If the forecast top of 38 degrees on Tuesday proves correct, it will be half a degree higher than Bathurst's hottest December day on record - 37.5 degrees recorded on December 31, 2005.

Temperatures of 30 and above and double-figure minimums are predicted for Bathurst from Sunday through to Thursday.

But there's no good news in the forecast for the region's parched paddocks and dwindling dams.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

No rain is expected over the next week, continuing a drier-than-usual start to summer.

While the Bureau of Meteorology has recorded 6mm of rain at its official weather station at Bathurst Airport in the first six days of December, next week's expected dry run will leave the region at long odds of reaching the long-term average December rainfall of 75mm.

Ben Chifley Dam is currently sitting at 38.1 per cent capacity and is dropping around one percentage point each week.