A burst of record-challenging October heat and blustery winds will cause Extreme fire danger ratings and Total Fire Bans over parts of NSW on Wednesday, including Sydney.
Clear skies and dry air have allowed intense heat to build over western NSW, southern Queensland and northern SA in the last few days.
On Monday, the temperature soared to 44.9°C at Birdsville in Queensland’s Channel Country. This was surpassed on Tuesday when the mercury reached 46.1°C shortly before 2:30pm AEST, setting a new October record for the state.
Tuesday was also exceptionally hot in far western NSW, with Bourke reaching 44.3°C shortly after 3:30pm AEDT. This was also a new October record for NSW.
This sweltering inland heat will be flushed towards Australia’s east coast on Wednesday as northwesterly winds strengthen ahead of an approaching cold front and low pressure trough.
Image: Forecast maximum temperature on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
The tongue of intense heat sweeping over NSW on Wednesday will see temperatures climb more than 15°C above average for this time of year in the state’s east, with October records likely to be challenged.
Sydney is forecast to reach 38°C in the city on Wednesday, which is 16°C above average for the middle of spring. The city’s October maximum temperature record – currently 38.2°C set in 2004 – may even be challenged. Some of Sydney’s western suburbs could get close to 40°C.
Wednesday’s intense heat will combine with fresh to strong northwesterly winds, resulting in Extreme fire danger ratings and Total Fire Bans for parts of central and eastern NSW.
Image: Forecast fire danger ratings and Total Fire Bans on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
Firefighters in NSW and southwest Queensland will also be keeping a close eye on thunderstorms on Wednesday. There is a risk that storms associated with the low pressure trough will cause dry lightning, which could ignite fires amid the hot and windy conditions. Thunderstorms are possible over most of NSW on Wednesday, except for the state’s northeast.
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