The mercury peaked at 38.9 degrees at 1.19pm yesterday and despite a brief respite when the temperature dipped below 30 as a storm passed over it remained at 31 degrees at 8pm. Strong north-westerly winds added to the heat with gusts of up to 75km/h during the early afternoon.

The hot weather looks set to continue. Another warm day has been predicted, with a high of 33 degrees expected this afternoon. If reached, it would be the 14th day this month with temperatures above 30 degrees.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting only a brief respite from the 30-plus temperatures early next week before heatwave conditions return.

Meteorologist Sean Carson said Monday and Tuesday were likely to have temperatures in the mid 20s as a change moved through.

''Heatwave conditions could be continued some time in the near future unless we get a significant cool change pushing the hot air back over to the northern part of Australia,'' Mr Carson said.

Yesterday's heat has been equalled during November in Canberra only once in 1997.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times