CENTRAL Victorians have been warned fire risk is still real, despite forecasts of a wetter than average summer for the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bureau of Meteorology's latest climate outlook forecasts a wetter summer than normal for central Victoria, with hot nights likely.
The Bureau has warned all Australians to stay vigilant, saying fires would still occur despite the risk being lower than last summer.
Other news:
Bendigo, Castlemaine and Maryborough are all likely to get more than their than their median rainfall over the three month period.
Nighttime temperatures are very likely to soar above the median across the region.
Daytime temperatures are also likely to exceed the average.
Parts of eastern Australia are also more likely to experience flooding.
BoM head of operational climate services Andrew Watkins said La Nina weather patterns were likely to strengthen during summer, despite a hotter, dryer November than expected.
This divergence from the normal wet, cool La Nina was due to unfavourable tropical weather patterns, Dr Watkins said.
He said La Nina was likely to peak across Australia in December or January, leading to above average rainfall over much of the country.
Dr Watkins said BoM expected longer, more humid heatwaves during summer, which could still have a big effect on human health.
Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre research director John Bates urged all Australians to develop a fire plan, saying as always there was a risk.
He said prolific crop growth in south eastern Australia meant crop and grass fires were the biggest risk this year.
Emergency Management Victoria said soil moisture meant fire potential across the state meant fire potential would be average.
More information at: emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.