Australia: Catastrophic fire weather warning

Monday, December 28, 2009

Australia: Catastrophic fire weather warning

Dangerous conditions prompt catastrophic fire warning

A catastrophic fire weather warning has been issued for parts of Western Australia tomorrow.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast the highest level of fire danger for the Central Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South and South-East Coastal districts, as well as the inland sub-district of the Central West.

It will be the first time the new "catastrophic" rating will have been used extensively in the state.

A severe to extreme danger is forecast for the inland sub-district of the Lower West, including the metropolitan hills area and the coastal sub-district of the Central West.

Very hot conditions are forecast for tomorrow with fresh to strong and gusty winds. The senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, Adam Conroy, says warnings for coastal parts of the division are severe to extreme.

"We expect very hot conditions through the south-west land division and it's going to be fresh to strong northerly winds," he said.

"Those conditions combined are going to lead to the potential for a catastrophic fire condition through most parts of the south-west land division away from the west coast."

The warning comes after hot weather today.

The Weather Bureau is expecting temperatures to reach 40 degrees and strong winds are forecast.

Two water bombing helicopters have been stationed in the hills east of Perth which is deemed a high risk area for bush fires.

Source: 7 News - Article Link

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Monday, December 28, 2009