![People at Surf Beach in Kiama. Picture by Wesley Lonergan People at Surf Beach in Kiama. Picture by Wesley Lonergan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yqbYpxNMru7TBX8VR5QF63/f8baf24e-788d-415a-b770-d862c496a97c.jpg/r0_186_3648_2245_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Temperatures will soar to 40 degrees in the Illawarra and a heatwave warning upgraded to severe, but there will be no changes to patrol hours at pools and beaches.
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It may be summer but the region is about to experience temperatures around 15 degrees hotter than average for December.
Saturday will be the hottest day with the mercury to reach 40 degrees in Albion Park and 38 in Wollongong and Kiama.
Friday will also be well above average with 32 degrees predicted in Albion Park, 30 in Wollongong and 29 in Kiama.
The mean maximum temperature for December is 25.5 degrees, 23.9 and 24.3 respectively.
Earlier this week, a low-intensity heatwave was predicted to hit the Illawarra, but early Wednesday morning this was upgraded to severe.
Extra lifeguards will be on patrol at Wollongong's beaches and pools on Saturday, but patrol hours will not be extended there or in Kiama council area.
A Shellharbour council spokeswoman said they're monitoring the situation.
"A decision about whether to extend beach patrols and/or extend pool hours will be based on afternoon forecasts and the number of users on each of the days," she said.
![Heatwave map for NSW. Image by Bureau of Meteorology Heatwave map for NSW. Image by Bureau of Meteorology](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yqbYpxNMru7TBX8VR5QF63/cedbb59f-aae3-4524-85cf-3c2920aa940f.png/r3_70_620_564_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Weather forecasting shows severe heatwave conditions will extend across much of NSW this week.
"Heatwave conditions expected to peak towards the end of this week," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
"Heatwave conditions expected to ease from the southwest over the weekend with a cooler change moving through."
Police have called for calm amid the soaring temperatures and health authorities have issued a series of safety messages.
Firefighters on high alert for areas in the northern Illawarra and some grassland areas.
While the predicted temperatures are very hot, they are still a few degrees off the hottest ever December days recorded of 43.4 degrees in Albion Park, 39 in Kiama and 38.3 in Bellambi.
In Kiama, lifeguards will return to patrolling seven beaches in the local government area on December 18.
Health safety tips
- Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day.
- Keep your home cooler by using air-conditioning or electric fans and closing doors, windows, blinds, and curtains.
- Limit your physical activity to early in the morning when it's coolest.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water regularly. If your doctor has restricted your fluid intake, ask them about how much you should drink when it is hot.
- When outdoors, apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses and a wide brim hat to protect your eyes, face, and scalp
- Seek out cool places or air-conditioned public facilities in your local area, if you can safely travel without getting too hot
Beach safety tips
- Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe website or app
- Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
- Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
What is a heatwave?
A heatwave is when the maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot over three days. This is compared to the local climate and past weather.
"It takes more than a high daily maximum temperature to make a heatwave. It's also about how much it cools down overnight," the Bureau of Meteorology says.