Christmas Day 2022 weather: Penrith, Richmond to reach mid 30s as Sydney heat ups
Christmas Day in Sydney is expected to be a real scorcher, especially for those in the city’s west. Here’s the latest weather forecast leading up to the New Year.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney is bracing for a Christmas Day scorcher with blazing temperatures and sun-filled skies predicted for the weekend.
Temperatures are expected to reach the high-20s across the city at the end of the week while western suburbs will roast with the mercury expected to hit the mid-30s from Friday.
NSW’s coastal suburbs will remain overcast and cool with temperatures between 19 and 21 degrees until Friday, while city dwellers will experience a mild 25 degrees on Thursday.
The remnants of a cold front experienced last week are dwindling along the east coast as the weather stabilises, bringing warmer temperatures and pleasant conditions in time for the Christmas weekend.
“Since the cold front, we’ve had a continual southerly airstream. (The winds) are easing off on Wednesday and going easterly (as opposed to southerly),” BOM meteorologist Helen Kirkup said.
“It is most likely we will have a high-pressure system to the east of us, which kind of is a stable ridge right up the NSW coast.”
The new weather system coming through will drench Sydney with “more sunshine” and reward them with “stable weather” for the weekend and early next week.
Winds will blow north which are likely to heat up the city, but experts warn this could result in temperatures dipping at the beach.
“If you get persistent north-easterly winds … the temperatures at the beach gets colder,” Ms Kirkup said.
“North and north-easterly winds will push the surface water to the left, which is the warm stuff, leaving colder stuff to rise up, which is why sometimes the ocean feels cold.”
The slight drop in temperature is likely to be welcomed by beachgoers on Sunday with the mercury anticipated to peak at 28 degrees in the city, 27 degrees in Terrey Hills and 24 degrees in Bondi for Christmas Day.
Sweltering temps of 34 degrees are possible for Penrith and Richmond with light east to north-easterly winds blowing 20km/h to 30km/h.
Residents in Parramatta, Liverpool and Campbelltown will also cop the heat with a forecast of 31 to 33 degrees respectively.
Although Sydney is preparing for a hot and sunny Christmas Day, minimum temperatures could drop to the mid to high-teens across the region with experts warning the weather is subject to change.
Caravan park win overshadowed by ‘racist’ comments
Residents facing eviction from a caravan park have won a 12-month reprieve, but celebrations were marred after a councillor described Indigenous community members as “flame throwers” and “boomerangs”.
Union claims victory for doctors, psychs despite ‘no action’ order
NSW doctors and psychiatrists will not strike for three months after the union agreed to comply with earlier orders to stop industrial action, after thousands of doctors walking off the job this week for better wages and conditions.