Cool change brings relief in Sydney - The Australian

Record-breaking temperatures could hit parts of NSW, with the hottest spots expected to reach 47C. Source: AAP

A COOL change has swept across Sydney earlier than expected with temperatures dropping and the possibility of afternoon showers.

Sydney was set to sizzle on Saturday with predicted highs of 39C in the city and 45C in the west, but persistent cloud cover has kept temperatures down, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said.

Sydney airport recorded a maximum temperature of 31C before dropping to 25C by midday, while western Sydney hovered around the 29C-30C mark, forecaster Julie Evans told AAP.

"The cool change arrived in the Illawarra and Sydney a little earlier than expected," Ms Evans said.

"The cloud cover would have made a big contribution to it. We could actually expect a few showers this afternoon."

Newcastle and the Hunter region are instead expected to receive Sydney's predicted heat - with the Hunter Valley reaching over 40C before midday.

Elsewhere inland, temperatures were continuing to soar, with Bourke and Tibooburra still expected to be the hottest parts of the state at 47C.

Records could also be broken at Orange, Bathurst and Katoomba.

Orange is predicted to hit 38C, with the current record at 37.9C.

Bathurst could smash its current record of 40.1C, while Katoomba is predicted to reach 37C.

The current record there is 37.6C.

"These are all in the ballpark (to break records)," Ms Evans said.

There will be little immediate relief for firefighters battling bushfires, with temperatures expected to hit the late 30s and early 40s in parts of southern NSW, where severe fire danger ratings are in place.

Hot northwesterly winds of up to 50km/h could also exacerbate areas where fires are continuing to burn.