The Hunter region is in the grip of a severe and dangerous heatwave, with residents warned to brace for extreme temperatures that will soar well above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas this weekend.
Mercury Soars Across the Region
By 10am on Friday, December 19, 2025, the temperature in Newcastle had already climbed above 32 degrees despite a light coastal breeze. The city was forecast to hit 35 degrees by 1pm. The situation was even more intense further inland, where areas up the valley were passing 35 degrees by 11am and marching towards stifling predicted maximums as high as 43 degrees.
The searing heat was expected to peak on Friday before slightly milder conditions moved in on Saturday, with tops around 30 degrees forecast for Newcastle. However, inland areas will see little reprieve, with temperatures due to remain in the high 30s before climbing back into the mid-40s on Sunday.
The coast will also heat up again, with Newcastle and Port Stephens expecting tops of 36 degrees on Sunday. The early forecast for next week predicts continued high temperatures inland, while the coast could see a much cooler Christmas Day with maximums as low as 23 degrees and possible showers.
Lifesavers on High Alert for Beachgoers
With a surge of people expected to head to the coast to escape the heat, volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards are out in full force. Surf Life Saving NSW has issued a strong safety warning to swimmers.
CEO Steve Pearce emphasised the critical importance of swimming at patrolled locations. "We strongly encourage people venturing to our coastline, be it today or into the weekend, to visit a beach where they see the red and yellow flags flying and our lifesavers and lifeguards are on duty," Mr Pearce said.
The warning comes amid a concerning rise in coastal drownings. Since July 1, 2025, there have been 19 coastal and ocean drownings in NSW, up from 13 at the same time last year. Alarmingly, all incidents occurred at unpatrolled locations, outside patrol hours, or away from the safety flags.
"Over 1000 volunteer lifesavers will be out in full force across the weekend, supported by our fleet of Inflatable Rescue Boats, jet skis and UAVs," Mr Pearce added, noting that this weekend marks the start of the busy holiday season for many.
Health Warnings and Weekend Outlook
Authorities are reminding residents that severe heatwaves pose significant health risks, particularly for the elderly, babies, children, pregnant women, and people with existing medical conditions. Everyone heading outdoors is urged to slip, slop, slap due to extreme UV conditions forecast for much of the weekend.
The weather is expected to be mostly sunny with light winds on the coast, while inland areas face a small chance of storms throughout the weekend. The combination of extreme heat and increased holiday activity has created a potentially hazardous situation that emergency services and health officials are closely monitoring.
