Sydney and Brisbane brace for hottest weather in six months after massive storms

The nation’s east coast is bracing for a heatwave less than a week after copping torrential rain, hail, and storms.

Sydneysiders enjoyed a couple of days of heat in mid-September but a top of 28 degrees would be the city’s fourth warmest day since early April. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

The nation’s east coast is set to sizzle this week as a heatwave sweeps across New South Wales and Queensland.

Sydney was on Monday bracing for its hottest day in three weeks, while Brisbane residents could get their warmest weather since April, as the countdown to summer begins.

Sydney is expecting clear skies and a top of 28C on Monday, with the Bureau of Meteorology tipping temperatures to stay in the low-to-mid-20s all the way through to the weekend as a high pressure system moves across northern NSW.

Meteorologist Dean Narramore said it was a remarkable change from the torrential rain, hail – and even a tornado – that lashed parts of the east coast last week.

The Bureau of Meteorology tipping temperatures to stay in the low-to-mid-20s all the way through to the weekend as a high pressure system moves across Northern NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Mr Narramore said Brisbane and Sydney could thank a cold front moving across Victoria and Tasmania for the warm temperatures, with the system dragging warmer, westerly winds from inland and sending them on.

“Yeah it’s definitely a bit of a change from last week,” Mr Narramore said.

“That front is giving Sydney and Brisbane those warmer temperatures but it’s not bringing any of the weather with it.”

Sunset is a magical time to view a supercell. Taken at The Gums on the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia last Thursday.

Third and final supercell of the day. #Queensland#Australia#Storms#stormchaser#sunset@BOM_Qld@BOM_aupic.twitter.com/Dt3Zjg0lnv

— Justin Noonan (@NoonanJustin) October 3, 2021

Sydneysiders enjoyed a couple of days of heat in mid-September but a top of 28C would be the city’s fourth warmest day since early April.

The mercury is set to get even higher in the Sunshine State.

The Bureau is calling a maximum temperature of 32C for Brisbane on Monday – the warmest temperature in nearly six months – and a run of temperatures in the high 20s for the rest of the week.

Parts of Queensland are expected to get to 40C, with Mount Isa having reached 40.9C on Sunday.

This comes just days after heavy storms lashed Brisbane and a tornado ripped through the NSW Central West, causing destruction in Meadow Flat and Clear Creek near Bathurst.

The BoM says October to December maximum temperatures are likely to be above median for the far north of Australia extending down western Western Australia, southern Victoria, and extending just over the SA and NSW borders, and Tasmania.