Emergency services warned people to take care of the elderly and to stay indoors if possible. "Importantly, motorists are reminded it is never OK to leave children, the elderly, or pets unattended in a car, even with the airconditioning running. Not only is this dangerous, but it can also be deadly," NSW Police said in a statement. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Maroubra Beach was closed on Thursday for the second consecutive day due to rough east to south-easterly swells but, by midday, it had reopened. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage issued an ozone pollution alert on Thursday morning, warning for the second day air that quality levels were "poor".

The air quality was upgraded to "fair" at 4pm on Thursday. The early forecast for New Year's Eve in Sydney is 32 degrees in the city with a slight chance of a shower later in the day. People cool off in the ocean at Bondi Beach on Boxing Day. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Nation faces heatwaves and cyclones The capital cities also battled extreme heat, with Adelaide closing in on 40 degrees and Melbourne 38 on Thursday.

Loading Other parts of Australia are also sweltering, prompting fire danger warnings across Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. Between heatwaves and possible floods, fires and cyclones, there's little good news in the national weather forecast for the final days of the year. The mixed bag of predictions is set to see temperatures soar well above average and rainfall records continue to tumble. Severe heatwave conditions are on the cards for the NSW south-east, while the mercury is expected to reach 41 degrees in the central west and 44 degrees in the Riverina.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that much of southern Australia can expect temperatures 10-14 degrees higher than usual for this time of year. Extreme temperatures sweeping across Victoria could keep emergency services on their toes. Hot, dry conditions mean severe fire danger warnings are in place for the Mallee, Wimmera and northern country districts, including Mildura, Swan Hill, Kerang and Echuca where the temperature could reach 44 degrees. By midday on Thursday, the temperature had already reached 44.5 degrees at Port Augusta, in central South Australia. Catastrophic bushfire conditions have been declared for South Australia's mid-north on Friday with authorities warning some properties could be impossible to defend.

Another five South Australian districts will experience extreme conditions and three will be severe. A combination of heat, strong winds and dry lightning has prompted the Country Fire Service to put all crews on standby along with its full complement of firefighting aircraft. "In some areas of the state, conditions will be that bad it will be possible that it's not safe to stay and defend," CFS duty commander Nick Stanley said. "If you have a bushfire survival plan and your plan is to leave, make those arrangements now rather than leave it to the last minute when it could potentially be too late and your life could be put at risk." Queenslanders could soon be bracing for the first cyclone of the season, as a monsoon trough develops over the north of the continent.

The state is set to see the most variety in conditions with pre-New Year's Eve temperatures, ranging from 32 degrees and sea breezes on the Gold and Sunshine coasts, warming to 38 degrees around Gatton, Toowoomba and Warwick. Those west and north-west of Darling Downs will want their airconditioners at the ready as temperatures reach in excess of 40 degrees, and the Bureau of Meteorology has warned no real sign of relief is in sight. December monthly rainfall records have already been shattered in the far north, but more "significant falls" are expected in coming days, prompting a major flood warning for the Daintree River and flood watches for the Mossman, Mulgrave and Russell rivers. Sections of regional Western Australia hovered above 45 degrees on Thursday with Marble Far in the Pilbara region recording temperatures of 48 degrees just after 1pm. With AAP

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