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Fire fuel loads increase after recent heat in NSW

Ben Domensino, Tuesday January 17, 2017 - 16:34 AEDT

Prolonged heatwave conditions are helping elevate the bushfire threat in parts of New South Wales this week, after a slow start to the season.

As of today, Lightning ridge has registered eight consecutive days above 39 degrees and Mungindi seven over 40. This is the longest such spell in seven years for both locations. If Lightning Ridge gets above 39 degrees until Friday, it will be the longest run of heat this intense in a decade.

Further south, Forbes had its hottest January day in at least 20 years on Friday 13th when the mercury hit 45.5 degrees. Wanaaring reached a scorching 46.9 degrees on the same day.

The recent hot weather comes after the second hottest December on record for New South Wales and it is helping create new fuel for bushfires.

The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a satellite-based measure of vegetation health, reveals that most areas on and west of the ranges have seen a significant reduction in live, green vegetation since November. Abundant vegetation that had grown west of the ranges after record-breaking mid-year rainfall has rapidly dried out and is dying.

Most of the state experienced Very High fire danger ratings today as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees from Campbelltown to Cobar. The hot weather helped a bushfire at Currandooley, near the ACT, grow and get out of control. This prompted an emergency warning from the Rural Fire Service.

Total fire bans have also been issued for Wednesday in the Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, Southern Slopes and ACT fire area.

Visit http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/major-fire-updates for updates on major fires in New South Wales and the ACT.

- Weatherzone

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A very wet weekend for southeast Qld, northeast NSW

11:48 AEST A prolonged rainfall event is set to bring large totals to parts of NSW and Qld from Saturday, with possible heavy falls and flooding. A low-pressure system in the Coral Sea, a deepening coastal trough and persistent easterlies will bring moisture-laden air into southeast Qld and northeast NSW will bring days of rainfall to the region. While there is not a drop of rain on the radar over southeast Qld and Northeast NSW on Friday morning, the mass of cloud associated with a low in the Coral Sea will enhance rainfall over the weekend.