Temperatures soar as catastrophic fire danger hits NSW Central West

As the mercury soared above 35 degrees in Sydney and NSW, fire danger reached extreme levels in much of the state and became catastrophic in the Mid-West after soil and vegetation dried out in spring.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the temperature in Sydney was 30.5 degrees at 10am and was expected to rise to 36 degrees with no rain on the radar.

A hot, dry spring follows. Temperatures in October were well above average across the state; They were the highest temperatures ever recorded in some areas, including northeastern parts of the state. The rainfall amount of 19.9 millimeters was 59 percent below the 1961-1990 average.

The forecast for a wet spring was reversed after a freak heat wave (a sudden stratospheric warming event) over Antarctica brought drier conditions.

Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Ben Millington said grass had grown tall in the central and western parts of the state during the wet winter months, then dried out due to recent hot, dry weather.

“What we’re really concerned about today are new firings,” Millington said. “We will likely see high temperatures, late 30s to early 40s, low humidity and strong winds blowing 50 to 70 kilometers per hour. Any new fires will be very difficult to contain under these conditions and could threaten communities throughout the day.”

While most of the state had the second-highest fire danger rating (extreme), the Central West local government areas of Bland, Tamora, Laughlin, Dubbo, Narromine, Forbes, Parkes and Weddin were in the highest disaster level.