No early relief from smoke for Sydney as temperature spike looms

Sydneysiders may have to wait until early next week to get much relief from the city's poor air quality but a spike in temperatures could add to their discomfort.

A poor air quality alert has been issued by the government for Friday but a ring of bushfires to Sydney's west and north mean shifting wind direction will drag smoke over the basin until at least Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Days more of smoke haze expected to cloak Sydney, with a spike in temperatures to come.Credit: Wolter Peeters

While temperatures in the city will remain slightly above the December average of 25.2 degrees for the next few days, Tuesday looms as a scorcher.

Coastal areas are likely to see a top that day of around 33 degrees but inland suburbs such as Richmond and Penrith can expect the mercury to climb to 43 and 44 degrees, respectively, the bureau said.

Bimal KC, a bureau forecaster, said areas of smoke haze in the basin are likely to persist even as winds shift to the south or even north-east in coming days.

For instance, while south-easterly winds will arrive late on Thursday evening, persistent westerly winds over the ranges on Friday should still see the smoke from fires near Katoomba and the Warragamba Dam region descend again over Sydney.

"We're pretty sure [the conditions] will bring the smoke haze back into the Sydney metro area," Mr KC said.

Similarly, even as a high pressure system starts to dominate from Monday, the north or north-easterly winds that develop could drag in smoke over Sydney from fires in the Hunter or further north, he said.

Sydney and almost of all eastern NSW will have a total fire ban on Friday with the Rural Fire Service rating the fire risks as "severe".

Along with the warm temperatures, overnight conditions are likely to be a muggy 18-19 degrees for most of the coming week for those in the eastern suburbs, and a couple of degrees cooler in the west.

The near-term outlook offers little more than the chance of an odd shower, extending the city's dry spell, Mr KC said.

Sydney posted its hottest November on record for maximum temperatures, with the city also recording its second highest number of days above 30 degrees, the bureau said.