Twenty schools on the NSW south coast have been closed due to an extreme fire danger rating

The Bureau of Meteorology expected the temperature in the New South Wales capital to reach a maximum of 34 degrees today.

Weatherzone’s Ben Domincino previously posted on Twitter that the temperature is expected to be the same for tomorrow.

“In data dating back to 1859, the city only reached 34°C in September on three occasions (2000, 1980 and 1965),” he wrote.

“This will be the first two days of 34°C temperatures for the month of September.”

Meanwhile, the Rural Fire Service posted that despite a blanket fire ban in Greater Sydney and the Far South Coast today, 61 fires were burning around NSW as of 9am.

Of these, 13 were not contained.

The RFS said more than 500 firefighters were battling the blazes.

A total of 21 streets across the South Coast and Midwest are closed for the day due to the fire danger rating being raised to extreme.

The NSW Department of Education announced the closures yesterday, saying the decision was made in consultation with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

This came after a complete ban on shooting was issued in the Greater Sydney area and the Far South Coast.

This is the first time in nearly three years that all of Sydney has been under a complete fire ban, with the mercury expected to rise to 33 degrees in the CBD and 35 in the west.

Below is a list of the 21 schools that are closed today.

Meanwhile, Queensland is also on high alert ahead of higher temperatures later in the week.

Fire risks are expected to increase tomorrow and Thursday, with temperatures across the state rising about 10 degrees above the monthly average.

A fire at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast has now been contained after burning 172 hectares.