A mass of hot air from the middle of Australia swept across the Illawarra on Sunday, sending temperatures soaring to record-breaking highs for this time of year.
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In the water or under the air conditioner were the places to be as the mercury climbed to more than 14 degrees above the March average in some areas.
The temperature hit 39.6 degrees in Albion Park about 4pm on Sunday, delivering the suburb its hottest March day in 17 years of records.
The previous March high was 38 degrees in 2004; the long-term March average maximum is 25.2 degrees.
Read more: Bushfires threaten homes on Far South Coast
Conditions weren’t much cooler on the coast, with Bellambi recording a top of 37.6 degrees about 6pm. It wasn’t quite the forecast 39-degree top, but did surpass the suburb’s previous March record of 37.1 degrees from 2004. Weather records at Bellambi go back 20 years.
A NSW Rural Fire Service-issued total fire ban remained in place for the Illawarra/Shoalhaven until 11.59pm on Sunday.
A number of homes were reportedly lost in a bushfire near Tathra on Sunday afternoon.