Sydney has already recorded the hottest day for the start of the month, as fire danger warnings are issued across New South Wales (NSW).
According to data from the Bureau of Meteorology, around 3.02pm yesterday (October 1), the station recorded 35.6C, smashing the previous record of 33.1C, recorded in 1961 and 2009.
Sydney Airport’s mercury increased to 36.9C, and Penrith’s peaked at 37.3C at 3.07pm.
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The record came as NSW declared a total of nine fires as the state issued a high fire alert over the weekend.
ABC News reported that the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) said nine regions across the state were under a total fire ban, including Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter and the Far South Coast.
NSWRFS Inspector Ben Shepherd said: "The bans stretch from the south of the state, up through the southern ranges, and in through Sydney and the Hunter and out to the north west," Inspector Shepherd said.
He urged people heading out for the long weekend to be extra vigilant, especially those visiting bushfire-prone areas.
"So we are asking everyone just to have that discussion this morning about what you'll do if affected by fire," he said.
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"We are asking people to abide by those total fire ban rules. If you are away camping make sure your campfire is completely extinguished.”
However, these temperatures are expected to rise.
Jake Phillips from the Bureau of Meteorology told the outlet: "Temperatures are forecast to go well into the 30s in a lot of areas and in some cases not too far off the 40 Celsius mark, particularly in the north-west of the state.”
Meanwhile, in Victoria, several communities in Gippsland are also on high fire alert, with one house and 5,000 hectares being already lost.
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ABC News reported that over 1,000 campers were forced to evacuate Rawson and Loch Sport over the long weekend.
Last month, Australians were warned that bushfire season this year would be the most significant since the Black Summer, which claimed the lives of 26, 2,448 homes were destroyed, and 5.5 million hectares of land was burnt.
“Almost the entire country can expect drier and warmer conditions than normal this spring, so it is important for Australians be alert to local risks of bushfire over the coming months, regardless of their location,” The chief executive of Afac, Rob Webb, said, as per The Guardian.
Topics: News, Environment, Australia
Charisa Bossinakis