Showers in some parts of Australia next week will bring some relief to the fire-ravaged country, though first, it will have to battle through more hot and windy conditions.
Rain and showers are expected to fall down the east coast next week, bringing lighter winds with it.
The rain is expected to continue through next weekend.
On Thursday, 1-6mm of rain is expected to fall at Merimbula in NSW, with up to 10mm predicted to fall in Bega, said Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.
For the coming weekend, however, "difficult and erratic" fire activity is expected.
"At 9am there are 134 fires burning, 53 are uncontained," NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said on Twitter.
"Around 2500 firefighters are in the field preparing for expected difficult and erratic fire conditions today [Friday]."
Haze from the bushfires continue to pollute parts of the country. On Thursday, meteorologist Andrea Pearce said thick smoke was persisting in the capital Canberra and the wider state of ACT, while it's also become a daily feature in Sydney.
Respite from smoke is unlikely to come while the fires are still burning on the landscapes.
Firefighters have been pushed to breaking point as the fires continue to ravage the country, with Defence Force personnel from Australia and New Zealand also assisting in the battle.
