Drier than average Spring ahead as Hume Dam records its lowest levels in 10 years

And many parts of the wider region have recorded Winter rainfall levels comparable with the early 2000s.

Hume Dam's storage, currently sitting at 43.6 per cent, has been tracking throughout the year at its lowest since 2010, and Goulburn Murray Water's historical data shows storage has been below 2010 levels since May.

While the official Bureau of Meteorology summary for August hasn't been released yet, the Bureau's monthly rainfall charts paint a similarly bleak picture.

Albury Airport's 116.4 millimetres for June, July and August is the lowest recorded rainfall since 2002, when 108.8 millimetres fell throughout Winter.

It's been Eldorado's driest Winter since 2006 when the total was 25.4 millimetres lower at 106, and Culcairn received just 79.6 millimetres, putting the season on par with 2002.

It comes as Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp announced the firefighting fleet for the upcoming fire season, telling The Border Mail it was growing from 49 to 50 aircraft.

"There's another 100 we can call on when need it, and we saw some very big days last year where we would start the day with 70 or 80 of those committed to fires in Victoria," he said.

"Given the seasonal outlook, we've got pretty much similar conditions to what we were confronted with last year."

Last week, BOM's seasonal outlook forecasted a dry and warmer-than-average Spring.

Senior hydrologist Paul Feikema said Australia had one of its driest Winters on record.

"Our year-to-date rainfall is likely to be in the driest five years on record," he said.

"The Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook shows above-normal fire potential in areas mainly on, and east of, the Great Dividing Range."

While Sunday's announcement of the firefighting fleet emphasised the seriousness of the bushfire risk in Gippsland, Mr Crisp said it was time for all Victorians to start preparing.

"Think about what your plan is and how to prepare your property ... people shouldn't expect a fire truck at every home if there is a fire," he said.

"There is a shared responsibility."

Victoria's fleet includes two dedicated night-time helicopters after a trial last year, and Mr Crisp said there was "every chance" they could be used in the North East.

"We're finalising that (where aircraft will be based) at the moment," he said.

"Last year we had Albury, Benambra, Ovens, Benalla and Mansfield covered ... I don't imagine there will be a whole lot of change to that.

"It will be dependent on the fires we get."

This adds to the 250 aircraft available to the NSW Rural Fire Service.

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RFS spokesman James Morris said this season would be the first time NSW has access to its own large air tanker, with Albury considered a site where it could be based during a fire, or on its way to Victoria.

"The large air tankers we contract throughout the typical bush fire danger period are on loan from the US," he said.

"The likelihood of those being available to us is becoming slimmer and slimmer; what we're seeing is extended fire seasons for both us here, and overseas.

"Having our own large air tanker here is a huge asset."