Sydneysiders have been warned to brace for temperatures as high as 30C this weekend, with forecasts that spring records could tumble. 

Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the temperature could reach 30C on Saturday.

‘If it does reach 30C, this would be the city’s first 30C day in six months,’ he said. 

‘It would make Saturday only the fifth time in 168 years of records that Sydney has hit the mark this early in the warming season.

‘In records dating back to 1859, Sydney’s Observatory Hill weather station has only reached 30C three times in August and once during the first five days of September.’ 

Mr Domensino put the heat event down to two low pressure troughs passing through the state.

‘It will cause westerly winds to push warm inland air towards the coast,’ he said. 

‘These warm westerlies will cause two rounds of warm weather in Sydney, first on Wednesday and Thursday and then again on Saturday.

Sydneysiders have been warned to brace for temperatures as high as 30C this weekend, with forecasts that spring records could tumble

‘While this warm weather pattern is not unusual in spring, it is being supported this week by a negative Southern Annular Mode (SAM), a broad-scale Southern Ocean climate driver that promotes dry and warm westerly winds over eastern Australia.’ 

After a high of 28C on Wednesday and 27C today (Thursday), Sydney’s temperature is expected to be cooler on Friday, reaching just 23C. 

Saturday’s forecast temperature is well above Sydney’s September average maximum of 20C. 

The hot weather is not limited to Sydney, with Brisbane also forecast to reach over 30C all weekend.

Today’s high in Brisbane is 31C, with 32C forecast for Friday, 31C on Saturday and a rise to 35C on Sunday. 

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said the readings were unusually warm at this time of year.

‘We’re expecting the maximum temperatures to be between 4C to 6C above average really across eastern districts,’ she said.

‘We’ve got these westerly winds that are pushing much drier conditions and some heat that’s built up over the eastern part of the state.’

After a high of 28C on Wednesday and 27C today (Thursday), Sydney’s temperature is expected to be cooler on Friday, reaching just 23C 

She also said the heat would remain until at least next week. 

‘We’re expecting those warmer temperatures to persist into early next week, with cooler air not expected to arrive until next week,’ Ms Scully said.

The forecast heat comes after Sydney recorded its warmest winter on record, with an average winter temperature this year of 15.29C. 

Mr Domensino said a lack of strong cold fronts during winter allowed temperatures to remain well above average.

‘A lack of strong cold fronts passing over southeastern Australia during the last three months allowed temperatures to run well above average throughout winter,’ he said.

‘While there were still periods of cold weather, there was a noticeable absence of polar outbreaks and prolonged cold spells this season.’

Sydney

Temperatures of up to 30C are forecast for Saturday, and if reached, records would be broken

Thursday: Max 27C. Sunny. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the evening then westerly 15 to 20 km/h late evening.

Friday: Min 13C. Max 22C. Sunny. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting north to northeasterly midday then light in the evening.

Saturday: Min 15C. Max 31C. Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower in the afternoon or evening. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h increasing to 40 to 50 km/h morning then westerly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening.

Brisbane

Thursday: Max 31C. Sunny. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h early afternoon then light in the evening. 

Friday: Min 17C. Max 33C. Sunny.

Saturday: Min 16C. Max 31C. Sunny. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h afternoon then light in the evening.

Melbourne

Thursday: Max 17C. Cloudy. High chance of showers, less likely in the afternoon. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h midday then light in the evening.

Friday: Min 8C. Max 18C. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers in the evening. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning.

Saturday: Min 14C. Max 19C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers morning and afternoon. Chance of thunderstorm in the afternoon. Winds northerly 25 to 35 km/h turning westerly 25 to 40 km/h afternoon then decreasing to 20 to 30 km/h in the evening.

Adelaide

Thursday: Min 17C. Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, less likely afternoon. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light early afternoon.

Friday: Min 11C. Max 21C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely from the late morning. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h from midday.

Saturday: Min 12C. Max 17C. Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h tending westerly 30 to 45 km/h during the morning then tending southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening.

Perth

Thursday: Max 20C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then tending westerly 20 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon.

Friday: Min 12C. Max 20C. Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h tending southwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the evening.

Saturday: Min 10C. Max 19C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon.

Canberra 

Thursday: Min 18C. Sunny. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the late evening.

Friday: Min 5C. Max 18C. Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.

Saturday: Min 6C. Max 19C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Winds northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h.

Hobart

Thursday: Min 14C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, becoming less likely in the evening. Possible small hail. Winds westerly 25 to 40 km/h.

Friday: Min 8C. Max 15C. Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.

Saturday: Min 9C. Max 15C. Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the evening.

Darwin 

Thursday: Max 33C. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the afternoon. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.

Friday: Min 22C. Max 33C. Slight chance of a shower in the early morning. Mostly sunny day. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.

Saturday: Min 23C. Max 32C. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then turning west to northwesterly during the afternoon.