The week has started off with a scorcher across most of the state and there is little in the way of a reprieve on the horizon.
Monday saw tops of 40 at Bourke and Cobar, while Walgett hit 38, and Broken Hill hit 36.
And it’s set to stay hot out west with Bourke looking at 43 today, 45 on Wednesday and Thursday, an even hotter Friday at 47 before cooling off to a warm 39 on Saturday and 38 on Sunday.
Cobar is looking almost as warm at 41 everyday until Friday when 45 is the predicted top. It will cool off to 32 on Saturday and finish the week at 35.
Walgett is headed for 42 degrees today, 44 on Wednesday and 45 on Thursday and Friday. It will stay hot at 41 on Saturday, before cooling off slightly on Sunday at 38.
But the Central West isn’t spared either – while not as hot as the far west it’s still looking warm with Dubbo expecting 39 today and tomorrow before heating up to 40 on Thursday, and a scorching 43 on Friday. Saturday will cool down with only 34 predicted, Sunday is also 34 with some possible showers on the way.
Parkes is similar with 37 predicted as the top today, 38 tomorrow and 39 on Thursday before the mercury really jumps to 43 on Friday. The weekend is set to be cooler with 32 and 34 predicted for Saturday and Sunday respectively.
There won’t be much reprieve from the heat further south either with Wagga Wagga predicted to hit 35 today, 36 tomorrow and 37 on Thursday. Friday it will heat up to 43, before cooling down to 30 on Saturday and 34 on Sunday.
Griffith is also in for a hot week with 37 predicted today, 36 tomorrow, 37 on Thursday and a boiling 45 on Friday. It will also cool down on the weekend with 30 predicted for Saturday and 33 for Sunday.
The weather forecast has seen the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) step up its warning about the risk of grass fires.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is warning residents of the very real threat from grass fires.
“After a wet and warm 2016, increased vegetation growth has dried out and that is now causing real concern,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“Grass lands cover around 80 per cent of NSW. After warm and windy conditions over recent weeks, particularly west of the Divide, the landscape is now very much susceptible to fire.”
He said recent fires near Cootamundra, Urana, West Wyalong and North Yalgogrin saw more than 5500 hectares burned with an estimated $650,000 in crop losses, 300 sheep killed and destruction of fencing.
“Grass fires can move more than three times as fast as a bush fire. As we’ve seen, they can take hold rapidly and lead to much devastation.”
He said farmers could help protect their properties by establishing firebreaks around paddocks, homes and other valuable assets like sheds and equipment.
“People living in areas near crops and grass growth should have a plan for what they will do if there is a fire. Make a bush fire survival plan and discuss it with your family.”
- Send us your photos of how hot it’s at your place or how you are keeping cool using the tag #NSWheatwave on Instagram or via email to kim.chappell@fairfaxmedia.com.au and we’ll put them together in a gallery on The Land website.
Kim Chappell
As Senior Producer - Digital for ACM's regional titles I assist newsrooms in digital best practice. Before this role, I was the digital journalist with ACM's national team and prior to that, the digital specialist with ACM's Agricultural division. I started as a general rounds journalist with The Land in 2006, moving up to hold the title of chief of staff before switching to digital reporting in 2015.
As Senior Producer - Digital for ACM's regional titles I assist newsrooms in digital best practice. Before this role, I was the digital journalist with ACM's national team and prior to that, the digital specialist with ACM's Agricultural division. I started as a general rounds journalist with The Land in 2006, moving up to hold the title of chief of staff before switching to digital reporting in 2015.
