Strong winds billowing through the area already had emergency services on high alert, with lightning storms predicted for the region on Friday.

NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews had already responded to at least one fire before the alert was issued shortly before 11am.

“Due to the increased risk of fire in the Wagga, Lockhart, Junee and Coolamon areas, the NSW RFS is requesting harvest operators immediately stop,” the organisation said in a tweet.

“Check local conditions before deciding whether it is safe to continue harvesting.”

The service’s Fires Near Me listed a grass fire on a property along Lockhart-The Rock Road at French Park as under control on Friday morning.

The Lower Central West Plains, Southern Slopes and Eastern Riverina have been declared areas of very high fire danger ratings for Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast possible severe thunderstorms for areas between Griffith, West Wyalong, Yass and Albury. 

While the thunderstorms are not expected to deliver much rain, they are going to bring some cooler weather, with Saturday expected to reach a much milder 27 degrees and Sunday a slightly warmer 30 degrees.

The month got off to a hot start to November, with a Wagga recording a maximum temperature of 37.6 degrees at 2.45pm on Thursday, after a mild overnight low of 16.9 degrees, which was clocked just after 6am.

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