The new year ferried in a maximum temperature of 31 degrees on Saturday, with tops in the 30s set to stretch through to Monday.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Wilke said a high pressure system in the southern Tasman Sea was driving the warm weather.

"That's helping to sort of drag in some warmer air from inland Australia," Mr Wilke said.

"So we have some warmer air that's coming in from inland Australia moving over the region. Temperatures generally for Canberra are sort of five to seven degrees above average range."

Locals gathered in the shade along the banks of Lake Burley Griffin to soak up some of the warmest weather this summer.

Kids splashed in the shallows, or paddled out on boards, while families could be seen setting sail.

The temperature is set to notch down somewhat from Monday, but not by much, Mr Wilke said.

"We're likely to see is a bit of an easterly change come through on Monday ... it's probably going to be a bit of a cooler change coming through," he said, noting the chance of showers through the week.

Rainfall for January was at this stage expected to be average, Mr Wilke said, though wet weather could pick up in February.

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