Bureau of Meteorology weather predictions show Victoria can expect a drier few months in the lead-up to summer, with the chance of a ‘cranking doozy’ of an El Niño.

Agriculture Victoria seasonal risk agronomist Dale Gray said predictor models showed the temperature in the middle of the Pacific Ocean continuing to rise.

“But the important thing to remember is that how warm it gets out there does not necessarily dictate what happens in eastern Australia,” he said.

“There’s a lot of talk at the moment about how bad the summer might be, but the good news is that El Niño, historically, has been all over the shop over summer. 

“We’ve had just as many wet El Niño as we’ve had dry El Niño. And if you look at the model, they’re going that way too. 

“At the moment, you can look at all the indicators and we’ve got an absolute cranking doozy of an El Niño up there, but you can’t really say if that will have any effect on Victoria.”

The Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services, AFAC, outlined a heightened fire risk across several parts of the country.

AFAC chief executive Rob Webb said the risk was driven by a combination of dry conditions and increased fuel loads.

“The variety of risk factors across different regions reinforces the need for communities to understand their local conditions and prepare early,” he said.

“While some areas are facing an elevated risk of fire this spring, bushfires can still occur in regions with a normal seasonal outlook.

“Communities are encouraged to stay informed, monitor conditions, and follow advice from their fire and emergency services as the season unfolds.”

People can visit the CFA website for preparation tips and keep informed of emergencies with the VicEmergency app, website and Facebook page. Information on FFM
Vic planned burns can also be found on the VicEmergency app or FFMVic website. 

People can also tune into emergency broadcasting radio stations, such as 3WM, for information during emergencies. 

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