Country and city folk across Queensland and New South Wales are baking in summer-like temperatures today as dry and hot north-westerly winds stream across the eastern states. Temperatures across western Sydney and much of inland New South Wales are expected to be as much as 10 degrees above average today. If Penrith reaches its forecast maximum of 35 degrees, it will be its hottest day since February. For coastal suburbs, cool relief is in sight with a southerly buster set to drop temperatures by up to 8 degrees this afternoon. When the change pushed through Melbourne yesterday, the city's temperature plumetted from 28 to 19 degrees in just 30 minutes.
While the warm and sunny weather is welcome by many, the combination of hot, dry winds and months of below average rain have put both states under major bushfire threat. Rockhampton has picked up only 25mm of rainfall in the last 6 months, well below the average of 220mm for this period. Most of Queensland has had less than 20% of its average rainfall in the last 3 months. The Pacific Ocean is currently in an El Nino phase, and this lack of rainfall across eastern Australia is typical for winter and spring during El Nino conditions.
A high to very fire danger has been issued for Queensland's northern and central districts, with a total fire ban in place for the Lower Central West Plains in New South Wales.
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