An air pollution alert has been issued for Sydney residents. The reason can be attributed to the high level of ozone in the atmosphere.
Sydney is expected to hit 31°C on Tuesday, while the mercury will settle around 37°C in the western suburbs.
Residents of NSW will experience the brunt of the hot weather, with the heatwave likely to intensify to severe or extreme levels reaching up to 45°C on Wednesday.
Sydney is also anticipated to witness poor air quality on Wednesday.
Ozone is an irritant secondary pollutant which forms as a result of chemical reactions between atmospheric gases and nitrogen oxides from car-vehicle exhausts on hot days. It worsens due to weak winds.
With temperatures, ozone production also increases. It forms more readily in summer and reaches its highest concentrations in the afternoon or early evening.
Moreover, weather experts have warned of a heightened risk of bushfires this week, urging farmers to protect their properties by putting in firebreaks around paddocks and other valuable assets.
Due to southeasterly winds pushing up the coast, weather conditions are expected to ease on Thursday and drop in temperatures around 27°C in Sydney and 30°C in the west can be expected.
This won't stay for long, as temperatures are likely to climb again on Friday and Saturday.
Image Credit: sydneyfuston.com
