Sunday’s tinder dry conditions are being likened to those in the lead-up to Victoria’s Black Saturday blazes, which killed 173 people in 2009.

“It’s not another summer day, it’s not another bad fire weather day. This is as bad as it gets,” NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on Saturday of the conditions.

“To put it simply, they’re simply off the old conventional scale. We used to stop our fire danger ratings at 100. We’re talking indices tomorrow up over 150, 160, which is quite extraordinary,” he said.

Extreme to catastrophic fire danger is forecast from Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Narrabri inland through to the Hunter Valley and the coast at Port Stephens on Sunday.

How the heatwave threatened Australia’s east and south yesterday, while heavy rain deluged parts of WA, with AAP reporting:

9.21pm: Heatwave relief in Victoria

The Australian Market Energy Operator says the electricity supply has stabilised in the heat after recording its highest peak energy demand since January 2011.

Peak demand was about 13,500 MW in the NSW region, which includes ACT.

The AEMO said the electricity supply had since stabilised.

Sydney will be spared a third consecutive day of searing temperatures on Sunday, but for the rest of the state the fire danger is expected to intensify to a catastrophic level.

The mercury rose above 40C in 55 regional towns on Saturday, with Ivanhoe Airport recording a blistering 47.6 just before 4pm.

Sydney’s CBD reached 36.2C as the city’s west sweltered through Saturday, with Richmond recording 47C and Penrith 46.9C.

While temperatures aren’t even tipped to reach 30C in Sydney on Sunday, much of NSW will remain above 40, as fire dangers reach unprecedented levels.

“To put it simply, they’re simply off the old conventional scale,” Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on Saturday.

“It’s not another summer day, it’s not another bad fire weather day. This is as bad as it gets.”

However “at this stage no fires are posing a threat”, Mr Fitzsimmons told Sky News on Saturday.

“They are all at advice level and we are doing a lot of work.”

The monster hot air mass hovering over NSW had had “a baking effect” on vegetation, which meant extreme warnings would pose major risk on Sunday. Conditions were set to intensify in centres including Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Narrabri in the north through to the Hunter Valley and the coast at Port Stephens.

8.19pm: Heatwave relief in Victoria

Victoria’s north has endured another day of above-40C weather before welcoming a cool change tonight.

The temperature in Mildura hit a sweltering 44.4C on Saturday — it was fourth day straight of above-40C weather.

Temperatures had already dropped to 37C at 7.30pm in Mildura, a good omen for the predicted top of 25C on Sunday.

Townships along the Victoria-NSW border have not seen relief from the heat in days, with fire danger remaining very high amid strong winds. In the northeast, Wangaratta reached a top of 41.3C on Saturday and Albury reached 40.7C.

A cool change is expected to bring temperatures down to the mid-20s by Sunday with the occasional spot of rain.

Alternatively in Melbourne, conditions have been pleasant, only reaching a top of 24C on Saturday.

5.45pm: Records tumble in Qld

The heatwave sweeping southern Queensland has sent temperature records tumbling, with the hottest conditions yet to come.

Many seeking relief on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast on Saturday were dealt a blow, with several beaches closed.

Dozens of swimmers were rescued in the rough conditions, including a young boy with a suspected spinal injury at Burleigh.

The unstable surf may again force the closure of beaches on Sunday as the worst of the heatwave hits.

Surfers take advantage of a large swell at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast at first light today. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“Much of southern Queensland will see temperatures in the low to mid 40s with Brisbane forecast to hit 39C and Ipswich potentially reaching 43C,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Sam Campbell said.

Birdsville was set to be the hottest place in the state and could break temperature records with a top of 47C forecast.

The state record for hottest February day stands at 46.5C, while Birdsville’s hottest February maximum is 46.2C.

A number of heat records tumbled on Saturday, with Warwick, Applethorpe and Oakey all having their hottest ever days.

Toowoomba also equalled its record for hottest day as the mercury climbed to 39.5C.

Paramedics have urged people to keep hydrated to avoid becoming ill as temperatures push more than 10C past the February average.

They’ve suggested swapping caffeinated drinks for water, eating small and regular meals and wearing light-coloured cotton clothing.

Mr Campbell said relief from the heat isn’t expected until Tuesday following the arrival of a south-easterly change.

Temperatures in the southwest should dip back below 40C following the arrival of a trough on Monday.

Meanwhile a dog has died in the heat after being tied up with no access to shade or water in a Hervey Bay backyard. A neighbour informed the animal welfare organisation RSPCA after noticing the dog had died in the backyard at Urangan on Saturday morning while tethered on a rope.

5.25pm: NSW warning to leave homes

People in a large band of NSW towns have been urged to leave their homes following days of extreme heat that has led to unprecedented and catastrophic fire conditions.

Sunday’s tinder dry conditions are being likened to those in the lead-up to Victoria’s Black Saturday blazes, which killed 173 people in 2009.

“It’s not another summer day, it’s not another bad fire weather day. This is as bad as it gets,” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said of the conditions.

“To put it simply, they’re simply off the old conventional scale. We used to stop our fire danger ratings at 100. We’re talking indices tomorrow up over 150, 160, which is quite extraordinary,” he said.

Extreme to catastrophic fire danger ratings are forecast for centres including Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Narrabri in the north through to the Hunter Valley and the coast at Port Stephens on Sunday, Mr Fitzsimmons said.

“Everyone in those areas should be considering moving to a safer locations — either contemplating that tonight … or indeed early tomorrow morning before the risk materialises,” he said on Saturday.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who says some residents should conisder ‘moving to safer locations’. Picture: Peter Lorimer

It comes after days of sweltering conditions, with more than 50 towns and centres in NSW surpassing 40 degrees on Saturday.

While the RFS would do everything that it could to prepare for, respond to and prevent destruction, Mr Fitzsimmons warned that there were no guarantees. “We simply cannot guarantee that a fire truck will be at every home or at every property under these conditions,” he said.

“We will not guarantee that a warning, a telephone message or a knock on the door will occur for everyone that comes under threat tomorrow.”

As the RFS chief spoke, 49 fires were burning across NSW, 17 of them uncontained.

About 300 firefighters were on the ground and thousands more were on standby. Very hot conditions associated with the mass of air and combined with fresh westerly winds over the southern half of the state bought severe fire danger on Saturday for the Central and Southern ranges, Lower Central West and Hunter districts.

More than 50 towns and centres in NSW surpassed 40 degrees by the mid-afternoon, with the mercury nudging 44C in parts of Sydney’s west.

Penrith reached 46.9C, setting a new record. Its previous hottest peak was 46.5 C in Jan 2013.

Ivanhoe was the hottest part place in the state in the morning hours, recording a pre-lunch top of 45C before climbing towards 47C.

2.30pm: Ominous warning

Sydney will breathe a sigh of relief as temperatures cool on Sunday but parts of NSW are expected to face unprecedented catastrophic fire danger. The mercury was expected to surge past 40C in more than 50 of the state’s city’s and towns this afternoon but Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the real test lay ahead.

Citing Australia’s worst bushfire disaster, the Black Saturday blazes which claimed 173 lives in February 2009, Mr Fitzsimmon said “the forecast indices (for Sunday) are greater than those faced by Victoria at the time”. However “at this stage no fires are posing a threat”, Mr Fitzsimmons told Sky News on Saturday.

“They are all at advice level and we are doing a lot of work.” The monster hot air mass hovering over NSW had had “a baking effect” on vegetation, which meant extreme warnings would pose major risk on Sunday. Conditions were set to intensify in centres including Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Narrabri in the north through to the Hunter Valley and the coast at Port Stephens.

Mr Fitzsimmons urged people to prepare early and stay out of danger by spending time at the movies or a local shopping centre.

The Bureau of Meteorology said very hot conditions associated with the mass of air and combined and fresh westerly winds over the southern half of the state meant severe fire danger throughout Saturday for the Central and Southern ranges, Lower Central West and Hunter districts.

The mercury had nudged 44 degrees in parts of Sydney’s west by early afternoon, while the hottest place in the state during the morning hours was Ivanhoe which recorded a pre-lunch top of 45C. Local residents were bracing for an expected afternoon maximum of 48C.

Strong wind warnings current were also in place for Sydney, the Illawarra and far south coast at Eden.

The Australian Market Energy Operator said NSW faced a possible lack of power supply Saturday afternoon, with the risk increasing into the evening. AGL said it would cut back on electricity use at its Tomago Aluminium Smelter in Newcastle, which uses about 10 per cent of the state’s power.

2pm: A friendly view of Sydney

The beach is one of the places to be as NSW swelters today. Tamarama Beach, in Sydney’s east, shapes as a prime piece of real estate.

Sydney’s Tamarama Beach early this afternoon. Picture: The Australian

1.30pm: Water on the wheatbelt

With much of the continent enduring intense heat, several small communities in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region are dealing with floodwaters. Water levels within the Avon River catchment are expected rise over the weekend with up to 70mm of rain recorded in the 24 hours to Friday night, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Flooding hit the community of Toodyay, along Stirling Terrace, and Mortlock River East at O’Driscolls Farm on Saturday morning.

Moderate flooding was also expected along the river in Beverley, with water under the town’s bridge at 1.75m and rising.

Residents in Northam were also told to expect minor flooding with some already deciding to head to higher ground.

1pm: Keep your cool

12.45pm: Fireys on alert

12.30pm: Update — hot, getting hotter

12pm: Rough time at the beach

Swimmers have been plucked from rough surf as heatwave conditions sweep southern Queensland.

Unstable conditions have forced the closure of Nobby, Pacific and Mermaid beaches on the Gold Coast as well as Maroochydore, Twin Waters and Wurtulla beaches the Sunshine Coast.

A number of other beaches were also temporarily off limits on Saturday morning after the incoming tide peaked.

Water conditions are being monitored hourly and more closures are on the cards as the heatwave takes hold.

“The decision to close a beach is one that’s made in the interests of public safety and, if that’s the case, it’s really important that everyone stays well clear of the water,” Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Grahame Long said. There have already been a number of rescues in the rough conditions, including that of a young boy who suffered a suspected spinal injury in the surf at Burleigh.

Beach closures are possible on Sunday when heatwave conditions are set to peak. A top of 39C is forecast in Brisbane on Sunday, while tops of 36C are expected on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Birdsville could set a new record for the state’s hottest February temperature, with maximums of 46C and 47C tipped for Saturday and Sunday. The state record stands at 46.5C, while Birdsville’s hottest February maximum is 46.2C.

Paramedics have urged people to keep hydrated to avoid becoming ill as temperatures push more than 10C past the February average.

They’ve suggested swapping caffeinated drinks for water, eating small and regular meals and wearing light-coloured cotton clothing.

Those planning to crank-up the airconditioning have been assured they can rely on Queensland’s power network, which was used to help NSW meet its power needs on Friday.

“We have confidence in the Queensland power system, which is very robust,” Queensland Energy Minister Mark Bailey said.

Relief from the heat isn’t expected until Tuesday following the arrival of a southerly change and trough from the southwest.

11am: Beaches in Qld closed

Several beaches have been closed as heatwave conditions sweep southern Queensland.

Powerful and unstable surf conditions have forced the closure of Surfers Paradise, Miami, Nobbys, Palm, Billinga, Tugun and Pacific beaches on the Gold Coast, while Kawana Waters and Maroochydore beaches on the Sunshine Coast are also off limits.

The closures come amid heatwave conditions that will push temperatures more than 10C above the February average.

10.30am: Flood risk in WA

Heavy rain could damage homes and make travel dangerous in parts of Western Australia’s Great Southern Region, authorities fear.

A severe weather warning has been issued for residents south of Hyden and Narrogin, with wild conditions expected down to the coast.

The warning area includes residents in the Lake Grace, Lake King, Ravensthorpe and Jerramungup areas.

‘Catastrophic fire danger’

NSW could experience its hottest February day on record this weekend with emergency services staying on high alert for catastrophic fire conditions.

A statewide total fire ban has been declared for Saturday as the mercury soars past 40C.

“If you’re a little bit inland from the coast in Sydney or the Hunter district, you’ll experience probably mid-40s,” senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology Andrew Haigh told AAP.

“That goes for anywhere west of the ranges as well”.

The state’s northwest will cop the brunt of the extreme heat with Wilcannia, Ivanhoe, Bourke and Menindee forecast to reach 47C on Saturday. In the Hunter Region, Singleton and Cessnock are predicted to reach 46C and 43C on Sunday.

Gallery

The Rural Fire Service has warned of a potential “catastrophic” fire danger warning on Sunday largely around the Hunter, from the coast, mid-north coast, out through the Central Tablelands, the top end of the greater Sydney region and out to the central west.

The RFS has urged residents to have their bushfire survival plans ready. The sizzling conditions will also continue to push the state’s energy network to limit with demand for power among the highest on record.

NSW managed to dodge widespread power blackouts on Friday despite demand reaching unprecedented levels as temperatures reached 45C in western Sydney and 47.4C in the western Riverina town of Hay.

The stress on the system will persist over the weekend, the Australian Market Energy Operator says, and it’s warned residents to be mindful of their electricity use.

Sydney will get no relief over the weekend with the city forecast to reach 39C on Saturday, and the west to reach the mid-40s.

The state’s Forestry Corporation has closed all forests between Sydney and Kempsey in the state’s north, along with forests in The Pilliga region and the Talleganda State Forest on the Southern Tablelands.

Saturday’s Randwick races have been postponed to Monday due to concerns about the welfare of horses and riders.

Newcastle’s A-League soccer match against Melbourne Victory has also been postponed until Monday, while Football NSW has cancelled all Saturday trial games for under-18s and below and shifted under-20s and first grade trials to evening start times.

NSW’s three NRL trial matches will however go ahead on Saturday evening, as will the Sheffield Shield clash between NSW and Queensland. Cricket NSW has cancelled all grades of Premier Cricket, while most school and children’s sport has been cancelled.

With many people heading to waterways to cool off in the heat, parents are being urged to keep an eye on children following a tragic summer of drownings. Health experts are reminding people to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and look out for people most at risk, while NSW clubs say they will provide water and respite for vulnerable people.

Heat is on in SA

Relief from the heat may be in sight but South Australia’s energy woes are likely to persist with no immediate solution to boosting the reliability of electricity supply.

Adelaide and most of the state sweltered through another scorcher on Friday with the city hitting 40C and some regional centres pushing above 46C after similar highs on Wednesday and Thursday.

The state avoided blackouts for a second day in a row as the Bureau of Meteorology forecast slightly milder conditions for Saturday ahead of a more significant cool change on Sunday.

However, the south westerlies that will blow through the state will do nothing to cool the debate over the state’s energy crisis.

The federal government continues to blame SA’s heavy reliance on renewables, which it says has left the electricity network wanting following the closure of the state’s last coal-fired power station last year.

But state Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis says it's the rules and mismanagement of the electricity market that’s the problem and not the availability of power. His government has vowed to go it alone and will detail its plans for “dramatic” intervention in the coming weeks.

When temperatures first soared in Adelaide on Wednesday about 90,000 consumers across the city and regional SA were unplugged as the Australian Energy Market Operator ordered load shedding to avoid damage to the network. A similar situation was avoided the following night with extra gas generation in SA brought online.

AAP