Parts of far northwestern New South Wales have been scorching in temperatures in the mid forties, as much as 10 degrees above average. By 3pm Sunday Bourke had reached 45.3 degrees, White Cliffs 44.3 and Tibooburra 43.8. This has been their hottest December day in 11 years (although all three places were hotter in November 2014). Thankfully for those having to work outside the northwesterly winds delivering this heat have been quite dry, making it feel as much as three degrees cooler than the actual temperature. A cooler change for much of the region will come in the form of showers and a thunderstorm later in the afternoon and evening. For those who don't get this cooling relief will have to wait until Monday or Tuesday when wind shifts southerly and combines with more widespread cloud and rain. Bourke should reach the low forties on Monday, the mid thirties on Tuesday and the low thirties on Wednesday. Forty-degree heat is unlikely to return until at least mid-December.