If you thought Saturday was a stinker, expect Sunday and Monday to try and prove you wrong.
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The mercury is expected to rise to a top of 34 on Sunday and 35 on Monday, continuing a heat wave forecast to plague the ACT and NSW for the next week.
Canberra reached a high of 32.4 degrees on Saturday as expected, leaving residents not already under the sun at Summernats to retreat to air conditioning or the nearest pool.
For Alice Springs locals Andrew Brookes, Kaitlin, Charlie, Tegan and Judy McGrath, the weather may have been comparatively balmy, but the family still made their way to the mist instalment in the National Gallery of Australia's sculpture garden.
The bureau says there might be a bit more than mist on Monday. It says there is a 60 per cent chance of rain, with the possibility of a thunderstorm in the afternoon or evening.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Neale Fraser said a lingering high pressure system in the Tasman Sea had contributed to the low-intensity heatwave.
"There's a hot air mass over central Australia that's more or less staying in place," he said.
"Generally there will be a low intensity heatwave across most of NSW and the ACT over the next week, though it will be worse further north."
A severe heatwave is forecast east and north of the ACT from Sunday through to Tuesday, though the area will return to normal after that.
In Canberra, Tuesday and Wednesday will be slightly cooler, at 33 degrees, before the temperature drops to 26 degrees on an expected Thursday as coastal winds push over the range.
There is a slight chance showers will accompany the cooler weather.
The reprieve will be short-lived, however, as forecasters expect the temperature to push back up to 35 degrees on Friday and 30 degrees on Saturday.
Those concerned about a good night's sleep need not worry, as the overnight temperatures will fall to the mid to high teens.
January has yet to best December's highest temperature of 34 degrees, while the heatwave predictions are far from the hottest January day on record: a 41.6 degree scorcher in 2013.
A high fire danger rating is in place for the ACT on Sunday, as are all NSW districts surrounding the territory.
Emergency services encouraged people to drink plenty of fluids and avoid staying out in the sun for prolonged periods.
