Winds are rising towards dangerous levels in New South Wales, stoking bushfires across

the state as an ominous weather change looms later today.

 A state of emergency has been declared in New South Wales;
 Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven face “catastrophic fire danger”;
 A number of Sydney suburbs are close to bushland and at risk;
 54 are fires burning in NSW, 30 of them uncontained, with 10 designated “watch and
act”;
 Emergency warnings have been issued for three fires;
 A cool change is expected in the early evening, and could see fires change direction;
 54 fires are burning in Queensland, with the blaze at Cobraball still uncontrolled;
 Hundreds of schools across both states are closed today.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has warned residents to leave homes immediately in areas
facing the greatest danger, taking their pets with them.
Emergency warnings have been issued for three fires – Hillville Road, Gulf Road and the
one in the Nowendoc area.
The highest level of “catastrophic fire danger” is forecast for the Greater Hunter, Greater
Sydney and Illawarra/Shoalhaven regions, while “extreme fire danger” is the warning for
the North Coast, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, New England, Northern Slopes and
North Western areas.
“Severe fire danger” is forecast for the Far North Coast, Far South Coast and Monaro
Alpine, while a “very high” risk is forecast for the Upper Central West Plains, Lower
Central West Plains and Southern Slopes.
A cold front is expected to sweep through in the late afternoon and early evening, and
could cause the fires to quickly change direction.
Read on for all the latest updates.