BY IAN CROUCH
A blustery southerly change has brought relief to the Hunter overnight from soaring temperatures.
Tocal and Maitland Airport recorded 40.9 and 40.7 degrees respectively on Sunday, while Newcastle saw the mercury rise to 36.4 degrees.
A southerly change began moving through the region at about midnight with wind gusts reaching 74km/hr at Nobbys just after 2.00am on Monday.
The high winds brought down power lines in southern Lake Macquarie, with about 500 homes and businesses around Gwandalan, Lake Munmorah, Catherine Hill Bay, Chain Valley Bay, Fraser Park and Wybung without power for around 4 hours.
Ausgrid says all customers are now back on the grid.
The Weather Bureau is forecasting a top of 26 degrees for Newcastle on Monday.
