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By 2030 the Upper Hunter can expect up to 10 more days a year when temperatures top 35 degrees Celsius, according to new climate change projections released by the state government.
By 2070, 20 more such stifling hot days a year are expected.
Average temperatures across the state will rise 2.1 degrees by 2070, according to the data developed from a research partnership between the NSW and ACT governments and climate modellers at the University of NSW Climate Change Research Centre.
Their report includes data to the nearest 10 kilometres.
NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes said this meant communities could enter their location and access information that would help them to understand their future risk.
‘‘Climate change adaption is all about the ability of our regional communities to respond, adapt and take up opportunities,’’ Mr Stokes said.
According to the projections, maximum temperatures in the Hunter would increase by 1.6 to 2.6 degrees by 2070.
In the near future, out to 2030, rainfall would decrease in spring and winter but it increase in autumn in the longer term.
The report says the Hunter currently experiences an average of 10 to 20 days a year of temperatures above 35 degrees, although areas near Muswellbrook and Denman have recorded about 20 to 30 such days a year.
By 2030, the region generally will experience about five more of the hot days, and by 2070 14 more days.
But the Upper Hunter will be hit with another 10 days of hot temperatures and more than 20 extra by 2070.
The Upper Hunter can also expect 30 to 40 fewer cold nights, of temperatures below 2 degrees, by 2070.
There would be an increase in severe fire weather in summer and spring in the region.
‘‘Although these changes are relatively small in magnitude (up to two more days per year on average) they are projected in prescribed burning periods (spring) and the peak fire risk season (summer),’’ the report said.
Explore the data at climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au