This was published 7 years ago
Very high fire danger for Sydney and northern NSW as 'heatwave' strikes
By Georgina Mitchell
Sydney and much of northern NSW will have a very high fire danger on Friday, as the Bureau of Meteorology warns a heatwave will linger in north-eastern Australia for the next few days. Temperatures in the city will climb to 31 degrees on Friday, with a sweltering 37 degrees in the west.
Such hot and dry conditions have prompted the Rural Fire Service to declare a total fire ban for parts of the state's east. The ban covers Greater Sydney (all Sydney Metro councils, Blue Mountains, Gosford, Hawkesbury and Wyong), the Greater Hunter (Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter), Northern Slopes (Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains and Tamworth), and North Western district (Moree Plains, Narrabri, Walgett and Warrumbungle).
Much of the rest of the state is under high or very high fire danger, with just the Northern and Southern Riverina and South Western region considered at low to moderate fire danger.
Guy Dixon, a meteorologist for Fairfax Media's Weatherzone, said a sea breeze would keep eastern Sydney slightly cooler than the west on Friday, but it would still be more than 30 degrees.
Members of the NSW Rural Fire Service fight a blaze at Londonderry in November.Credit: Nick Moir
"One thing to note is the duration of this heat: we should see a spell of heat across northern NSW and south-east Queensland in the coming days," Mr Dixon said.
"Really for the whole state, Friday to Tuesday is the time of interest, the so-called heatwave period."
Mr Dixon said the average temperature for December is 25 degrees, and temperatures would exceed this every day until Tuesday.
However, Friday and Monday would be the two "standout" hot days, with temperatures climbing to high 30s in the west.
The water will be 21 degrees off the coast, giving Sydneysiders a chance to cool off.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
"Water temperatures off the coast of Sydney are 21 degrees, so that should give plenty of relief for beachgoers," Mr Dixon said.
Volunteers from the Rural Fire Service have been battling blazes amid the high temperatures. On Thursday evening, there were 57 bush and grass fires burning across the state, including 10 that were out of control.
Fire danger across New South Wales on December 2, 2016.Credit: NSW RFS
One of the blazes, near West Wyalong, burned 7000 hectares since Wednesday afternoon, destroying $500,000 of crops and fences and killing more than 600 sheep.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons fears more damage could be caused. He has warned those living in areas with high bushfire danger to keep vigilant and listen to the radio for news of fire in their area.
"Grass and crop fires can be especially dangerous because they start easily and spread quickly," Mr Fitzsimmons said. "They can destroy not only homes, properties and stock, but also lives and livelihoods."
The Bureau of Meteorology warned on Thursday evening that "severe heatwaves" were expected through Queensland and northern NSW this weekend.
A heatwave is considered to be three days or more where minimum and maximum temperatures are well above average. The Bureau said people with medical conditions, the young, elderly and those who work outdoors should take extra care in the heat.