That was the message from Officer in Charge of Yass Police Station, Inspector Matthew Hinton as the temperature rose to 36 degrees at midday.

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The Yass Valley is facing a severe fire danger rating and the total fire ban is in place until midnight on November 21.

"A total fire ban means no fires in open areas. We don't want any risks of ignition of a fire," Inspector Hinton said.

"Everyone who has work to do in regards to welding, any opportunity for a fire to begin, the total fire ban prohibits."

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Anyone who starts a fire under a total fire ban could be put before the court, Inspector Hinton said.

"The fines are quite significant. $2200 can be issued on the spot to people who ignite a fire on a total fire ban day. If those matters went to court, people could face 12 months in jail or a $5000 fine," he said.

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The temperature will continue to rise on Thursday and could spike under a north-westerly wind change mid-afternoon, NSW RFS Southern Tablelands Zone operational officer Lachlan Gilchrist.

"In conditions such as this, fires are very difficult to control. They will move quickly, they will be hard to stop and they will put property under risk very, very quickly," Mr Gilchrist said.

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"The protracted drought conditions are really presenting challenges for us. We invite the community not to be complacent. You only have to look at the severe situation in the north of the state and the challenges facing communities there.

"Southern Tablelands is not immune to those conditions, we're seeing them on our doorstep today."

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