As Australia bids farewell to its warmest August on record, authorities are sounding the alarm for an early start to the bushfire season. The Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) released the official seasonal bushfire outlook for spring 2024, revealing heightened fire risks across several states.
The report highlights that Queensland and the Northern Territory in the north, along with Victoria and South Australia in the south, face an increased likelihood of bushfires during the season, which commenced on September 1 and extends through November.
Compiled by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the outlook indicates a strong chance of unusually high spring temperatures across most of the country. In northern regions, dry grasslands—fueled by dry winter winds and unseasonal rainfall earlier in the year—have led to increased fuel loads. Southern areas have experienced rainfall in the lowest 10 percent on record for the first half of 2024, resulting in more dead and dry vegetation.
AFAC Chief Executive Rob Webb urged communities to take proactive measures. “Fire and emergency services are prepared for the fire season ahead and are here today to encourage communities to do the same,” he stated during the AFAC annual conference in Sydney. “Now is the time to make a plan. Understand your local risk, know where you will get your information, and talk to your family about what you will do.”
The BoM confirmed that August was Australia’s warmest ever, with the national average temperature exceeding the 1961-1990 long-term August average by 3.03 degrees Celsius. Their long-range forecast suggests warmer-than-average temperatures are likely across all states and territories this spring.
With these warnings, Australians are encouraged to stay informed and prepared. The combination of climatic factors underscores the importance of community readiness to mitigate the potential impacts of an early and intense bushfire season.
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Authorities warn of likely early start to Australian bushfire season
cgtn.com
