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Today Is Not Only Bloody Hot, It's Also Dangerous

The heat in parts of NSW and Queensland will be intense.

Australians living in the country's east are sweating through their first day of a week-long heat wave, as poor air quality and a total fire ban in NSW prompts warnings from authorities.

But residents in NSW can expect brief respite in the form of a short, cool change over the weekend.

Temperatures in NSW are expected to hit 38C and could push past 40C in some parts of the state on Wednesday, while parts of Queensland are tipped to hit highs of 35 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

NSW Health Tips For Beating the Heatwave

  1. Drink Plenty of Water
  2. Keep Cool
  3. Take Care of Others
  4. Have a plan

NSW authorities are urging people with respiratory conditions to take caution with high air pollution levels spurred on by high ozone levels.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has imposed a total fire ban on the Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Central Ranges, Southern Slopes and North Western districts.

RFS inspector Ben Shepherd told the ABCsome areas were experiencing some "unbelievable" temperatures, perfect fit the easily and rapid spread of grass fires.

"We're now seeing the introduction of those strong winds. What we don't need now is any fire activity," Shepherd told the national broadcaster.

In Queensland the mercury is tipped to hit 34C in Brisbane and as high as 38C in Blackwater.

The heat is expected to peak on Saturday, when Brisbane's temperature is forecast to rise to 36C, with predicted peaks of 40C in parts of central Queensland.

The people are more likely to be affected by air pollution:

  • People with asthma: exposure to air pollution might worsen your symptoms or trigger asthma attacks. Use your reliever medicine and check you have an up to date asthma action plan.
  • People with lung disease, such as chronic bronchitis (also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD): exposure to air pollution might worsen your symptoms. Use your reliever medicine and see your doctor if symptoms don't resolve.
  • People with cardiovascular (heart) disease: exposure to air pollution might induce symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain or shortness of breath. If your symptoms persist or are severe, you should seek urgent medical advice from your doctor or nearest Emergency Department.

Sydney is expected to experience a brief, cooler change over the weekend.

Currently in Sydney... ☀️🔥☀️🔥 #sydneyheatwave #everythingismelting #toomuchsummerlove

A photo posted by Myrsini V (@myrsiniv) on

Slip on a shirt - but not just any. This video shows you the best fabrics, colours and weaves for maximum protection https://t.co/L8WwPGvacc

— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) January 10, 2017

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