Extreme heat continues to melt Sydney this week, as another hot day looms across the coast, with humidity levels rising to 83 per cent.
Wednesday will reach a top of 31 degrees across the city. Thursday won’t see much relief, with a predicted top of 32 degrees – also hot and sunny.
But if you thought this was unbearable, there’s more to come. Temperatures will peak on Friday, at a sweaty high of 34 degrees.
The early start to 2019 is already showing some signs of record-breaking figures, as NSW had its sixth driest year on record last year. Rainfall totals were the lowest since 2005.
To make matters worse for athsma and hayfever sufferers, a poor air quality alert has been issued.
Ozone levels are likely to rise this afternoon due to a combination of heat and sunlight.
NSW Health advises people to limit time spent outdoors, as high ozone air pollution hovers.
Director of Environmental Health, Richard Broom says because ozone can irritate the lungs, people with asthma need to have their relieving medication with them.
“Ozone levels are higher outdoors than indoors, and generally highest in the afternoon and early evening, so limiting time outdoors during the heat of the day and in the evening helps people to not only keep cool but to limit their exposure to ozone pollution,” Dr Broome said.
“People with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are especially vulnerable to the health effects of ozone,” he said.
“Anyone experiencing severe respiratory distress should seek immediate medical help.”
Rain might seem a distant memory, but there is a 50 per cent chance of falls on Saturday afternoon and evening. But it won’t get much cooler in the early part of the weekend, with temperatures still packing a punch at 29 degrees on Saturday.
