Western Australia
Above normal fire potential is indicated through most
parts of the south-west Land Division due to increased grassland
fuels following recent winter rains across the southwest forests
and grasslands combined with anticipated El Nino conditions.
A normal fire potential is expected through the Gascoyne,
Goldfields, Eucla and parts of the interior after near average
rainfall.
South
Australia
Above average fire potential is indicated in the southern
and eastern parts of the state. In the eastern part of the west
coast, eastern and Lower Eyre Peninsula, the mid-north and the
lower southeast the rainfall received to date along with favourable
growing conditions should produce abundant grass fuel. In the
Murraylands and the Riverland, the potential is due to both an
ongoing rainfall deficit and land use changes. Normal levels of
activity are expected in the southern parts of the pastoral areas
due to average rainfall, and on Kangaroo Island due to above
average rainfall.
Victoria
Above normal fire potential is expected for all of
Victoria; a result of a persistent long-term rainfall deficit over
the state. Forested areas in the Dandenong Ranges, Otway Ranges,
the Grampians, the Macedon–Bendigo corridor, East Gippsland,
and the water catchments of Melbourne are areas of particular
concern. In all regions an early start to the fire season is
likely. While recent rainfall totals in many areas of the state
have been about average, it is not expected to mitigate the
longer-term drying in the state.
New
South Wales and ACT
In northern New South
Wales, the region of above normal potential results from heavy
rains earlier in the year being followed by recent rainfall
deficits allowing the abundant fuel to dry. Predicted above average
spring temperatures are expected to continue this drying
trend.
In southern New South Wales
and the ACT generally below average winter rains compound the long
term rainfall deficiencies experienced across the region. This
combined with predicted above average spring temperatures will lead
to dry fuels over the southeast, and potentially early curing over
the southern inland. Winter rains were especially sparse over
southeast New South Wales to the east of the ranges where
unseasonable fire activity has already occurred.
Queensland
Above normal fire potential is expected from the Toowoomba
escarpment south to the New South Wales border and extending
north-west towards Charleville. This area extends to the North
Coast Region as late autumn rainfall in coastal areas and wet soil
and fuel conditions delayed prescribed burning in the
region.
A normal bushfire potential is expected in the Brisbane
and Southeast Region, and west of a line from Charleville to
Blackall due to lower fuel loads.
Tasmania
Above average winter rainfall in Tasmania has left much of
the eastern half of the state with lower than normal fire
potential, while the coastal strip from the east and
across the north coast, plus all of the
southwest, has normal fire
potential.
Central Australia
A large area of below-average fire potential exists in
Central Australia, as several years of below-average rains have
left little fuel in this area.
