WE might already be three weeks into autumn, but the region has sweltered through a blisteringly-hot weekend as fire crews issue warnings.
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Tamworth and Moree both hit a top of 37 degrees on Sunday, while Gunnedah topped 38 degrees.
The warm temperatures sparked the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to issue a very-high fire danger rating for the Northern Slopes area, comprising Tamworth, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Inverell and Gwydir.
The neighbouring North Western region of Moree and Narrabri were placed on a total fire ban on Sunday.
There’s little reprieve from the heat in sight, with the rising mercury set to stick around for the next few days.
Both Tamworth and Gunnedah are forecast to reach 38 degrees on Monday, before cooling down slightly to 36 degrees on Tuesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The ongoing warm temperatures are hitting our dams, with Lake Keepit at just 13.7 per cent capacity and Chaffey Dam at 71.9.
Chaffey Dam was last at 100 per cent capacity in October 2016.
