Heat wave is expected to last until mid-week

NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said the extreme weather would bring the greatest fire risk since the 2020 Black Summer fires.

A total ban on fire was in place in the Greater Hunter, North Western, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, Northern Slopes, and the upper and lower Central West Plains.

“This is probably the broadest area for total fire bans [for] a number of years,” said Shepherd.

Meanwhile, traffic in western Sydney came to a standstill because of the extreme weather.

Two westbound lanes of the M4 motorway in South Wentworthville were closed Monday afternoon as firefighters worked to put out a roadside grass fire.

Firefighters were also called to a fire at a substation at Clearview Place in Brookvale that had caused power outages in the area.

For the coming days, Sydney will remain in the 30s as the heatwave continues. Tuesday’s forecast predicts highs of 34 in the city and 36 in Penrith. Wednesday is expected to hit 30 in the city and 31 in Penrith.

Temperatures should drop to around 26 degrees in the city and 29 degrees in Penrith as a chilly shift sets in by Thursday.

Weather Bureau meteorologist Sally Scully said it’s not uncommon for the fall to have hot days and fluctuating temperatures.

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The state also experienced hot weather due to inland events, Weatherzone meteorologist Felix Levesque said.

“In recent weeks much of inland Australia has been relatively clear of clouds – this has allowed the heat to build up across the interior,” he said.

“What has drawn the heat to NSW and Sydney is a low-pressure trough pulling hot northerly winds ahead.”

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