Mudgee received its share of record early-seasonal heat over the October Long Weekend as parts of Western Sydney scorched in 35 degree days.
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The first five days of October saw temperatures rise above 30 degrees, peaking on Sunday at 31.4 degrees.
During the same time last year the mercury didn’t rise above 29 degrees and didn’t reach it’s highest temp, 35 degrees, until the end of the month.
Mudgee is expected to receive another day above 30 degrees before a southerly change arrives on Thursday, bringing temperatures back down to 23 degrees.
The abnormal warmth is coming as inland regions rapidly dry out.
The combination of the strengthening El Nino in the Pacific and unfavourable conditions for rainfall generation from the Indian Ocean off north-west Western Australia are creating unusually dry conditions almost nationwide.
The Bureau of Meteorology, for instance, recorded almost no rainfall for Australia in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, with a similar forecast for Monday.
Last month was Australia’s third-driest September since records began in 1910, the Bureau of Meteorology said last week.
Mudgee has gone 27 days without rain, receiving just 3mm throughout the September – significantly less than the 26mm recorded in September 2014.
The bureau has forecast a chance of showers from Friday.
Hot stats
Wednesday - Min 12 Max 33
Partly cloudy. Winds northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h early in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching 21 to 31.
Thursday - Min 9 Max 24
Partly cloudy. Slight (20 per cent) chance of a shower about the Blue Mountains. Winds easterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 24.
Friday - Min 8 Max 27
Partly cloudy. Slight (30 per cent) chance of a shower in the south in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to high 20s.
Saturday - Min 8 Max 27
Possible afternoon shower.
Sunday - Min 9 Max 27
Possible shower.
