Prosper in a dynamic world
Search

Extreme fire danger predicted in Sydney this Thursday

Sydney and the Illawarra will experience an early-season spike in fire danger ratings on Wednesday and Thursday as a burst of warm, dry and windy weather hits eastern NSW.

While the start of this week was abnormally cold in Sydney and surrounding areas, temperatures will climb quickly over the next couple of days as warmer northwesterly winds develop across NSW.

Images: Forecast maximum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday this week

A combination of increasing temperatures, blustery winds and low relative humidity will cause fire danger ratings to increase in parts of central and northern NSW on Wednesday and Thursday.

Fire danger ratings in Australia fall into a five-tiered scale based on the likely consequences of a fire, if one were to start:

  • No rating: This rating is used on days of minimal fire risk when no action is required.
  • Moderate: Stay up to date and be ready to act if there is a fire.
  • High: There is a heightened risk of fires. Life and property may be at risk. The safest option is to avoid bush fire risk areas.
  • Extreme: Dangerous fire conditions. Check bush fire plan and ensure that your property is safe. If a fire starts, you need to take immediate action. Reconsider travel through bushfire risk areas.
  • Catastrophic: The most dangerous conditions for a fire. Homes cannot withstand fires in these conditions. Your life may depend on the decisions you make. Stay safe by going to a safer location early in the morning or the night before.

The Greater Sydney and Illawarra/Shoalhaven fire weather districts are forecast to see High fire danger ratings on Wednesday, with a Total Fire Ban (TFB) in place for Illawarra/Shoalhaven. Conditions will deteriorate further on Thursday, with Extreme fire danger forecast for the Greater Sydney district and High fire danger predicted in the Far North Coast, Greater Hunter, North Western and Illawarra/Shoalhaven districts. TFBs for Thursday are issued by the RFS around 4pm each day, with a least some of these districts required to follow TFB rules.

Image: Forecast 10m wind gusts at 10am on Thursday

This week’s spike in fire danger comes after NSW registered its warmest August on record, with Sydney also having its second warmest August on record. Such abnormal late-winter heat helped dry out vegetation for the start of spring, providing plenty of fuel for early-season fires.

This hot end to winter resulted in more than 90 fires burning across NSW on August 28. A few days later, more than 60 fires were burning across the state on September 2 despite fire bans being issued in Sydney and the Illawarra/Shoalhaven.

Visit the RFS website for the latest information on fire danger ratings, fire bans and active bushfire across NSW.

DTN APAC serves the forestry, fire, safety and emergency sectors, delivering trusted weather data and severe weather alerting to maintain safety, protect your assets and underpin your planning. Some of our key products are:

For more information, please visit our website or email us at apac.sales@dtn.com.

Latest news

Satisfy your weather obsession with these news headlines from around the nation, and the world.

Pilbara mining and ports on high alert as cyclone threat looms

A developing low pressure system off Australia’s northwest coast has a high chance of becoming a tropical cyclone this weekend, with the potential for heavy rain and wind to impact some mining and port clients in the Pilbara. Two separate areas of low pressure lying off the northern coast of WA are expected to consolidate […]

Wild winds, heavy rain, hazardous surf impact NSW ports

It has been a big week for NSW Ports. After a massive band of storms crossed the state on Wednesday, a low off the coast is now generating strong winds, rain and hazardous surf to coastal districts, especially from Sydney to the Qld border. Numerous warnings are in place, including: A severe weather warning for […]

Severe thunderstorm outbreak may cause power outages across eastern Australia

Violent thunderstorms will pummel parts of NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT over the next couple of days, with potential for supercells and a dangerous squall line late on Wednesday. These thunderstorms have the potential to cause power outages like Vic experienced on Sunday, when dangerous storms lashed the state. An upper-level pool of cold […]

Tropical cyclone risk increasing next week potentially impacting mining operations

The Australian tropics could be on the verge of awakening, with growing signs that heavy rain and increased tropical cyclone risk could impact mining operations next week. Despite frequent showers and thunderstorms over parts of northern Australia in the last couple of months, there has been a noticeable absence of sustained monsoon rainfall and tropical […]