Speaking on Thursday at a national bushfire outlook conference, ACT Emergency Services Agency commissioner Dominic Lane said authorities were expecting dry conditions across NSW and the ACT.

Canberra lost four lives and nearly 500 homes as a result of the 2003 fire, which also had a fire-generated tornado.

"Make no mistake, in Canberra we face the same scenario going into this year," Mr Lane said.

The Bureau of Meteorology's winter recap indicates rainfall was below average for the season.

Two of the stations recorded their lowest total winter rainfall on record, and the station at Parliament House recorded its lowest rainfall since 1982.

Canberra Airport had only 19 per cent of its average rainfall in July, and the total rainfall at the site during winter was only 50 per cent of the long-term average.

Mr Lane said emergency services would start doorknocking Canberra's bushfire prone suburbs to get them to prepare.

Doorknocking was slated to begin in October, but emergency services were unable to confirm in which suburbs before deadline.

Mr Lane said Canberra's emergency services had learned a lot from the 2003 fire.

Canberra's firefighters were better equipped and trained than 15 years ago but Mr Lane warned Canberrans not to be complacent.

"We're going to see a warmer than average summer and drier than average summer in the ACT," Mr Lane said.

Over winter, Canberra had 52 frost days, down from the average of 57. The capital also recorded 29 rainy days, below the winter average of 32.

Outlook data from the bureau indicated spring in Canberra would have more days above the median temperature of 19.5 degrees.

Canberra was also unlikely to have its median rainfall for spring. There is a less than 50 per cent chance the capital will get 150mm of rain between September and November.

NSW Rural Fire Service communications director Anthony Clark said the state had had the worst drought in nearly 100 years in some places.

He warned the bushfire zone stretched from the Queensland border south to the Victorian border.

"Prepare yourself, prepare your home and prepare your family," Mr Clark said.