NOT even an endless supply of ice cream and icy cold water was enough to beat the boiling conditions which hit Newcastle last week.
Tuesday and Saturday brought sweltering heat, with much of the city recording above-average temperatures.
Residents woke on Saturday morning to an already warm day.
Maryland reached a peak of 44 degrees according to The Star's weather watchers, and official readings had Nobbys Head at 38.9 and Newcastle university a boiling 42.4 degrees.
Newcastle was not alone, with Saturday delivering Lake Macquarie a scorching top of 41.4 degrees.
The battle against the warm weather began last Tuesday, with Hunter residents flocking to the city's beaches and ocean baths for some respite.
Newcastle saw temperatures increase throughout the day, finally peaking at 38 degrees at 5.30pm.
Weatherwatch meteorologist Anthony Cornelius said it was the gusty north-westerlies that ensured the heat remained - it was still 33 degrees by 10pm and 30 degrees at midnight.
It was not until 5.45am the following morning when the southerly change swept through city, dropping temperatures to a low of 22.
"Right now we have a very hot air mass centred over the interior - every time a trough and front pushes through into south-east Australia, the Hunter is likely to experience this heat," he said.
Mr Cornelius said residents could expect another hot day, in the mid-thirties this Friday as well as above average temperatures for the remainder of summer.