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Late-spring heat fuelling fire danger

Ben Domensino, Monday November 21, 2016 - 11:15 AEDT

Emergency services in Australia's southeast are facing one of their first challenges of the fire season today.

Temperatures will climb to their highest level since last summer in some areas this afternoon, helping elevate the bushfire risk in Victoria and South Australia.

Severe to extreme fire danger ratings have been forecast today in central and eastern parts of South Australia and northwest Victoria.

Total fire bans are in force until midnight for the Mallee in Victoria and South Australia's Riverland, Murraylands, Mid North, Flinders, Yorke Peninsula and Pastoral districts.

The fire season got off to a slow start in the region this year following above average rain during the middle of the year. A number of areas in Australia's southeast had their wettest May-to-October on record.

In addition to the rain, maximum temperatures were below average across the region during October and many aras in September.

Unprecedented pre-fire season rainfall and a cooler-than-average temperatures have helped suppress fire danger so far this season.

Gusty northerly winds will flush southeastern states with hot and dry air today, before a cool change sweeps through and drops temperatures by close to 20 degrees in some areas. This contrast in temperatures will help produce blustery winds, which will be problematic for authorities battling fires.

Renmark in South Australia could reach 40 degrees today for the first time this season. Adelaide's should reach the low thirties but will fail to match Sunday's 36, which was the hottest day in eight months. The cool change arrived in the state's west this morning and should reach Adelaide in the middle of the day, eastern areas this afternoon and the northeast tonight.

Victoria will endure hot conditions for most of Monday, before the change reaches western districts this afternoon and central areas tonight. If Aireys Inlet reaches the forecast top of 37 degrees it will be the hottest November day in 19 years. It is also forecast to be the hottest November day in nine years for Sale (38C), seven years for Bairnsdale (37C) and four years for Melbourne (38C), Ballarat (33C) and Shepparton (29C).

Tasmania is feeling the heat today as well, although fire danger ratings will be lower than the mainland. Strahan and Launceston are expected to reach 28 degrees, their hottest November day in four years. Hobart may reach 30 degrees for the first time since March.

Tomorrow will be considerably cooler across southeastern Australia due to cloud, showers and southwesterly winds. Melbourne may be close to 20 degrees cooler than today, while Hobart and Adelaide will both be about 10 degrees below today's mark.

- Weatherzone

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