Wet winter prompts fire season warning
Weather experts are warning South Australia could be facing its worst fire danger season in years.
The Adelaide Hills are lush and green following the wettest winter in SA in eight years, leading to a higher than normal fuel load, while the outlook for spring suggests it will be warm.
Forecasters expect both maximum and minimum temperatures will be above the long term average.
“It should dry out and heat up faster than normal and there is potential for this to be the worst fire season in four years,” Brett Dutschke from Weatherzone said.
Summer is also shaping up to be hot.
“Summer overall should turn out to be hotter than a normal one with higher heat wave potential than the previous two seasons,” Mr Dutschke said.
Warmer than average conditions across central and northern Australia are likely to occur, and northerly winds will push that heat into South Australia.
While the Country Fire Service (CFS) has increased its aerial bombing fleet from 14 to 17 aircraft – the weather bureau is warning property owners to act now.
“People should already start making preparations, cutting grass and making sure they act sensibly on bushfire danger days,” Andrew Watson from the weather bureau said.
