NSW/ACT fire ban: 3 Oct 2007

From the Bureau of Meteorology Current Warnings:

NSW FIRE WEATHER WARNING
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
Issued at 1644 on Tuesday the 2nd of October 2007
for  Wednesday 3rd of October 

Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to cause VERY HIGH TO EXTREME FIRE
DANGER in the following NSW Fire Areas:

North Coast, Greater Hunter, New England, 
Illawarra/Shoalhaven, 
Central Ranges, Southern Ranges, 
Northern Slopes, Northwestern, 
Upper Central West Plains, Lower Central West Plains, 
Southern Slopes, Northern Riverina,
Greater Sydney Region, 
ACT

TOTAL FIRE BAN 

The Commissioner, NSW Rural Fire Service will TOTALLY BAN THE LIGHTING OF FIRES
from midnight tonight [Tuesday 2nd of October] until midnight tomorrow night
[Wednesday 3rd of October] in the following NSW Fire Areas: 

Far North Coast, North Coast,
Greater Hunter, New England,
Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Far South Coast,
Central Ranges, Southern Ranges, Monaro Alpine
Northern Slopes, Northwestern,
Upper CW Plains, Lower CW Plains,
Southern Slopes, Eastern Riverina, Northern Riverina,
Greater Sydney Region,
ACT

Maximum temperatures are expected to be in the upper-20s to mid-30s across the region. More threatening is the wind, which is predicted to average up to 80 km/h in higher elevations, with even higher gusts. Further, dewpoints are currently quite low, and with the afternoon heating, relative humidities could be below 10%. There is the threat of new fires starting, as well as existing major fires at Port Stephens and Little Pittiwater Bay blowing out and expanding.