Hot and windy conditions to fan 'erratic' fires across New South Wales

Authorities have warned hot, dry and windy conditions could cause "erratic" bushfire behaviour with total fire bans in place for much of NSW.

The Rural Fire Service has placed total fire bans on 10 regions across the state on Friday ahead of forecast hot and windy weather.

An extreme fire warning is in place for the southern slopes while severe fire warnings have been issued for the Monaro alpine region, ACT, southern ranges and eastern Riverina.

A southwesterly wind change is expected to impact inland fires on Friday afternoon with a gusty southerly change forecast to impact coastal towns from the evening, the RFS said in a statement on Thursday.

"These conditions will make fire behaviour erratic and dangerous," the RFS said.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 46C in central NSW, 43C at Tumut in the Riverina, 42C at Penrith in western Sydney and 36C at Nowra on the South Coast.

Total fire bans in place in north-western NSW, greater Sydney, central ranges, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, southern ranges, far south coast, Monaro alpine, southern slopes, eastern Riverina and northern Riverina.

NSW fire crews took advantage of cooler conditions this week by backburning and strengthening containment lines before the forecast heat.

Favourable conditions this week have helped energy crews restore power to most South Coast and Southern Highlands communities where bushfires caused widespread damage over the weekend.

Authorities, meanwhile, have confirmed that 1870 NSW homes have been destroyed since the start of the fire season, with more than 750 damaged.

More than 950 have been confirmed destroyed in 2020 alone.

Almost 200 facilities and 3774 outbuildings have also been razed.

Since July, 20 people have died in the NSW bushfires, as well as 6200 livestock and millions of wild animals.

More than 130 fires were burning across the state early on Friday - with nearly half uncontained.