Western Sydney is getting a taste of the heat that has baked much of inland New South Wales over the last week. The new year is off to a red hot start for swathes of western and southern New South Wales. On Friday temperatures soared to the mid forties in the Lower Western, reaching up to 48 degrees at Pooncarie. This was their hottest day since records began over a decade ago and is 12 above the monthly average. In the Upper Western, Wanaaring reached 46 which is 10 above average and the hottest day since November 2009. On Saturday it climbed to 47 at Wilcannia which was the hottest day in seven years. Further south in the Riverina, Hay reached 43 on Friday and a whopping 48 on Saturday. This is the hottest day in at least five years when records began and is 13 above average. Clear skies over the interior for the last two weeks have allowed such significant heat to build. An approaching low pressure trough has drawn the heat into New South Wales. For the most part the east of the state has been spared from such extreme heat. This is thanks to a high pressure system in the Tasman Sea directing cooler onshore winds over eastern New South Wales and holding back the heat. Western Sydney has had a taste of the heat on Saturday with temperatures reaching the high thirties and as much as nine above average. Penrith was the hottest place in the Basin reaching 39 degrees. The City itself warmed to 28. The extreme heat is expected to continue over the interior and western parts of the state. Places such as Bourke and Broken Hill are forecast to reach at least 40 degrees every day for at least a week. Although not as hot, the western suburbs of Sydney will also see a run of heat. Penrith is forecast to reach at least 30 degrees every day for the next week. Tuesday is likely to be hottest with the mercury set to climb past 40. On this day westerly winds are likely to hold out a sea breeze and allow the heat to make its way to the coast. Sydney should reach the mid-thirties, giving those on the coast a taste of the summer heat that much of New South Wales has been sweating through.