Sunday’s (March 18) temperatures topped the previous record of 37.6 degrees on March 9, 2004.

In an absolute scorcher, the temperature was 20 degrees by 8am.

By 9.50am it had topped 30 and by 11.35am was 35 degrees and kept rising, by 12.50pm it was 38 degrees.

It stayed above 30 degrees until 8.10pm and didn't significantly cool off until the southerly hit just before 9pm.

The strong northerly and nor nor westerly winds certainly kept the temperatures high with wind speeds regularly up to and past 30km/h, topping out at 56km at 3.20pm with gusts up to 70km/h at at the same time.

There was also regular gusts into the 50km range.

The temperatures were certainly well above the average March temperature of 25.1.

Sunday’s heat followed 32.5 on Thursday and 34 on Saturday.

Around the region Kiama also topped out at 39 degrees, Point Perpendicular registered 37 degrees and Ulladulla at 38 degrees.

There is relief in sight for the recent spell of hot weather.

Nowra is due to reach a top of 32 degrees on Monday, but will drop to 24 degrees on Tuesday with a 90 per cent chance of 5-10 millimetres of rain, 21 for Wednesday and Thursday with a chance of 1-5mm, 23 on Friday. It will warm up again on Saturday with 26 and 29 on Sunday.

The hot weather will certainly do nothing to relieve pressure on farmers who are again experiencing a dry period.

So far for March the area has recorded just 14.4mm of rain, well down on the average of 117.7

After a slow start, February just failed to meet its monthly average rainfall, recording 124.2mm compared to the average of 132.8.

The region is well down on its average rainfall up to this time of the year, with 207.8mm, compared to the average 323.8mm.

We are also well down on 2017 figures, up until this stage last year the region had received 487.8mm