Extreme fire warnings as spring heat builds across eastern Australia
Extreme fire danger warnings are in place for parts of NSW and a total of nine fire bans are in place, with strong winds and rising temperatures expected to worsen conditions.
Unseasonable spring heat is building across Australia’s east coast, with much of the country experiencing a hot weekend before a cool change later this week.
Adelaide reached 32C on Saturday and the West Coast District experienced extreme fire conditions with hot, dry and gusty northerly winds.
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The AFL grand final was played at 29C in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, one of the hottest grand finals ever.
The Bureau of Meteorology said strong winds hit southeastern parts of Victoria on Saturday and were expected to blow up the coast overnight into Sunday.
Damaging winds are then expected across the Snowy Mountains and parts of the New South Wales South Coast, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes and the ACT.
The northwestern and upper central west plains of New South Wales, the greater Hunter region, the greater Sydney region and the far south coast regions are at extreme fire risk.
The NSW RFS on Sunday declared nine total fire bans for the state from the Northern Slopes down to the ACT and Victoria border.
Five different regions are considered particularly at risk of fire, with high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity increasing the risk.
Temperatures of up to 36°C are forecast in western Sydney, where the NRL grand final is scheduled to take place this evening.
Hot weather precautions such as extended breaks and cold towels and fans for players will be made for the game, with tens of thousands of people expected.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Services are battling fires from Townsville to the Gold Coast, with another fire burning in Camooweal, near the NT border.
A fire weather warning is also in effect for the Simpson East region of the NT for Sunday.
