Temperatures soared to 38C at 3pm in Sydney’s CBD while further west at Penrith they reached 38.2C.

In Bega the mercury hit 38.4C at 3pm while at Goulburn it was slightly cooler at 33C.

The NSW Rural Fire Service this afternoon issued watch and act alerts for the fires at Bega and another near Goulburn, northeast of Canberra.

A fire at Kerrisons Lane and Northview Close at Bega “is burning close to isolated properties”, the service said, adding “if the fire reaches your property, protect yourself from the heat of the fire”.

The advice continued: “If you plan to leave, or you are not prepared, leave early.”

A similar alert was issued for a bushfire at Tarraganda, southeast of Bega, near Reedy Swamp Rd.

Elsewhere another watch and act alert was issued for a fire at Tarlo River Road in Greenwich Park northeast of Goulburn.

“Firefighters are on scene. Additional crews are being sent to assist,” the RFS said.

Total fire bans were issued for more than half of NSW on Sunday including the Greater Sydney region given the hot and windy conditions.

Twelve of the state’s 21 regions are experiencing severe fire conditions.

Earlier total fire bans were issued for more than half of NSW, including the Greater Sydney region, with hot and windy conditions predicted to create dangerous conditions.

The entire southeast corner of the state was declared total fire ban, from the Greater Hunter down to the Far South Coast.

The North Western region that borders Queensland was also put under a total fire ban.

The official bushfire danger period doesn’t end until March 31.