Weather News

Central Australia under fire weather warning

Districts within three states and territories have been placed under fire weather warnings with parts of QLD experiencing their highest fire danger rating since summer.

A very warm air mass over central Australia is combining with low humidity and fresh winds today, causing the severe fire danger. As a result, fire weather warnings have been issued for parts of New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Northerly winds have gusted up to 69km/h today in Birdsville and 57km/h at Alice Springs.

Southwestern QLD is also having its hottest August day in three years, with temperatures reaching the mid 30s in Birdsville and Thargomindah.

These soaring temperatures and dry winds have caused relative humidity to drop as low as four percent at Jervois in the NT and seven percent at Phosphate Hill in QLD.

For Birdsville, these conditions have resulted in the highest fire danger rating since January. The town has also seen a dry start to the year, which combined with these conditions, can create dangerous fire conditions. Between January and July, six out of the seven months saw below average rain and four recorded less than 1mm.

Temperatures will become cooler on Thursday as a cold front crosses the nation's interior, reducing the fire danger significantly.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

More breaking news

ABC News
Sydney Morning Herald
National Nine News
News Limited

Bundaberg man jailed for flood appeal fraud

17:17 EST A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to a year in prison for fraudulently claiming money from the Queensland Flood Appeal.