Sydney-siders sweltered through the warmest day of spring on Friday, before a roaring southerly change brought rapid temperature drops and a low scudding haze to the city and suburbs.

This southerly change, or ‘Southerly Buster’ made its way up the NSW coast during the day, with towns such as Moruya seeing the change by 10am. Around the middle of the day, the southerly gained pace as it swept through Ulladulla, Jervis Bay and Nowra.

While the southerly gained pace, Sydney sweltered in 33 degree heat, 13 above average and the hottest day since the the start of March.

Mid afternoon the change struck the already wind-battered Wollongong, with 76km/h gusts in the region. There was also an incredible temperature drop of 6 degrees in 60 seconds! This figure was recorded at Bellambi Point, which recorded a drop from 30 degrees to 19 in the space of just 10 minutes.

The southerly hit Sydney between 3.30 and 4pm, with gusts of 83km/h at the airport. The airport also had a temperature drop of nine degrees in nine minutes. By 5pm, the city was sitting on 18 degrees with a scudding haze of low cloud and sea spray, capping an incredible day of weather on the NSW coast.

– Weatherzone