An intense heat trough over the country’s north-west may bring Australia’s first observation of 50-degree temperatures in 17 years, forecasters say.

The clean-up has begun after a severe hailstorm on Thursday battered parts of NSW, making whole neighbourhoods look like snowfields.

More than 30 mayors and councillors across Australia say they are “exhausted by the immediate costs and challenges” of recent natural disasters and have written to the government calling for stronger climate action.

Strong winds expected about parts of southeast New South Wales, including the wider Canberra region ahead of a cold front.

Another good beach day beckons for Sydney but not all stretches of sand are equal after the recent rains raise pollution risks.