SYDNEY — The U.S. northeast may be experiencing record-breaking low temperatures, but in the land down under, Aussies are melting from the sweltering heat. <br /> <br />The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Sydney became the hottest place on Earth on January 7, with temperatures in the western suburb of Penrith reaching 47.3 degrees Celsius. <br /> <br />It was a few degrees shy of breaking the record for hottest day in the area — a 47.8 degree temperature recorded in Richmond in 1939. <br /> <br />The hot weather combined with strong winds increased bushfire occurrences, prompting certain areas to issue a total fire ban prohibiting open air fires, welding, barbecues, and throwing lit cigarettes, among others. <br /> <br />The heat caused higher-than-normal ozone levels, prompting a forecast of poor air quality, which could affect those with respiratory problems. <br /> <br />Extreme temperatures also affected train track infrastructure, and contributed to power outages, which affected roughly 3,000 properties throughout Sydney. <br /> <br />The next few days are expected to be cooler compared to Sunday's scorcher, but still relatively hot.