It will be all hands on deck at Maitland and East Maitland pools as city folk make their way to both centres to beat the heat.

The Bureau of Meteorolgy forecasts a top of 39 degrees on Friday for Maitland, prompting Hunter New England Health and the RSPCA to issue warnings.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Meteorology said temperatures will sit around the mid to high 30s until early next week, spiking on Friday with a forecast 39.

“Temperatures will fall into the lower 30s over the weekend then drop again early next week,” the spokesperson said.

“There will also be some thunderstorm activity over the next three days and this will be a familiar pattern for most of north eastern NSW. Those storms should clear by Friday,” the spokesperson said.

NSW Health is warning Maitland residents to prepare for the next three days. 

During extremely hot weather, it is easy to become dehydrated or for your body to overheat. If this happens you may develop heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heatstroke. If you suffer from any chronic health conditions, your condition may become worse during a period of hot weather. It is therefore important to plan ahead and be prepared to beat the heat.

Remember to drink plenty of water and keep cool. Exposure to high temperatures can make existing illnesses seriously worse and could trigger a heart attack, cause serious permanent injuries such as damaging the brain or other vital organs as a result of untreated heat stroke.

The RSPCA has also issued a warning to all pet owners and said it is vital that animals have constant access to both water and shade as heat stress can develop extremely quickly in hot weather.

“Owners need to ensure their pets are kept safe, cool and hydrated to avoid a cruel death,” said RSPCA chief veterinarian Dr Magdoline Awad.

“If dogs need to be kept outside a good idea is to leave a few bowls of cold water in the shade.”