Sydney is set for a wet and potentially stormy Saturday, but the weather should clear across the city, including at Sydney Olympic Park, for the 7:30 pm kickoff of Sunday’s 2026 NRL Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium.

The maximum at Sydney Olympic Park is expected to reach 24°C on Sunday, October 3, with a temperature between about 17 and 19 degrees for the duration of the match.

Due to generally light winds at Accor Stadium, the apparent (or “feels like”) temperature should be about the same as the ambient temperature (the actual air temperature). This will be in strong contrast to last Saturday’s AFL Grand Final, where a chilly Melbourne afternoon felt several degrees colder due to showers and gusty winds.

Here’s a quick look at the Sydney forecast for the rest of this week up until Sunday.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Image: Predicted maximum temperatures for the Sydney region on Thursday, October 1, 2026, showing that the 30-degree threshold will likely be exceeded in many western suburbs. Source: Weatherzone.

Sydney should remain dry with increasing high cloud for the rest of the working week, although there's the chance of rain developing on Friday evening ahead of what is a long weekend in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT.

• Temperatures should peak around 29°C, 30°C and 27°C from Wednesday through to Friday at Sydney Olympic Park
• The city can expect highs around 26°C, 29°C and 27°C from Wednesday through to Friday

Saturday

On Saturday, a trough and associated low pressure system will cross New South Wales, bringing showers to much of the state. As mentioned, showers could reach the east coast and Sydney area as early as Friday evening.

Cooler air arriving from the south will clash with the existing warm air mass on Saturday, causing atmospheric instability and the likelihood of widespread storms.

Showers and storms are likely to impact the entire Sydney basin, with the potential for accumulated rainfall totals in the vicinity of 50 mm in some suburbs due to a combination of persistent showers and localised downpours during thunderstorms.

Sunday

Image: Precipitable atmospheric moisture over NSW at 5 pm (AEDT) on Sunday, October 4, 2026, showing eastern NSW around Sydney largely free of rain-producing moisture. Source: Weatherzone.

The morning and early afternoon could see a lingering shower in parts of Sydney, but as the day goes on, a drying trend will set in, creating near-perfect conditions for a fast, flowing game of NRL footy.

There remains a slight chance that a light shower or two could blow in during the evening, however a rain-free game is the likelihood at this stage.

Sydney Olympic Park weather statistics for October (data since 2011)

• Average maximum: 25.0°C
• Average minimum: 13.0°C
• Average number of rain days: 9.5
• Hottest day on record: 38.9°C
• Coldest night on record: 6.4°C
• Wettest day on record: 77.2 mm