Queensland's weather outlook for summer forecasts fewer cyclones, more severe bushfires

Fewer cyclones are forecast but the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned a “dangerous cocktail” is brewing for the remainder of Queensland’s fire season.

The BOM Cyclone and Severe Weather Outlook for 2019-20 was released today and revealed a longer, more severe bushfire season is expected into summer.

The season has already been a record breaker and BOM state manager Bruce Gunn said there was little relief in sight.

“The rainfall outlook for the remainder of 2019 shows well below normal chances of above average rainfall,” Mr Gunn said.

“It’s a pretty dangerous cocktail for fire weather conditions for the rest of this year.”

The BOM report said days spent in heatwave conditions across Queensland continued to rise, year-on-year.

“We’re seeing around about 29 more days of very high fire danger or greater compared to what we saw in 1950,” Mr Gunn said.

Severe thunderstorms were also likely to peak around November, although the BOM has predicted heavier, much-needed falls to be later in the season and early in the new year.

The risk of cyclones is “slightly below average” across Australia, but Mr Gunn warned Queenslanders against becoming complacent.

“It really only takes one cyclone,” Mr Gunn said

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Key points:

  • Queensland’s bushfire season has already been a record breaker for the intensity of conditions experienced so early in September
  • BOM says days spent in heatwave conditions across Queensland continues to rise, year on year
  • The risk of cyclones is “slightly below average” across Australia, but the BOM warns Queenslanders against becoming complacent

 

Source
Brittney Kleyn
ABC News

 

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