Sydney weather to see temperatures hit 39C in west as heatwave continues, NSW premier warns of power shortage

Parts of Sydney's west are expected to hit almost 40 degrees Celsius today, marking the peak of the heatwave hitting eastern New South Wales this week.

Penrith and Richmond are both predicted to hit 39C by about 3pm, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

However, the BOM has also forecasted high temperatures for other parts of the city.

A severe heatwave warning currently remains in place across eastern NSW, with temperatures expected to soar up to 12C above average.

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NSW premier calls on Sydney residents to reduce power consumptions this afternoon

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has called on residents of Sydney to reduce their power consumption this afternoon, amid ongoing risks of power outages due to the heatwave gripping the east coast.

At a press conference, Minns said residents should avoid using larger appliances, in the hopes of reducing the risk of blackouts:

We are asking you not run your dishwasher, not to run your washing machine this afternoon, between three and eight, and you’ll be helping the grid.

We’re hoping that these measures reduce the amount of demand on the energy system over that crucial 3pm to 8pm period, and as a result, won’t lead to load shedding or blackouts.

But we’re monitoring the situation very closely and we’ll, of course, communicate with the public as soon as information is brought to hand.

The Guardian