THE Hunter sizzled on Saturday as the heatwave struck the region and it is only expected to get worse with many locations forecast to hit 40 degrees on Sunday.
Newcastle, Maitland, Singleton, Scone and locations all the way down to the Central Coast are expected to surpass the 40 degrees Celsius mark on Sunday, according to The Bureau of Meteorology.
On Saturday many locations skimmed under 40 degrees, including Nobbys which hit 37.6, Cooranbong at 39, Cessnock reached 39.2, Singleton recorded 38.5 and both Scone and Maitland hit 39.
While on the Central Coast it was the Gosford weather station which recorded 40 degrees Celsius.
Hunter residents swarmed to the region's beaches, but getting across the scorching sand made it difficult to cool down.
Newcastle's first grade cricket matches went ahead in the hot conditions with Charlestown taking on Waratah-Mayfield at Kahibah Oval in day one of a two-day match.
The severe weather conditions have been brought by a trough of low pressure crossing the western parts of the state, and heading towards the northeast.
A total fire ban remains in place.
Ahead of another day of severe conditions Hunter New England Health has urged people to take precautions.
They suggest avoiding the heat of the day by staying indoors and keeping cool by using air-conditioning, fans and drawing blinds and curtains closed
Keeping hydrated and checking on the welfare of vulnerable neighbours, friends and family.
"Signs of heat related illness include dizziness, tiredness, irritability, thirst, fainting, muscle pains or cramps, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, vomiting and confusion," a Hunter New England Health statement said.
"People showing severe signs should seek urgent medical attention and, in an emergency situation, call Triple-0."
The bureau has forecast a cool and gusty southerly change in the wake of the trough, bringing temporary relief from the heat in many areas on Sunday afternoon.
A new high will follow behind the trough moving over the Tasman Sea by Monday, bringing more settled conditions to the region, before temperatures increase again on Tuesday ahead of the next change.
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