The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre has today reissued its outlook for southern Australia following an “exceptionally dry” spring.

More areas of SA and Tasmania are now expected to face worse-than-average conditions, although NSW, the ACT, Victoria, WA and Queensland remain as outlined in September (see earlier story).

Low rainfall and high temperatures have led to rapid and early drying of vegetation, and an early start to the fire season, the centre says.

“The combination of an El Nino-linked drought, long-term rainfall deficiencies, drying in southern Australian over nearly 20 years, as well as warming global and Australian temperatures, sets the scene for above-normal fire potential in large parts of southern Australia.”