The Geelong region faces an earlier and more dangerous fire season with meteorologists expecting another El Nino weather pattern to develop as summer approaches.The dry winter is expected to extend into spring, creating ideal conditions for potentially disastrous fires.
Acting Region 7 Chief Fire Officer Wayne Almer said the the CFA is also preparing.
“The predicted weather patterns for this coming summer sees us changing into the El Nino pattern, which is generally drier and warmer, he told Geelong Broadcasters.
“What that’ll mean for us is that the season will star a little bit earlier.”
Mr Almer said large parts of the region were at serious risk.
“To our north and the Little river type areas, and then if you go out west through Inverleigh and Wingeel and right through that area, (there’s) a high chance of a fast-running grassfire that will run into a community.”
El Nino is the warmer phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation, which occurs when sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean rise by more than 0.8C above the long term average.
The pattern increases the likelihood of heatwaves, bushfires and drought in Australia.
Earlier this year the US Climate Prediction Centre said there was an 80% chance of a “moderate” El Nino.
It said there was also a 55% likelihood that the El Nino effect would be “strong”.
Image: Lorne CFA
