Extreme weather conditions are expected to sweep across four states over the next few days with the mercury rising above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas.

It won’t get that hot in Bathurst, but a forecast top of 37 on Friday will put the region within striking distance of the region’s hottest December day – the 37.2 degrees recorded on December 21, 2013.

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And that forecast high point will come in the middle of a run of 30-plus temperatures that started in Bathurst on Christmas Day.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s official weather station at Bathurst Airport recorded a top of 30.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, followed by 31.6 at 5pm on Boxing Day (Wednesday).

The mercury will really rise over the next few days with forecast tops of 36 on Thursday, 37 on Friday, 36 on Saturday and 35 on Sunday.

New Year’s Eve (Monday) is expected to be another hot one with a top of 33 while the forecast for new year’s Day is more of the same and a maximum of 35.

The long-term average December maximum in Bathurst is 26.6 degrees Celsius.