Sydney will have a sweltering 40°C heat tomorrow. (Photo by the Sydney Morning Herald)
The New State Rural Fire Service (RFS) expects forest fire risk levels to be between "severe "(severe) and" extreme "(extreme) in parts of the state on Thursday, including Shoalhaven, Hunter, Illawarra, Sydney and the southern and central range areas of the new state, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects strong northwesterly winds to affect much of the new state, with temperatures of more than 30 to 40°C. Temperatures are expected to reach 40°C in Sydney`s urban areas and up to 43°C in the Western District, but there may be heavy rain and strong winds in Sydney in the afternoon and evening.
Ilawarra, the Greater Sydney region, the Greater Hunter region, Shorehaven, the southern range and the central range are projected to be at "extreme" forest fire risk, according to the bureau`s meteorologist, Abrar Shabren.
The Blue Mountains are especially dangerous, with local winds expected to reach 45 to 60 kilometres tomorrow, and higher winds likely to exceed 90 kilometres in higher areas.
Friday morning`s faint southerly winds will blow towards Sydney, which will cool and possibly accompany showers, but Friday as well as the weekend will remain above the January average of above 26°C.
Nowra also expects temperatures to reach 40°C on Thursday, with the nearby Currwan forest fire already destroying much of Shorehaven. Bowral, which is in the Southern Highlands and has forest fires in the north and south, is expected to reach 36°C tomorrow.
The new state continues to face severe forest fires. (Photo by the Sydney Morning Herald)
There are now more than 60 forest fires across the new state. RFS speaker Ben Shepherd noted that Thursday will be another test day for firefighters and a society close to the forest fire.
He points out that the recent heavy rains that have swept parts of the new state ", while popular, may give a false sense of security. "Although some areas had a short period of rainfall earlier this week, many fire sites, including the southern highlands and the far south coast, received only 10-15 millimetres of rain.
Thus, while rainfall "does alleviate the current fire ", it is not sufficient to significantly affect the risk of forest fires.
Shepard warns:"[ The forest fire] cannot be completely extinguished, and it may burn and spread again in the coming days. "
Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in parts of the region Thursday night could instead increase the risk of multiple forest fire sites in New State, where loose soil could cause landslides and trees to collapse.
Thunderstorms across the new state could also lead to a recurrence of Monday`s sandstorms in the Midwest, Sabreen also warned.
In addition, autharies is worried that lightning may ignite new forest fires, and if the surrounding area is not wet enough, the next hot weather may also lead to the spread of forest fires.
But sabre also said the new state could increase rainfall next week.
