Hundreds of families lurched in bumper-to-bumper traffic to beat the heat and descend on the oasis of Maitland pool this long-weekend.
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The heatwave stretched across much of the state – a pendulum swing against the cold of the last week in September.
From Newcastle to Cessnock the mercury hit 34C on Sunday.
Ten days before it was only half that – 17C.
Weatherwatch expert Anthony Cornelius told the Mercury the dramatic temperature change was the result of a moderately strong westerly wind that kept October’s usually gusty sea breezes off-shore.
“It’s not quite El Nino related,” Mr Cornelius said.
“It’s more of a balancing out after the cold week at the end of September, but if we keep getting these events consistently, long term, it could be reflective of the El Nino.”
The average maximum for the Lower Hunter in early October is 25C but the record maximum is 39C.
“So today is up there, but it’s not near as hot as it can get,” Mr Cornelius said.
The heat is expected to stick around until Wednesday afternoon when a south-easterly will blow in from the coast and pull the temperature down to the low 20s by Thursday.
How did you beat the heat? Send your photographs to jessica.brown@fairfaxmedia.com.au
