The weather station at Sydney Airport hit slightly above 35 degrees just before midday, making the transport hub the hottest place in the country.
The heat was due to the Sydney basin being in a prime position to receive a wave of hot north-westerly winds from the nation’s interior, Weatherzone explained.
The rare moment was short-lived, however, as a cool change swept through Victoria and parts of NSW’s western and southern regions.
The heat began to dissipate when a southerly shift started moving up the coastline, reaching Sydney’s southern suburbs about 2pm and continuing to move in a northern direction.
Temperatures then dropped by more than 10 degrees in an hour, plummeting to 23 degrees in Sydney.
Further showers are expected across the city, including possible storms later tonight.
A strong wind warning was also issued at 4pm for parts of Sydney’s harbour and the coast.
The wet weather is expected to continue into tomorrow, with the chance of showers that are expected to clear later in the day.
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