The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed New South Wales has recorded its second-warmest and driest September on record.
Last month was a scorcher across various parts of the state, with Sydney smashing its own records as the city sweltered through unseasonably hot weather.
The Harbour City blitzed the record of the most consecutive days above 30 degrees, which previously stood at three.
Sydney also equalled its all-time September high of 34.6C.
Dozens of bushfires have also singed parts of NSW, placing many communities on fire evacuation alert, as temperatures climbed.
The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed there were 85 fires burning across the state as of 6pm on Monday.
As of Monday evening, residents in St Fillans, Eurunderee and Budgee Budgee were being urged to prepare and monitor the situation as bushfires threaten the local areas.
A grass fire burning in the Home Rule and St Fillans area, about 15km north of Mudgee, is being controlled.
Total fire bans will be in place on Tuesday for the greater Sydney region, Greater Hunter area, Far South Coast, Northern Slopes, North Western and Upper Central West Plains.
There will be further fire bans in place in the Lower Central West Plains and Central Ranges.
According to the Bureau’s latest monthly summary for Australian weather conditions, NSW was among three states that experienced its second-hottest and dried September on record.
Victoria and South Australia also had their second-warmest September, with Western Australia experiencing its warmest of all-time.
The Bureau revealed Australia has a whole recorded its driest September ever, with the average mean maximum temperature sitting about 3.38 degrees above average nationally.
“Mean maximum temperatures for September were warmer than average for most of Australia and over 4°C above average for large parts in the south of the mainland,” the Bureau said.
“Mean minimum temperatures were warmer than average for most of Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, for southern parts of Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory, and for much of northern New South Wales.
“Mean minimum temperatures were cooler than average for a large area of the southern New South Wales and for areas scattered across northern Australia.”
Sky News Australia Presenter James Preston said while the big fire watch is currently in Victoria, heat is building across NSW into Tuesday.
“The real cause for concern though is pushing into NSW where we are going to see extreme fire danger for large areas of the state,” he said.
He said the main threat for Victoria is new fires sparking from lightening strikes in thunderstorms.
The heat engine coming from the north-west will continue to push into NSW into Tuesday evening, which will bring a reprieve to Victorian residents.
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