Fire warning for Sydney as temperatures set to soar today

Greater Sydney and the Illawarra are on high alert for fires today with temperatures set to soar into the 30s.

Both regions have been issued a high fire danger rating for today.

In Sydney, the temperature is forecast to rise to 17 degrees at 7am, and 24 degrees by 10am.

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But the 30-degree mark will come at about 1pm, and the heat is set to stick around well into the afternoon.

Even by 4pm, it's expected the temperature will only drop to 29 degrees.

The heat will be felt right across the greater metropolitan region, including Penrith, Hornsby, Campbelltown, and the CBD.

Strong winds are also forecast, adding to the fire danger.

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The Rural Fire Service has urged everybody in the area to be prepared to act, and to go over their bushfire and grass fire plans with loved ones, whether they're together or apart if a blaze erupts.

Temperatures in Sydney are set to drop again tomorrow, with tops of 24 degrees and showers predicted for the weekend, before further cooling next week.

The forecast fire danger rating for tomorrow has Sydney and the Illawarra again returning to a moderate level.

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