Firefighters and surf lifesavers have issued grave warnings as temperatures soar across the Hunter.
People flocked to local beaches, ending in tragedy for some, while firefighters were deployed to bushfires in the region on the hot and dry weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a fire weather warning for the Greater Hunter on Monday, September 21, with temperatures in Newcastle expected to hit 31 degrees.
A total fire ban was in place and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) forecast extreme fire danger for the Greater Hunter.
A bushfire on Abundance Road at Medowie, in the Port Stephens area, had ripped through more than 111 hectares by Monday morning. RFS crews were controlling it and the fire was burning at the advice level at that time.
A Pindimar Tea Gardens RFS brigade spokesperson said members of the community might have noticed the unmistakable smell of bushfire recently.
"Bushfire season is starting, and it's starting strong," they said in a social media post.
A crew from the brigade was sent to the Medowie fire on Sunday to help black out any hotspots that could pose a risk and become another source for embers to be thrown around and cause new spot fires.
The BOM warning said there would be warm and very dry conditions on Monday morning, combined with moderate to fresh and gusty west to northwesterly winds.
The bureau warned that would result in elevated fire danger across the Greater Hunter.
A cool, moderate to fresh and gusty south to south-easterly wind change was expected to reach the Hunter coastal areas about midday, before moving through inland parts of the Greater Hunter during the afternoon and evening. Increased moisture was expected to follow behind the change.
The BOM forecast a top temperature of 31 degrees in Newcastle on Monday, before dropping to a maximum of 20 degrees on Tuesday.
According to the Nobbys weather station, it was already 29 degrees just before 11am on Monday, and 31 degrees at Williamtown.
Firefighters also had blazes at Newline Road, Raymond Terrace, and on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae, under control at that time.
The temperature reached 29 degrees in Newcastle at the weekend, sending members of the public to the water to cool off.
A man in his 20s drowned after he and two other men were pulled from the water at Stockton beach just before 4pm on Sunday.
Separately, a group of three men also aged in their 20s got into trouble in the water at Saltwater beach, south east of Taree, just before 2pm that day. One man could not be revived and died at the scene.
Further north, at Cabarita beach, surfers discovered a man's body in the water about 12.30pm on Saturday. Members of the public attempted to revive the swimmer, in his 50s, but he died in hospital.
Birubi Surf Life Saving Club, based at the northern end of Stockton beach, issued a statement on Sunday that said its thoughts and prayers were with the family of the man who died locally.
The club said the official 2026-2027 surf life saving season was just one week away.
"[The] tragedy is a timely and heartbreaking reminder of the importance of making safe choices when visiting our coastline," the post said.
"Wherever possible, swim between the red and yellow flags, follow the advice of our lifesavers and always be aware of the conditions.
"Our coastline is beautiful, but the ocean can be unpredictable and conditions can change quickly.
Please look after yourselves, your families and each other this summer."
