Sydney has soaked up the sunshine on the first Monday of the year, as scores of people headed to beaches and pools while some parts of the city hit tops of 30 degrees.

As cars lined up for COVID testing in the background, Bondi beachgoers spread out towels and pitched their umbrellas to stake out a spot in the sand.

By the mid-afternoon, parts of the city had hit 30 degrees – including Penrith, Camden and Badgerys Creek – as the inner city reached a top of 29 degrees.

The hot weather is expected to continue for the rest of the week, as cloud cover moves in and brings with it the chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sun protection is recommended as UV ratings are forecast to be extreme.

A hazardous surf warning has been issued for Monday and Tuesday for the Byron, Coffs Harbour, Macquarie, Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra coasts.

“Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.

On Monday afternoon, a woman died after she was pulled unconscious from the water at Park Beach at Coffs Harbour.

The woman, believed to have been aged in her 40s, was treated by witnesses before emergency services were called to the beach about 12.50pm. She could not be revived.