While most Canberrans seek out south coast beaches for a break from the heat, our coastal cousins might be looking to head inland for some relief on Tuesday.
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As the capital prepares for a fifth consecutive day above 35 degrees, with a forecast top of 38 degrees, Batemans Bay looks to sizzle all the way up to a maximum of a scorching 43 degrees, which is less than 2 degrees shy of its record top of 44.8.
According to Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Rebecca Kamitakahara, the same hot air that will pass through the ACT from the north-west on Tuesday will heat up further as it heads over the ranges and down to the coast, a phenomenon known as adiabatic compression.
"The reason that there is the spike in temperatures along the coast, it's related to the affect of downslope winds," Ms Kamitakahara said.
"When it descends the pressure increases. Because the pressure increase and the air is compressed, it warms."
Ms Kamitakahara said the heat would be felt right up the coast, with Sydney also forecast to reach a top of 43 degrees - the third-warmest top temperature on record.
But a southerly change would make its way up the coast through the morning and afternoon, helping keep Bega and Merimbula's top temperatures to 35 and 30 degrees respectively on Tuesday.
The cool air is forecast to hit Batemans Bay early in the evening, and will see the coastal town's forecast maximum drop 19 degrees to a top of just 24 on Wednesday.
The same southerly change will be much weaker in Canberra, pushing temperatures down as far as 31 degrees on Wednesday and 29 on Thursday before forecast tops of 35 and 36 on Friday and Saturday.
