chief superintendent Mark Gibbs said.
“At this time resources are meeting that demand and will monitor that into the evening.”
Mr Gibbs said their attention was also focused on the three big entertainment events at Sydney Olympic Park later on Saturday evening, with more than 100,000 people expected to descend on Homebush.
Earlier in the day the area had reached close to 43C but had dropped to 36C by 6pm, however partygoers were still being urged to stay hydrated, especially those taking illegal drugs.
Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said organisers were allowing attendees to take in their own bottles of water.
People going to one of the events, an electronic music festival, told the ABC they had taken heed of the ‘stay safe’ messaging. And while some considered cancelling due to the heat, had decided against it.
“We spent so much money on tickets, why would we cancel?” a group of festival-goers said.
“If we stay hydrated, be responsible, everything will be fine.”
Meanwhile, late on Saturday afternoon roofs were torn off and trees uprooted after an isolated storm swept through the state’s Central Coast.
The State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 50 calls for help.
“Long Jetty area, in that Wyong area, is the area that has the most damage,” SES Coordinator Duty Operations Carmel Phillip said.
“Thirty jobs are reported in that area so our units have been very busy working that damage as that storm has gone through that area.”
Parramatta pool welcome relief
At Parramatta, where it was already above 30C by 9am, families arrived early at the recently-opened Aquatic Centre.
Brian and Eleanor, who were there to celebrate their granddaughter’s birthday, said that despite getting there before the crowds arrived, the “car park was still busy”.
First-time visitor to the pool Yvonne McIntosh said her children were having fun keeping cool.
“It’s a beautiful new pool, so looking forward to cooling-off through the day and have the kids entertained,” she said.
“Hopefully they’ll be all tired out this afternoon.”
Crowds were slowly building at nearby Lake Parramatta where locals set up in shady spots and soaked in the water.
The popular jump rock was also getting some use.
In Homebush, long queues formed outside Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre where it edged close to 43C at 3pm.
The water slides, kids pool and Olympic sized swimming pool were at maximum capacity early.
Despite that, the hundreds gathered looking to beat the heat endured patiently in line for up to 30 minutes, waiting for others to leave so they could get in.
At nearby Flemington Markets shoppers stood at lines to buy fresh juice.
The open air market known for cheaper fresh produce still attracted hundreds of shoppers looking to escape the high food prices in the big grocery stores.
One shopper said the heat was not enough to deter her from coming.
“Sometimes we can’t afford to go to the supermarket. This is so expensive,” she said.
“But yeah, supermarkets in Flemington is good for us for the prices.”
Wollongong anticipates heat
By 7am on Saturday morning, North Wollongong was a difficult spot to find a car park as keen beachgoers took advantage of the cooler morning.
Jacqueline Rahme said she was aware of Saturday’s high temperature before travelling from her home in Bass Hill to Bulli beach.
“We thought it’d be a beautiful day to come out and hopefully be a bit cooler coming further [to the coast] and spend the day with the family,” she said.
Soaked from her ocean swim, Ms Rahme said she packed for the day according to the forecast.
That included putting her dog into daycare while she was out.
“We did anticipate [the heat] that’s why when we came out we brought a shelter and heaps of sunscreen … sunglasses, hat, all that.”
Before sitting down for lunch with her family under the gazebo they set-up, Ms Rahme said the heat wasn’t affecting her too much.
“I really wanted to go to the beach. I wasn’t going to say no to this setting.”
Water features keep north west NSW cool
In the state’s north west, the mercury climbed to 41C at Walgett and close to 38C at Tamworth.
For Ellen who moved to Tamworth from the Central Coast, the water feature in the local park isn’t the beach, but it was the next best thing.
“It’s a long day trying to keep the kids entertained, lots of water play,” she said.
“We miss the beach a lot, but we come to the [Tamworth Splashpad] and that’s the best way to stay cool.”
(ABC New England North West: Max Tillman )
Gurpreet arrived in Tamworth from Northern India two years ago, and said the biggest adjustment has been the heat.
“Working in this weather is impossible, it’s very hot,” he said.
“Where I came from is very similar weather but for the kids it’s very hard.”
He does have his own way of beating the weather.
“I just had an iced frappe, that keeps me relaxed,” he said.