It will be the perfect start to the holidays for many, a stretch of hot days that will last right up until Christmas.

On Wednesday visitors to the capital cooled off at Kambah Pool, and top temperatures of 28 degrees and above are predicted for the next five days.

Christmas Eve is set to be a scorcher with a top of 35 degrees, but it is expected to cool a little on the big day itself with a top of 26 degrees and a shower or two.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Kenn Batt said the same hot air that caused a burst of warm, summery weather in Canberra a couple of weeks ago was heating up the capital again now.

"The warmer air didn't really leave the continent as such, it's sort of retreated back up into central Australia, and now with the north westerlies that we have had for a while it's just sort of transported that warmer air down," he said.

For those holidaying on the south coast, a top of 33 degrees is predicted at Batemans Bay on Christmas Eve, and 23 degrees on Christmas Day.

Mr Batt said there was the chance of a late morning storm in Canberra on Thursday, but it was still expected to reach a top of 32 degrees.

Boxing Day will be cooler, with the bureau predicting a maximum of 24 degrees.