According to Brett Dutschke, a senior meteorologist at www.weatherzone.com.au, the temperature is likely to be eight to 12 degrees above the average nightly temperature in most Central West cities, including Orange.

According to weatherzone, the mercury fell only as far as 16 degrees on Thursday night, which is nine degrees above the city’s average temperature for the month.

Saturday and Tuesday night aren’t expected to be too much cooler, with minimums of a balmy 14 degrees forecast.

The day-time temperatures in the next week will also be on the hotter side, with Monday (28) and Tuesday (26) set to be the warmest.

Mr Dutschke said some parts of the Central West are expected to experience a low-intensity heatwave.

“Anyone who is outdoors and in the sunshine doing strenuous physical work is at risk of heat stress,” he said.

“We do have a cooler change coming through on Friday night and Saturday. It will be initiated by showers and potentially severe thunderstorms tomorrow. 

“Days are still going to be warmer later in the weekend and into the next week. There is a stronger cooler change coming through mid-next week and that’s likely to coincide with more widespread rain.”

Mr Dutschke said a couple of days of rain for Orange is predicted, with a 90 per cent chance of between five and 20 millimetres on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The rain will bring down temperatures for a few days and nights - a relief from humidity on the weekend,” he said.