Heatwaves are likely continue across the Border in the coming months, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning higher than average temperatures and low rainfall could increase fire danger levels quickly.
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The bureau’s Paul Feikema said a drier than average start to 2019 was likely to continue right through to March, which could be dangerous.
“The temperature outlook suggests warmer than average days and nights are very likely for the whole of Australia during the first three months of 2019,” he said
“With such warm conditions and clear skies forecast heatwaves will remain a risk and even a brief spell of dry and hot weather can raise fire danger levels quickly.”
Average January temperatures for Albury-Wodonga in 2019 should exceed the month’s median maximum temperature of 30.7 degrees.
The bureau said there was a 66 per cent chance the border region would record a median temperature above 30.7 degrees and a 73 per cent change the month’s median minimum temperature of 15.1 degrees would be exceeded.
Across January, February and March, there is a 79 per cent chance Henty will record temperatures above its three-month average of 30.2 degrees.
Wangaratta has a 77 per cent chance of exceeding their three-month median of 30.4 degrees. There will be little relief from the heat with Albury-Wodonga unlikely to receive more than 50mm of rain in January.
The bureau said across the three months there was only a 41 per cent chance Albury-Wodonga would receive more than 133mm.
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The drier than average outlook will continue across the region with Wangaratta unlikely to exceed its three-month median of 107mm, while Yarrawonga and Deniliquin aren’t expected to see more than 66mm and 77mm respectively.
The bureau’s climate monitoring manager Karl Braganza said the 2018 State of the Climate report predicted extreme heat events, high fire danger weather, and declining rainfall in the country’s southeast would continue in coming years.
He said report provides a comprehensive analysis of Australia's climate and changes witnesses.
Dr Braganza said eight of the 10 warmest years on record in Australia have occurred since 2005.
He said the warming trend was contributing to the increase in extreme fire weather and the longer fire season.
Dr Braganza said monitoring the forest fire danger index shows the frequency and severity of fire weather had increased in recent decades.
"This trend in fire weather is particularly noticeable through southern and eastern parts of Australia,” he said.
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Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
Digital journalists with The Border Mail.
