While you're pulling on yet another jumper, spare a thought for Sydney - which has been sweltering its way through the hottest day on record - as temperatures reach nearly 46C.
By 14.55 local time (01.55GMT) the mercury nudged a high of 45.8C at the Australian city's Observatory Hill.
Stuff.co.nz reports the heat caused a rash of heat-related illnesses, transport chaos and even melting roads and ice rinks.
A gathering tries to keep cool in Sydney's searing heat
According to the Bureau of Meteorology the temperature is significantly higher than the 39 degrees it had originally forecast because an expected breeze has not moved onto the coast from the sea.
Heavy rain and damaging winds are apparently on the way, with warnings also in place for the NSW Central Tablelands and parts of the Hunter, Illawarra and Central West Slopes and Plains Forecast Districts.
Sydney Records Hottest Day
Sydney Records Hottest Day(01 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(02 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim and sunbake at Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(03 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim at Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(04 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(05 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(06 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(07 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(08 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(09 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim at Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(10 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim at Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(11 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(12 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(13 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People dive into Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(14 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim and sunbake at Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(15 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim and sunbake at Dee Why rock pool to beat the heat on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(16 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People sunbake and swim at Dee Why beach on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(17 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: A man fishes at Dee Why headland on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(18 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers watch Vampire Weekend perform at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sydney Records Hottest Day(19 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: People swim at Dee Why beach on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney temperatures reached 45.8 celcius degrees today, breaking the previous record of 45.3 set in 1939. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(20 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(21 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(22 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(23 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(24 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(25 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers pose at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(26 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs performs live on stage at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(27 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Festival goers enjoy water spray to cope with the high temperatures at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney(28 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: A festival goer performs athletic routines for the audience at Big Day Out 2013 at Sydney Showground on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival - Day 3(29 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: The Australian team rest after their match in the extreme heat against Tonga in the Men's Rugby Sevens during day three of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at St Ignatius College on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival - Day 3(30 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Charlotte Caslick of Australia feels the effect of the extreme heat in the Women's Rugby Sevens during day three of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at St Ignatius College on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival - Day 3(31 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 18: Members of the Australian team take a break from the extreme heat at half time in their game against Tonga in the Men's Rugby Sevens during day three of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at St Ignatius College on January 18, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival - Day 2(32 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 17: A general view of the Mens and Womens Basketball 3x3 during day two of the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Darling Harbour on January 17, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)