Heatwave conditions are set to continue before a southerly change brings cooler air and relief from the heat for the weekend.

Large parts of central and eastern Australia are in for another day of heat after Thursday saw widespread temperatures above 40C and some inland areas nudge 50C.

A southerly change beginning on Friday afternoon will see temperatures throughout the region drop by 10 to 15 degrees.

But before the cool change hits, Sydney is set to swelter with some areas climbing to 40C by lunchtime.

As the heat continues to move further east, the NSW coast is set to get a little warmer still with Newcastle and Taree both forecast for 41C while Grafton and Gosford will hit 40C.

Temperatures in towns across the Hunter including Cessnock, Scone and Singleton will also rise by 1-2C on Thursday’s temperatures with Singleton expecting a peak of 43C and Scone 41C.

The lower and upper west of the state will again bear the brunt of the heat with Bourke to hit 44C and Moree 42C.

Parts of the state could see a thunderstorm roll through in the afternoon and evening.

Inland areas of Southern Australia’s north and southwest Queensland are also set to be warm, but markedly less so than Thursday where temperatures sat in the mid to high 40s.

South Australia will be noticeably cooler with temperatures dropping about 10C and Adelaide forecasting a 24C maximum.

Heatwave conditions for parts of Queensland’s west and interior are set to continue, though most regions will experience a welcome drop in temperature.

Brisbane is forecast to peak at 33C and the Gold Coast 35C.

Cooler air spreading across the southern and eastern states will see temperatures noticeably drop by Friday late afternoon.

The forecast change will bring cooler weather for almost all areas on the weekend.