After Western Sydney baked in temperatures up to around 43 degrees Celsius on Christmas Eve, the 17 degrees drop overnight was a welcome gift to wake up to on Christmas Day after a late-afternoon thunderstorm cooled the mercury.

Temperatures kept cool over the day, with the City reaching 23 degrees Celsius and Western Sydney reaching 26 degrees Celsius in Penrith.

Frantic Boxing Day sale shoppers will be relieved that the weather will stay largely the same, as the cool and grey conditions will be welcoming for shopping centre and movie theatre goers across the state.

Temperatures will remain consistent out West, or only slightly rise as it will do in the city to about 24 degrees Celsius.

Things will heat up again heading into the final days of the year, with temperatures soaring to 31 and 35 degrees Celsius in Sydney and Parramatta respectively. Penrith will be even hotter at 38 degrees Celsius.

Thursday and Friday are the two likeliest days to see a break in grey conditions this week, with clearing skies and very low chances of rain according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Conditions are not expected to improve next week into the New Year, with Sydney expecting a 70% chance of exceeding median rainfall levels in January, as well as cooler temperatures during the day and nights.

Showers and cooler weather are expected again this weekend, with temperatures dropping below 30 degrees Celsius in Sydney and out West.

Despite the forecasted conditions, the Bureau of Meteorology believes there is still some hope for better conditions before New Year’s Eve, adding it could still change.

“At this time of year, and with this type of weather; it’s very unpredictable,” a spokesman said.