Sydney's sweltering heat breaks colonial record
Sydney has experienced uncharacteristic sweltering temperature highs for the second day in a row, setting a new record since the 1800s.
The mercury exceeded 32 degrees Celsius in Sydney for the second consecutive day, a first for September since records began in 1858.
"Hot and dry desert air streaming across the state is responsible for the climate first," 7News meteorologist David Brown said.
"It's just another sign of a changing climate and a warming world."
While Sydney was basking in early summer heat, Melbourne copped a blast of polar air that fuelled heavy showers and caused destructive winds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour.
The change hit Melbourne at 3pm and will push through Sydney tomorrow morning as a vigorous southerly buster.
The scorching weather has left firefighters wary ahead of bushfire season.
Weeks out from the anniversary of last year's devastating Blue Mountains bushfires, which destroyed more than 200 homes, authorities are on high alert and say we should be too.
“If we have too many of the days we're expecting tomorrow and we'll obviously finding ourselves back in the thick of it," Deputy Commissioner of the RFS Rob Rogers said yesterday.
