A thick smoke haze settled across the Illawarra this morning, causing air quality to sit at hazardous levels in some parts of the region.
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Fire crews have advised that the smoke is coming from the Gospers Mountain fire in the Hawkesbury, which has burnt out almost 123,000 hectares of land in the Wollemi and Yengo national parks.
The smoke, which has blown in due to north and northwesterly winds, is expected to clear this afternoon when westerly winds are forecast.
The air quality readings for visibility in Albion Park and Kembla Grange are currently rated hazardous or very poor.
According to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's website, this means people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should avoid exercising outdoors. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
Looking ahead, fire danger across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven remains very high with firefighters bracing for severe weather conditions across the state on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast temperatures up to 28 degrees in Wollongong and 31 degrees in Albion Park on Tuesday with winds up to 30km/h. Wednesday will be cooler, while 27 degrees is forecast in Wollongong on Thursday.
Six lives and 530 homes have been lost since the bushfire season hit some weeks ago and the state faces at least two "tough days" this week, with temperatures in some parts of the state likely to rise into the 40s and little to no rainfall.
More than 420 homes have been destroyed in the past fortnight alone.
Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said Tuesday and Thursday would be tough days for firefighters with severe weather conditions forecast.
Firefighters extinguished a number of small blazes in the Illawarra during last week's catastrophic fire conditions. One person was charged after a fire at Balgownie.
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Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
