Authorities in NSW have warned that hot, dry and windy conditions today could cause “erratic” bushfire behaviour with total fire bans in place for much of the state.
The Rural Fire Service has placed total fire bans on 10 regions ahead of forecast hot and windy weather.
An extreme fire warning is in place for the southern slopes while severe fire warnings have been issued for the Monaro alpine region, ACT, southern ranges and eastern Riverina.
A southwesterly wind change is expected to impact inland fires by this afternoon with a gusty southerly change forecast to impact coastal towns from the evening, the RFS said in a statement.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 46C in central NSW, 43C at Tumut in the Riverina, 42C at Penrith in western Sydney and 36C at Nowra on the South Coast.
Total fire bans in place in north western NSW, greater Sydney, central ranges, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, southern ranges, far south coast, Monaro alpine, southern slopes, eastern Riverina and northern Riverina.