Sydneysiders urged to stay indoors as Australian bushfire smoke blankets city

The moon rises over the Sydney Opera House as smoke from bushfires shrouds the skyline in Sydney, Australia November 12, 2019. REUTERS/John Mair

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Strong winds stoked more than 100 fires across Australia's east coast on Tuesday, blanketing Sydney in hazardous smoke and prompting health warnings for the country's most populous city.

Australia is prone to bushfires in its dry, hot summers, but fierce blazes have been sparked early, in the southern spring, by a long drought and soaring temperatures.