<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335461</docID> <postdate>2024-12-17 14:25:36</postdate> <headline>Early summer swelter set to sizzle for days to come</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-335462" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241126123391638313-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1096" height="731" /></p> <caption>Heatwave conditions have cooled in some parts of Australia but are expected to persist in others. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Adrian Black and Melissa Meehan</b> in Melbourne</span></p> <p><strong>As much of southeast Australia breathes a sigh of relief after a short but intense heatwave, parts of NSW are bracing for 40C temperatures.</strong></p> <p>Extreme heat is predicted for parts of western Sydney on Tuesday, with Sydney Olympic Park reaching 35.1C by early afternoon, while Penrith and Richmond reached 38.6C and 38.9C.</p> <p>The scorching temperatures have sent thousands of people flocking to Bondi and other beaches to beat the heat.</p> <p>Richmond and Penrith are still likely to exceed 40C ahead of a gusty cool change expected on Tuesday night, senior forecaster Miriam Bradbury said.</p> <p>That cool change could bring severe storms with damaging winds, large hail and possible flash flooding.</p> <p>Temperatures pushed into the mid-40s in parts of NSW, Victoria, SA and Queensland on Monday in one of the hottest December days since 2019.</p> <p>A slight reprieve is expected for NSW on Wednesday with cooler conditions and showers expected before returning to warmer conditions on Sunday.</p> <p>Despite a cold front easing conditions in southeast Australia overnight, total fire bans remain in northwest Victoria and heatwave conditions are expected to linger for days in the NT and southern Queensland.</p> <p>Extreme conditions persist in Victoria's Wimmera Fire District after firefighters battled more than 40 grass and scrub fires in Cresswick near Ballarat, State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said.</p> <p>Residents near the 200ha bushfire at Cresswick were told to evacuate overnight but the situation had improved enough for the warning level to be downgraded to advice.</p> <p>A 10-year-old boy died in Mooroopna in the state's north on Sunday with reports had been playing in a car boot as temperatures reached 35C.</p> <p>Brisbane, Mackay and Townsville could face heavy rain and flash flooding, with isolated downpours of up to 250mm forecast.</p> <p>Insurers urge Australians to prepare for the season ahead, with NRMA research noting 42 per cent of wild weather claims it receives arrive in summer, retail claims executive general manager Luke Gallagher said.</p> <p>The data showed more than one in 10 Australians had returned from holidays to find their homes damaged by thunderstorms, hail, floods, wild winds or bushfire.</p> <p>While this week's heatwave was relatively short-lived for much of the nation's southeast, these events are expected to become hotter, longer and more frequent, according to Monash University associate professor Ailie Gallant.</p> <p>"These are some really hot temperatures for mid-December that we haven't had in quite a few years," Dr Gallant told AAP, noting the increased fire risk.</p> </body>