The NSW RFS has declared a Total Fire Ban for Lismore and the Northern Rivers tomorrow (Monday) with 37 degrees forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology..

An Extreme Fire Danger is expected as warm to hot and dry conditions combine with fresh to locally strong and gusty westerly winds.

There is also the chance of a thunderstorm over the far northeast in the afternoon and evening.

The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) provides the following advice:

Under Extreme fire conditions:

• Take action now to protect your life and property.
• These are dangerous fire conditions.
• Check your bush fire plan and ensure that your property is fire ready.
• If a fire starts, take immediate action.
• If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts.
• Reconsider travel through bush fire risk areas.

Please note: The NSW RFS may issue a Harvest Safety Alert for areas of heightened risk. Harvest operators should monitor conditions and regularly check that they are operating within guidelines.

No fires may be lit in the open, and all fire permits are suspended during a Total Fire Ban. Gas and electric barbeques may be used, provided certain conditions are met. Total Fire Ban rules and a map of current Total Fire Ban areas are listed at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. 

The BoM has just cancelled the Severe Thunderstorm Warning for large hailstones and damaging winds in the far north of the Northern Rivers, so Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads.

A cold front sweeping across the south of the state is interacting with a moist and unstable atmosphere to generate severe thunderstorms this evening.

The brighter news is that a cooler, gusty south to southeast wind change is expected tomorrow afternoon and evening.

Those cooler winds will drop the maximum temperature by a whopping 18 degrees, leaving us with a top of 19 degrees for Tuesday with 15-40mm expected.

Showers and possible showers is the forecast for the rest of this week.