(NSW Rural Fire Service)
Newy 87.8 FM – A Total Fire Ban that was in force across the Greater Hunter fire weather area on Monday 21 September has lapsed, with the fire danger rating returning to Moderate on Tuesday.
The NSW Rural Fire Service declared the ban with an Extreme fire danger rating covering the Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter council areas.
The Greater Hunter was the only one of the state's 21 fire weather areas under a Total Fire Ban or Extreme rating on Monday, with all other areas rated High, Moderate or unrated.
Under an Extreme rating, the NSW Rural Fire Service advises residents to "take action now to protect your life and property".
The Bureau of Meteorology forecast hot, dry and windy conditions for Newcastle on Monday, with a maximum of 31°C and northwesterly winds of 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 25 to 40 km/h in the morning, before shifting southerly at 25 to 35 km/h around midday.
Conditions have since eased. The RFS forecast for the Greater Hunter on Tuesday 22 September is Moderate with no fire ban, while the Bureau of Meteorology expects a Newcastle maximum of 20°C, a high chance of showers and south to southeasterly winds of 15 to 25 km/h.
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