Showers and cooler weather has provided a much needed reprieve for firefighters and affected communities, with all fires in NSW being put back to "advice level".
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However, by Friday, north-westerly winds are forecast to return, bringing dangerous dry heat back to the south-east of Australia.
While welcome, the quick rain showers are not enough to put out the current fires - nor wet down the unburnt environment in places like the Illawarra to prevent more fires.
At Bellambi, only 0.8mm of rain was recorded, while at Albion Park 7.8mm has fallen in the first week of 2020.
Next Sunday is the best chance for more showers, however the long range forecasts indicate heavy rain is still months away.
On January 2, the Bureau of Meteorology updated its climate outlook for the next few months, predicting continuing drier than average conditions throughout January for the eastern parts of Australia,
By February, rainfall will likely be closer to average, the BOM says, although there remains a slight dry signal in parts of the east".
Average rainfall at both Bellambi and Albion Park is about 135mm in February - usually the wettest month across the region.
With drier than average conditions likely to continue, Owen Price, from UOW's Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, told the Mercury the Illawarra needs to be on high alert for the rest of the fire season - which usually ends in March.
"It is quite stark that the Woronora Plateau is the only major area of forest in NSW that hasn't burnt yet.
"I can't imagine there is any particular reason other than chance. I think if it doesn't rain soon, it is a definite possibility that will burn."
The rain is also needed to fill the water catchment area surrounding the Illawarra and Sydney, to stop the next level of water restrictions being implemented.
Level 3 restrictions were slated to be implemented once dam levels hit 30 per cent, previously predicted to happen in July.
The total dam storage is currently at 43.1 per cent.
Cataract Dam, closest to Wollongong, is a 25.6 per cent capacity, and Cordeaux is at 37.5 per cent.