NSW firefighters are preparing for the return of hot weather as they monitor almost 50 fires across the state.
Worsening fire conditions are expected to affect parts of inland southern NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Temperatures are expected to rise across much of the state, with the fire danger likely to be very high on Friday and Saturday.
"We're also going to see more shower and thunderstorm activity with this system, which will include the areas where the fires are," bureau forecaster Mick Logan told AAP on Thursday.
While the system posed a headache for firefighters, Mr Logan said it would not bring as severe conditions as last weekend.
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"The key thing about this new front is that it's nowhere as strong as the first system, so it's not going to be as hot or windy," he said.
"Once we get through the hot conditions of tomorrow then the weekend does look like bringing some good relief."
The state is still counting the cost of last weekend's "catastrophic" fire conditions that resulted in at least 44 homes being razed, mostly in central-western NSW.
The Rural Fire Service has been advised that more than 800 animals, mostly sheep and goats, were lost in the large blaze that blackened 52,000 hectares east of Dunedoo.
They included 430 sheep, 325 goats, 55 cattle, 20 dogs and three alpacas.
The damage bill is already at least $20 million and that figure is set to rise, according to The Insurance Council of Australia.
An RFS spokesman told AAP that firefighters were prepared for the warmer conditions.
"Crews have been working extremely hard over the last week but they remain vigilant and ready to respond to any new fires that break out during this increased warmer weather," he said.
