Beachgoers making the most of the heatwave at Manly Cove beach. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Penrith was the first suburb to hit 40 degrees at 12.30pm, with temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees in the CBD on Friday, which could make it the hottest November day since 1982.

Temperatures at Observatory Hill near the Sydney Harbour Bridge shot up by 7 degrees in 10 minutes when westerly winds arrived about 1.50pm. This sent the mercury soaring from 31 to 38 degrees, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told news.com.au.

The temperature is currently sitting around 40.8 degrees and needs to reach 41.8 degrees to match the November record.

The Penrith record, which was set last year, was 44.9 degrees.

Social media is embracing the soaring temperatures, cooling off with hot weather jokes.

The state’s peak medical body has warned people to drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous tasks.

“Heatwaves like the one we’re seeing today can cause serious harm to people through heatstroke and dehydration,” AMA state president Saxon Smith said on Friday.

“It’s especially important for people with chronic health conditions to be careful during heatwaves.”

Others warned people not to forget native animals also suffering from the heat and said water should be left out for them.

A late gusty change is expected to bring some relief after days of extreme heat, with a maximum of just 23 forecast on Saturday.

Total fire bans have been extended from the Riverina region, in the south of NSW, to the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Ranges as well as the Mallee in Victoria’s north.

Rural Fire Service spokesman Ben Shepherd said a total fire ban would have been applied to parts of Sydney and other parts of NSW if it hadn’t rained in recent weeks.

“It’s been the saving grace during this heatwave,” he said on Thursday night.

However, the heat won’t last long with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a severe weather warning this morning with a cold front forecast to cross parts of NSW with strong north-westerly winds. Gusts of up to 90km/h could hit Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and other parts of the state’s south during the late afternoon and evening.

SLIP, SLAP, SLOP

Vanessa Rock, skin cancer prevention manager at Cancer Council NSW said the average Australian burnt in about eight minutes on really hot days.

Although beachgoers might seem most at risk, she said they usually were prepared for the sun. It was the unprepared who were at risk.

“If you’re planning a day at the beach people tend to use sun protection but we’re now seeing more Australian adults getting sunburnt doing the gardening, reading a book outside or taking the dog for a walk because people are forgetting this can still lead to intense sun exposure.”

People relax on Manly wharf as temperatures soar over 35 degrees. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Only taking precautions on sultry days was a mistake as even cooler days could have high UV levels which cause the most damage, she said.

“UV levels are likely to be extreme and if you need to be outside you should have clothing and a hat and for those parts you can’t cover use sunscreen. But really question why you’re out at all.”

The message from the National Roads and Motoring Association’s safety expert Jack Haley was simple — keep it cool.

“Keep an eye on the engine temperature gauge in your car — if it starts to move towards hot pull over and let the car cool down and/or call NRMA,” he said.

There has already been an increase in the number of people admitting themselves into hospital emergency departments due to kidney stones.

“We already have a few in ER now,” Professor Gordian Fulde, the head of the emergency at Sydney’s St Vincent’s hospital told news.com.au

“Kidney stones one of the first instances we know it’s going to be a hot day because people don’t drink enough fluids and stones form and it’s extremely painful.”

PETS DO IT TOUGH

“Keep yourself hydrated, preferably with plain water. Try not to carry pets at all unless you are going to have the air conditioning on the whole time and don’t leave pets alone in a car.

“Dogs suffering from heat stress may pant, drool and become restless. Over time, they become weak and the colour of their gums may change. They may also start to stagger and experience vomiting, diarrhoea or seizures,” said Mr Haley.

Head nurse at Summer Hill Village Vets, in Sydney’s inner west, Sindy Houang, said pets suffered on hot days particularly in suburbs away from the cooling winds of the coast.

“Pets are actually a lot worse than us in the heat. They can’t sweat like we do, they sweat through panting and through their paws so it takes them a lot longer to cool down and, of course, they’re covered in fur.”

Jake the Jack Russell takes on some fluids to beat the heat.Source:News Corp Australia

Ms Houang advised leaving the air conditioning on at home or windows open to get some air into the house. Providing lots of water and popping a few ice cubes in their water bowl would help them manage with the conditions, she said.

“If they’re going be outside ensure they have and water and a lot of people fill one of those shell swimming pools with freshwater so they can have a drink and a cooling lie down.”

Prof Fulde said elderly people were smartening up to the heat but in the past “there used to be whole convoys of ambulances with people that had fainted.”

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

“We still get people who really are not thinking,” he said. “They go to the beach, they get sunburnt and headaches from being in the heat far too long.”

Prof Fulde advised staying indoors with the air conditioning on or, failing that, taking a trip to the local shopping centre or cinema to escape the heat.

Indeed Event Cinemas told news.com.au they generally saw a spike in admissions in wet weather and heatwaves as people sheltered from this elements.

However, Prof Fulde said he was expecting a busy time with a heatwave falling on a Friday. “Lots of young testosterone-positive males is usually not a good combination with the heat with people usually lose their tempers,” he said.

“I bet you a chocolate ice cream there will be more people in emergency.”