NSW farmers asked to stop harvesting as mercury hits 40C in west
FIREFIGHTERS have asked farmers in the Central West to suspend harvesting as a heatwave decends on NSW.
THE Rural Fire Service has advised farmers to stop harvesting activities in Central West NSW today as the risk of fire intensifies with sweltering conditions expected across the state.
The move comes just days after a farmer’s harvester sparked a fire that burnt through 185ha of wheat at Weelong, south west of Forbes.
Total fire bans will be in place across the Southern and Eastern Riverina, Southern Slopes, Lower Central West Plains and the ACT.
#NSWRFS have contained a fire that burnt through 185ha of wheat at Weelong (SW of Forbes). Started by a header. pic.twitter.com/1xgBpZbs0n
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 10, 2014
Meanwhile, Sydney is set for a scorcher today as winds from Central Australia bring hot and dry conditions to the whole of the state.
The city will reach 35C while Western Sydney will melt as the thermometer breaks 40C for the first time since January.
The temperatures will smash the November average of 23.5C in the city and 26C in the west as the temperature climbs past 30C before lunchtime.
Bureau of Meteorology spokesman David Barlow said the best place to escape the heat would be on the beach thanks to the ocean breeze.
“The main driver behind this is a low pressure trough approaching NSW from the west and ahead of that you’ve got hot north westerly winds from Central Australia,” he said.
“The coolest spot will be on the coast at the beaches of Cronulla, Bondi and Manly — anywhere on the coast where you will get the north easterly breeze.”
A southerly change moving up the coast this evening will bring a cool change and see temperatures plummet to the mid-20s.
In the mountains Springwood will be the hottest at 38C while Katoomba at its higher altitude will have some relief reaching 33C.
West of the ranges in the Riverina in the state’s south and the north west slopes around Tamworth temperatures will hit the 40s with strong north westerly 30km/h winds gusting to 60km/h at times.
DAILY TELEGRAPH WEATHER CHANNEL
#NSWRFS have contained a fire that burnt through 185ha of wheat at Weelong (SW of Forbes). Started by a header. pic.twitter.com/1xgBpZbs0n
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 10, 2014
NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Matt Sun said crews across the state will be ready for any flare ups.
“It will be very hot and very dry across the state. We’ll have crews on standby to respond to any incidents that are going to occur,” he said.
“Given the forecast all the local districts are making their plans and preparing and having people on standby.”
FOR FULL BUSH FIRE DANGER RATINGS SEE HERE
Fire Warnings in NSW
The heatwave will be short lived in Sydney as temperatures on Saturday peak at 24C with a chance of showers in the evening.
The same cannot be said for the north east of the state including inland areas around Armidale and Moree which will remain hot due to the cool change not reaching there.