A low-intensity heatwave is passing across the Orana region, with temperatures set to soar to 41 degrees which is well above the city's long-term average maximum for the month of 31.5 degrees.

The hottest December day on record for Dubbo saw the mercury rise to 42.1 degrees on December 22, 1994.

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Along with the heatwave will come more hazy weather thanks to bushfires burning across NSW and ongoing dust storms.

Dubbo awoke to very dusty and smoky conditions on Monday, with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment listing the air quality as hazardous, with health alerts expected to continue for the next few days.

The fire danger rating will be high for Dubbo on Tuesday, but it rises to severe in areas further east including Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow and Mudgee.

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NSW RFS Orana District Superintendent Lyndon Wieland said anyone living near bushland areas should be alert to an increased fire risk this summer due to the drought.

"If there's a fire in our forested areas, it won't be good," he said. "Any temperature and weather increase will lift our fire danger and make fires difficult to control."

Supt Wieland said only residents who are fit and healthy, with a well-prepared property, should consider staying to defend their property during a fire.

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So far this year Dubbo has received just 211.3 millimetres of rain which is less than half of the long-term average of 569.8mm.

The average monthly rainfall for December is 61.3mm, but so far just 2.6mm has been recorded at Dubbo Airport.

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