Canberra, Nov 30, Nov. 30 -- A high alert was issued on Monday for the states of New South Wales and Queensland on Australia east coast for potential bushfires due to extreme heatwave that has hit the region.

A total fire ban is in place for NSW's north western and northern slopes areas on Monday with very high fire danger, Xinhua news agency quoted the state's Rural Fire Service (RFS) as saying.

Over the weekend, most of Australia was hit by the extreme heatwave with temperatures reaching a high of at least 40 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees across NSW's western areas and in the coast.

State capital Sydney recorded two consecutive days of a temperature over 40 degrees Celsius and its hottest November night on Novemb...