October heat records have been broken in several states this week as authorities in New South Wales prepare for temperatures above the norm to hit Sydney and the east coast of Australia.

The Queensland outback town of Birdsville broke a new record on Tuesday, hitting 46.1C at 2.28pm local time, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, making it the highest temperature recorded in the state in October. The state’s previous October record was 45.1C at Birdsville police station on 31 October 1995.

NSW also recorded its highest ever October temperature, with Bourke airport reaching 44.8C at 4pm local time on Tuesday. The previous NSW record for the month was 43.9C at Brewarrina on 31 October 1919.

The BoM on Tuesday forecast a Wednesday high of 38C for Sydney’s central business district

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