Adelaide has hottest, driest February in eight years; Sampson Flat bushfire recovery continues
Below average rainfall has increased the severity of drought conditions in many parts of South Australia, a report from the weather bureau shows.
The weather bureau said there had been a severe lack of rainfall in the central West Coast district and south-eastern parts of the state in particular.
Last month was the hottest and driest February in Adelaide in eight years, but senior forecaster Matt Collopy said it had also been dry across the state.
"For parts of South Australia, particularly the agricultural parts, we are experiencing sort of the lowest 5 to 10 per cent or severe rainfall deficiencies for that period," Mr Collopy said.
"So that's from mid winter last year through to February, severe rainfall deficiencies across much of the agricultural parts of South Australia, which is obviously not good news at all."
Mr Collopy said the dry conditions also resulted in below-average soil moisture levels in most of the state.
"This time of year it's normal for soil moisture levels to be low and falling as well, but certainly the compounding effect of having a lot of dry months between July last year, and then another very hot and dry February obviously removing a lot of moisture from the soil over the past month or so," he said.
The bureau has forecast a possible shower in the Adelaide area on Monday, but otherwise it is expecting a fairly dry week ahead with temperatures in the mid to high 20s.
Dry conditions throughout spring prompted the Country Fire Service to issue revised warnings about the potential for an above-normal fire risk in late November.
About seven weeks later, the Sampson Flat bushfire in the Adelaide Hills razed through more than 12,000 hectares of land over a few days.
The fire destroyed or badly damaged 27 homes, four businesses, more than 100 sheds and other buildings, farm infrastructure, and resulted in the deaths of 932 livestock animals.
Bushfire recovery to continue for months
The Adelaide Hills Council said the recovery effort after the Sampson Flat bushfire would continue for months to come.
Mayor Bill Spragg said council workers were still removing vegetation from the sides of roads and clearing fence lines so they could be rebuilt.
"We're probably 70 per cent of the way there, there's probably a few roads that we've still got to get back to," Mr Spragg said.
"Given that we had several hundred kilometres of road [was] affected it's been a slow job."
The Adelaide Hills Council said most roadsides had been completely cleared of vegetation as the Sampson Flat bushfire recovery effort continued.
Mayor Spragg said those who had lost their properties were being supported by the council and the local community.
"The next stage is to try to make sure we don't have any problems with depression where people have lost their property and suddenly realised the impact it's having on them," he said.
"We've had the Red Cross come in to the recovery centre to try and provide people with assistance."
