The seven-day forecast for the city is only a slight improvement of the stifling end to December, with top temperatures hovering around 32-33 degrees Celsius.

The 80 per cent chance of up to 10 millimetres of rain on New Year’s Eve is the only real prospect of moisture in the coming week.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned the current weather pattern is a “very stable situation with not a lot changing”.

“Everywhere is pretty much going to be hot and we don't see a strong change coming yet,” said the BoM’s forecaster Nick Neynens.

Elsewhere in the Central West, Dubbo can expect temperatures of up to 40 degrees, with Bathurst looking at 37.