Beach-lovers and sun-addicts will likely be happier than firefighters to learn this week's temperatures of 30-plus degrees indicate a hotter and drier end-of-year than average for the ACT.
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Canberrans enjoyed an end to a long weekend on Monday with the mercury hitting 31.7 degrees, the hottest day on record for this early in the season. Another 31-degree day is predicted for Tuesday as Canberrans return to work.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Christopher Webb's expecting Canberra's October to be warmer than it's 19.4 degrees average, be similar to recent years, and hover below its record high.
"This time last year we had a day of 27 degrees on the 5th [of October] and 28 on the 6th," he said.
"The highest October temperature was 33 in 1946. We might get close but it looks like we won't beat the record as far as highest maximum goes."
The hot spell's expected to calm on Wednesday (maximum of 23) with temperatures forecast in the mid-20s for the rest of the week... But it's likely to spring back up.
"We have an El Nino pattern at the moment and it's expected to persist throughout the late spring and summer, so there's a higher chance of drier and hotter conditions for the ACT," Mr Webb said.
"With El Nino you'd anticipate a worse-than-normal fire weather season."
This fire danger has already begun with the increased northerly winds over the start of the week, and a change tipped for Wednesday could also be bad for fires, with rain unlikely until the end of the week.
If you'd rather not drive hours to the coast for a dip in the sweltering heat, the ACT has you covered.
Kambah Pool on the Murrumbidgee River is a popular swimming, fishing and bird-watching spot, with a designated nudist section for free-spirits.
Explore further up the waterside and you'll find the scenic Pine Island Reserve, a family-friendly space with a playground, barbecues and picnic tables.
Uriarra Crossing and Swamp Creek, located where the Murrumbidgee River meets Uriarra Road, are also great for cooling off and canoeing.
On the outskirts of Canberra lies the Cotter Reserve, which has been updated to improve play areas, facilities and walking paths that overlook the nearby Cotter Dam. The shallow spot near Cotter Avenue is suitable for small kids.
Enjoy soaking up some sun in these swimming holes before it sneaks back down, as Mr Webb said warm days in Canberra don't necessarily mean warm nights.
"We're fairly early in the warmer weather so the nights are still quite long," he said.
"Because of this and because the air mass is dry, even though we're expecting warm days there is still plenty of time and scope for cooling overnight."
