Sydney hits 30C after long cold spell

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Sydney hit its hottest day in 331 days on Wednesday, with mercury above 30 degrees Celsius in many parts of the city.

The maximum temperature had been below 30 degrees Celsius since February 21 last year. This is the longest streak of low temperatures since a 339-day record was set in 1883.

The run came to an end when Sydney’s Observatory Hill hit 30.2C on Wednesday, officially breaking the day-long run of under 30C.

“At about 2:30 p.m. we hit 30 degrees … that record run has come to an end,” Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Patch Clapp told AAP.

It was even hotter in western Sydney, with 35.1 degrees in Penrith and 34.9 degrees in Richmond.

Krupp said that until recently, the high temperatures were tempered by easterly winds and increased rain and clouds across the city.

A third straight year of La Niña was also a factor, he said, due to a weather phenomenon known to result in wet and windy summers.

The National Forecaster earlier this week said he expected a La Niña to persist but weaken from its peak and return to neutral conditions in February.

Clapp said Sydney’s heat won’t last long and a change in cold weather will push mercury down to the mid-20s on Thursday.

“There’s a front across the state… it’s closing in on Sydney,” Mr Clapp said.

The BoM predicts possible morning showers and possible thunderstorms in Sydney on Thursday.