People can expect a surprising, warm Easter long weekend across most of NSW but authorities are warning about heavy traffic, dangerous driving and rough seas.
Holidayers heading out of Sydney are advised to plan their trip and allow extra travel time, with heavy traffic expected on the main routes out of the city.
“Major roads such as the F3 and the Pacific Highway traditionally experience a rise in traffic volumes of more than 100 per cent during holiday periods,” a spokesman for the Transport Management Centre said.
“Last year at the busiest periods on the Friday and the Monday there were queues of up to 20km approaching Bulahdelah and Kempsey on the Pacific Highway.”
Traffic is also expected around the Sydney domestic and international airports and around the fish markets in Glebe.
On the back of the worst summer in decades, the sun is expected to to do an about turn in NSW.
“Friday will be another fine, sunny day with temperatures in the mid to high 20s (in Sydney),” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jake Phillips told AAP.
“The first part of Saturday will be warm but we are expecting a cool change to come through around lunchtime.
“For Sunday and Monday we’re looking at daytime temperature around the 23 to 24 mark.
“And just a couple of showers lingering around on Sunday and Monday.”
Mr Phillips said temperatures would be cool and rain could be expected on the coast and north east of NSW from Saturday.
NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher said people shouldn’t get too excited over the unusually warm autumn weather.
“One of the concerns I have is, many people have had a miserable summer,” he said.
“It has been raining, the weather hasn’t been great and of course with the sun and this last burst of heat coming into Easter, people might make a decision to get as far away from Sydney as they possibly can in the shortest time that they possibly can.
“I’d caution them on that. Stick to the speed limits, be mindful of fatigue, take a break.”
Double demerit points will apply in NSW from midnight (AEST) on Thursday and run until the end of Easter Monday.
Police are also warning rock fishers and boaties to exercise extreme care with the possibility of dangerous conditions along the coast.
“We don’t want to have to pull you out of the water or, even worse, deliver the awful news to your loved ones that you have been swept to your death,” Superintendent Mark Hutchings said on Thursday.
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