Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2016-17: November update

Following on from a wet winter across large parts of southern Australia (the second wettest winter on record for the country), September saw further rainfall, with more records broken in parts of central and western New South Wales, western Victoria, eastern South Australia and western Queensland. With this in mind, the bushfire seasonal outlook has been re-examined.

Further rainfall is expected to be average to below average in most areas, and when this is coupled with summer temperatures that are forecast to be average to above average, more areas are now expected to experience above normal fire conditions. This increase in fire potential is predominantly in grassland areas of Victoria and New South Wales, with above average rainfall leading to ideal growing conditions. As temperatures warm, this grass will dry, increasing the risk. 

This updated Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook, released as Hazard Note 23, replaces the previous Outlook, published as Hazard Note 19 in August 2016.