Australia Day revellers to sweat in Sydney as heatwave conditions descend

The record-breaking heatwave which crippled parts of Victoria and South Australia is now hitting Sydney, with temperatures in some parts to soar into the 40s.

At Parramatta in Sydney’s west, Australia Day festivities are already getting underway with big crowds starting to feel the heat.

The mercury is expected to climb throughout the morning until it hits a peak of 36 degrees around 2pm.

Penrith today will see temperatures as high as 38 degrees, with the extra humidity making it feel like the mid-40s.

Authorities are on high alert after a week of record-breaking heat across the state and blackouts in Victoria and South Australia.

Yesterday, Deniliquin in New South Wales’ Riverina region reached a peak of 48 degrees – the hottest temperature recorded in 113 years.

A cool change is expected to come this week however, bringing relief from the heatwave conditions.

Meanwhile, water-bombing helicopters have worked through the night to fight an out-of-control bushfire burning in Victoria's Gippsland region.

A watch and act message is currently in place for Butcher's Ridge, where firefighters are still trying to control a blaze.

A bushfire burning north of Timbarra has now been downgraded to advice level.

More than 800 homes remain without power in the Central Highlands of Victoria after yesterday's scorching heat.

Tens of thousands of properties were left without power yesterday when the mercury rose higher than 40 degrees.

The outages were a result of an Australian energy market operator ordering mandatory load shedding.

READ MORE: No compensation for 200,000 Victorian homes crippled by rolling outages

Energy providers are now working to get power restored to all affected customers.

In Tasmania, two homes were destroyed yesterday by a bushfire burning within 10km of the community of Geeveston, south-west of Hobart.

Melbourne will see a high of 25 degrees today, while Brisbane will reach a top of 33.

Perth will hit 32 and Adelaide 27. Hobart residents will enjoy a cooler 23 degrees and a late shower.

Canberra residents will swelter through 40 degree weather and a possible thunderstorm.

Darwin will reach 31 degrees and may also experience a thunderstorm.