The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a top of 35 degrees in the late afternoon today with temperatures set to soar into the 40s across much of the state on Monday before a cool change arrives in the evening.

US President Joe Biden placed climate action among his top priorities on taking office. Most analysts expect Australia’s relative inaction to get more attention.

Heritage NSW has blasted the Berejiklian government’s preparations for raising the Warragamba Dam wall, saying consultation with traditional owners was inadequate and modelling was needed to determine the likely impacts to cultural heritage from inundation.

State-owned Forestry Corporation says last summer's record bushfires scorched half of the native forest estate and a quarter of its softwood plantations, setting the agency on track for a sharp drop in revenue in coming years.

Blistering heat from inland Australia will sweep towards the NSW coast in coming days, prompting health authorities to warn the public to take "necessary precautions" to avoid heat-related illnesses.