Elderly people and children are being urged to avoid physical activity and stay hydrated as scorching temperatures hit parts of Australia.
NSW sweltered through the beginning of its hottest weather in two years today as the mercury hit 40C in Sydney's western suburbs.
Cool sea breezes kept the temperature in Sydney's eastern suburbs to the low 30s but out west it reached 40C in Penrith, 39C in Richmond and 38C in Parramatta.
The sweltering heat in NSW is expected last for most of the week, while Perth is forecast to have its own heatwave with temperatures peaking at 37C on Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures in Brisbane are expected to remain relatively comfortable in the late 20s.
The NSW Ambulance Service has advised people to stay in the shade as much as possible and drink plenty of water during the heatwave.
An ambulance spokeswoman said paramedics were being called out to a lot of heat-related incidents including fainting and heat exhaustion.
"We are getting an increase of jobs because of the summer and we always do," she said.
BoM senior forecaster Neale Fraser said the NSW heatwave was caused by a warm air mass coming down from the centre of Australia.
He said hot temperatures were expected to last for most of the week despite a cool front moving through on Wednesday.
"The air mass has some impact on the south but for most areas these cold fronts don't have much impact so it will remain quite hot," Mr Fraser said.
"Right through the week (we're) expecting it to be quite hot over the inland areas.
"Generally it will go between the mid 30s when it's a milder type of day to the high 30s and low 40s, but the coast can vary and drop to the low 20s."
The ambulance service also reminded people not to leave children shut in a hot car and said mothers who are breastfeeding should feed their babies more often.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include vomiting, fainting and dizziness and anyone affected should rest and use wet towels to cool down.
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