Temperatures surpassing 40C are set to combine with dry lightning strikes and wind to add to NSW's bushfire nightmare over the weekend.
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But a number of days of respite are expected to follow.
Saturday's forecast paints a grim outlook for parts of the state - particularly the NSW south coast - already battling scores of uncontrolled deadly bushfires as residents flee their homes and holiday-goers cancel plans.
Heat is set to quickly rise on Saturday before a change sweeps over the state, Bureau of Meteorology acting NSW manager Jane Golding said.
"In short, we've got a long hot day to get through first with some really dangerous fire dangers," Ms Golding told reporters on Friday.
"That cold front bringing that southerly change, we're expecting that not to reach the far south coast ... until late in the day, to move through the Batemans Bay region early evening and come through Sydney about midnight."
The fire danger will reach extreme levels in some areas and the forecast late cool change is due to bring thunderstorms and lightning.
NSW faces a two-day total fire ban from Friday, the third seven-day state of emergency in as many months and demands for those across the state's south coast and Snowy Valleys to evacuate immediately.
"The chance of new fires from lightning tomorrow is high," Ms Golding said.
"The main area we're concerned about is an area stretching right from the South Australian border to the central and southern slopes, western slopes of NSW."
On a brighter note, the Rural Fire Service said weather conditions around NSW would ease for a number of days from Sunday.
Southern NSW may experience some showers on Sunday and Monday.
"There's potential for some elevated winds later in (next) week but no big heat spikes because of that hot air mass, there's some more moist air brought into the west of the country helping to flush out that hot air," RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told reporters on Friday.
"There's some potential showers Sunday, Monday, particularly in Victoria that potentially might push up to the south of NSW. That'll all be welcome."
NSW Health, meanwhile, warned people to remain cautious about air pollution, with the Sydney basin likely to endure smoke haze on Saturday.
The elderly and those with lung and heart conditions have been advised to remain indoors and avoid exercise.
Australian Associated Press
