Jyväskylä's first day not to go above zero, grim forecast for Sydney

Temperatures didn't rise above 0C in Jyväskylä yesterday for the first time since March 26. Two minimums around -7C for October 20 and 21, with a maximum right on 0.0C for the latter, presented that familiar chill of winter in the air for those in Jyväskylä.

Only in 2010 out of the last 5 years was a maximum of 0C or lower experienced this early. October 15 was the occasion that year. There is a still some snow around in Jyväskylä from last week's fall although it looks as though it will disappear in the coming days. Temperatures are predicted to rise to 9C by tomorrow evening and up to 10C or maybe 11C on Thursday.

A large band of precipitation is currently building over central Sweden as part of a warm front and will move east towards Finland overnight. Weather warnings are in place across Finland including strong winds and waves in coastal areas, strong winds for inland bodies of water and dangerous road conditions, particularly in the north east.

Meanwhile, Sydneysiders are bracing for another hot day. The Bureau of Meteorology currently predicts a top of 35C with those familiar and strong northwesterly and westerly winds to accompany the warm temperatures. That is not a kind forecast for those in bushfire affected regions. Fires are still burning in the Blue Mountains and in many other places around NSW, and with tomorrow's forecast the situation is likely to get worse.

Over the last few hours there has been some rainfall around Sydney though so this may help. Given the radar images I have seen over the past few hours, it's hard to believe more rain hasn't been recorded. At the Airport only 3.2mm has fallen in the 9hrs from 5pm yesterday despite the radar showing rainfall intensities that would typically result in higher measurements than that. Perhaps the smoke haze around the city is still affecting the radar.

It is a little worrying to think that we're only halfway through spring and the fires have already been this bad. Let's hope firefighters are able to take more control of the fires around the state over the next 24hrs.