If you thought Sydney had been warm over the past year or so, you’d be right.

Canberra has enjoyed a run of beautiful sunshine and light breezy weather this week and those hoping for a clear weekend may be in luck with a forecast of gradual heating over the next five days.

Ongoing record warmth in the world’s oceans has increased the likelihood that 2014 will be declared the hottest year since reliable data began more than a century ago, US and Japanese agencies say.

Lightweight, but also strong and easy to work with, timber enables faster construction times.

A windswept Canberra is in for a milder and calmer end to the week with above-average temperatures forecast for the weekend.