Sydney is suffering from a record heatwave not seen in 165 years

Sydney has set a new weather record after temperatures soared above 30C for four consecutive days in March – the first time such an event has occurred in 165 years.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast Sydney would hit a high of 30C on Sunday while Penrith would get hot at 40C.

Richmond and Blacktown were also forecast to reach 39C.

The high temperatures are being caused by a low-intensity heatwave spreading across the region, which also includes some parts of south-east Queensland.

This was announced by senior meteorologist Felim Hannify of the Bureau of Meteorology NCA NewsWire The last time Sydney recorded such high temperatures in March was 1878.

Sydney has experienced its hottest March on record, with a record four straight days climbing around 30C

At that time, temperatures above 30°C were measured on three consecutive days.

“This is a record that has never been seen before,” said Mr. Hannify.

“Many people were nervous that the outlook for El Nino would change later in the year, but we’re already seeing an imprint of those temperatures.”

Observatory Hill station, near the southern end of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, has recorded the March average 2°C above the previous record of 27.1 degrees set in 2006.

The bureau is forecasting scattered gusty thunderstorms with little or no rain over the Southern Ranges and slopes of New South Wales.

It warns these conditions could exacerbate the already heightened risk of fire due to the region’s persistently hot, dry conditions.

Large areas of Victoria have already seen bushfires, but on a cooler day on Sunday, residents along the Surf Coast and Alpine region said the threat had receded.

Sky News Australia meteorologist Rob Sharpe said residents of New South Wales could also expect a cool change soon.

The hot weather has resulted in high bushfire hazards in NSW, with Victoria already seeing large areas set ablaze

“Wet weather will increase again,” he said.

“A cool change of pace traverses Victoria, Tasmania and up the New South Wales coast to reach Sydney on Sunday evening.

“It’s going to be significantly cooler on the New South Wales coast through Monday.

“We won’t see that kind of heat again until we’re at least into spring.”

Mr Sharpe said while the central and western parts of the state will continue to see high temperatures, rain is forecast for the coming week.

“We’ll be seeing almost daily showers in the east well into next week, so get ready for the wet weather,” he said.

“Despite the fact that La Nina is finished, that doesn’t mean the end of the wet weather.”

Mr Hannify said the system, which saw temperatures hit 43 in some parts of the inner west on Saturday, will continue to move towards the coast.

Sydneysiders seek a respite from the hot Sydney days at Bronte Beach on the east side of the city

“Temperatures went up again today, we had this weather system that came over the southern part of New South Wales,” he said.

“It’s pulling that heat further east today, that’s why you get almost 40 in the western suburbs because it’s being pulled closer to the coast today.”

Meanwhile, Melbourne is expected to hit a high of 21 degrees on Sunday, about three degrees cooler than the March average.

Brisbane is expected to hit a high of 32 degrees on Sunday.