Wimmera’s recent bushfire history in photos
THE Wimmera could face another high risk bushfire season as dry conditions continue to plague the region.
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The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre has released its Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for 2015-16, which shows the Wimmera will have above normal bushfire potential this summer.
The report said the above normal forecast was mostly due to a strengthening El Niño over the Pacific Ocean, which was now tracking as one of the strongest on record.
“There have also been significantly below average rainfall in the past decade and the dry conditions mean any surface moisture from rain will quickly decline once temperatures start to warm up,” the report said.
The report said 2014 was Australia’s third warmest year on record, and when combined with long-term rainfall deficiencies, an early start to the bushfire season was likely.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning operations manager Mal Gibson said the dry conditions were very concerning.
“The conditions out in the forest are extremely dry and the burn-offs we have done in the region has shown signs of significant fire behaviour, which is a real concern,” he said.
Mr Gibson said if the region did not receive more rain in the next few months, there would definitely be a heightened bushfire risk.
“It is drier at the moment than it was this time last year,” he said.
Mr Gibson encouraged residents to be aware of the dry conditions over the next few months and behave accordingly.
“If people are burning off, they need to do so with great care,” he said.
Some Wimmera towns have received only half their average winter rainfall, which follows on from a drier than average autumn.
New Bureau of Meteorology figures showed Nhill recorded just 54.8 millimetres in the past three months – the average is 110.1mm.
Horsham received 61.2mm for winter, the long-term average is 118mm, Longerenong received 72.2mm, the average is 131.2mm and Warracknabeal received 93.5mm, the average is 121.1mm.
The bushfire centre report said fire season in Victoria would start earlier than usual because of dry conditions and significant rain would be required in spring to alter the outlook for an above normal fire risk.
