Cool weather is allowing the 15,000 Australian firemen fighting the bush fires in the country to contain many of the wildfires that have been burning out of control.
About 100 fires - almost half of them deliberately lit - have destroyed 150 homes and razed hundreds of thousands of acres of forest and farmland.
No deaths have been reported, but more than 4,400 people have been evacuated.
Temperatures were well below the 38 degrees Celsius forecast, but meteorologists and local officials warned scorching weather could return and stoke fires in forests that remain tinder-dry.
Fires continued to burn north, west and south of the nation's largest city and views of Sydney's opera house and bridge were shrouded in grey smoke.
With visibility poor, some jetliners were diverted from Sydney Airport and dozens of flights were delayed, although the airport continued to operate.
Six people have been arrested for allegedly starting fires. Other arsonists remain at large, police said.
PA