Extreme heat weather warning
Published Date: 13 Jan 2014
Summary
The Central West Community has been warned about bad fire conditions as a heat wave starts to impact on the region.
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Central Western Daily By NADINE MORTON Jan. 14, 2014
HEATWAVE conditions are predicted to continue until Friday with Canobolas fire crews on high alert.
Temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees today, 33 tomorrow, 34 on Thursday, with the mercury to stay above 32 until Sunday.
NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas zone manger David Hoadley said the heatwave conditions have prompted fire crews to appeal to the public for their assistance.
"Be very careful and don't use angle grinders or welders outside, even in a shed you need to be careful," he said.
Mr Hoadley said with grasslands across the zone now cured the tiniest spark could start a quick-moving fire.
"We'd encourage people not to use brushcutters or mowers in the heat of the day, do it in the morning or afternoon if you have to do it at all," he said.
The long-term average maximum for January is 26.6 degrees, however this week temperatures will soar up to 7.4 degrees above this.
"The most intense heat will be from Wednesday to Saturday and we'll see temperatures around 34 degrees," Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.
Despite hot, dry conditions predicted for the rest of the week Mr Hoadley said their saviour is that there are no strong winds predicted.
"What's in our favour is there's not much wind around at the moment, it's a contributing factor [the cause of a fire] of hot temperatures and winds," he said.
"We're ready for anything that comes along."
A very high fire danger is in place for today, tomorrow and Thursday.
