THE Australia Day long weekend is set to bring unsettled weather to the region.
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Scorching temperatures and scattered storms are predicted across the North West and Northern Tablelands from Friday to Monday.
The stormy conditions are also expected to bring rain to some communities.
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However, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is expecting the falls to be inconstant.
BOM is predicting today will bring Tamworth's best chance of rain, as a storm has a 95 per cent chance of producing 15mm to 25mm.
Follow-up rainfall appears unlikely, the BOM predicting a less than 70 per cent chance of rain for the next three days.
However, temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-30s until Monday.
The conditions have prompted a warning from the NSW Rural Fire Service, which is predicting an elevated fire-danger rating this weekend.
In good news for long-weekend revellers, sections of Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo national parks, along with several other locations, will open in time for the festivities.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) area manager Darren Pitt said some of these locations had been closed for some time and it was a delight to reopen them to the public.
"Our NPWS staff in the region are working tirelessly to ensure areas can be reopened as soon as possible," Mr Pitt said.
"The safety of our visitors is paramount and therefore, in the coming weeks and months, we will continue to review our park closures and visitor safety."