THE risk of heatwaves and bushfires will continue in coming months with very hot and dry conditions to continue.
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The Bureau of Meteorology's (BoM) Climate and Water Outlook for February to April was released on Thursday and it included no relief from the drought for the region.
BoM senior hydrologist Dr Paul Feikema said warmer than average days and nights would continue.
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"The dry signal has eased considerably [but] scattered parts of the country may still see below average rainfall over the next three months," he said.
"With dry soils prevailing temperatures are very likely to remain warmer than average."
There is an 80 per cent chance of above average temperatures for Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Mudgee, Parkes, Young, Lithgow, Cowra and Forbes during the next three months, the BoM's data shows.
February tends to be the time when bushfire risk peaks, this means the heatwave and bushfire risk continues to be high.
- Bureau of Meteorology senior hydrologist Dr Paul Feikema
Rainfall levels will likely be lower in these areas with a 40 per cent chance of exceeding median levels across this time period.
For areas around Peak Hill, Cobar, Manildra and Canowindra the chance is around 35 per cent.
Low stream flows are likely for most locations.
Dr Feikema said the risk of bushfires would continue in coming months.
"February tends to be the time when bushfire risk peaks, this means the heatwave and bushfire risk continues to be high," he said.
Dr Feikema said while January rains were welcomed in many areas, the landscape could soon dry again.
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"Rainfall in January provided relief in some fire affected regions, but there were also severe thunderstorms and flash flooding in some locations," he said.
"Rains have increased soil moisture in many areas, although soils are still drier than average."
Dr Feikema said the climate drivers that contributed to the record warm and dry conditions during 2019 have now eased.
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