The RFS has declared a total fire ban for much of NSW today, including the Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore shires.
Fire conditions are classified as severe and very high today and the RFS says people should stay alert and informed by checking for bushfire updates via local radio and TV outlets and via the RFS website or Fires Near Me smart phone app.
Today’s weather forecast of hot and windy conditions triggered the fire ban.
The ban applies to the whole Far North Coast, North Coast, Greater Hunter, Central Ranges, New England, Northern Slopes and North Western region.
So in the spring in October, the conditions for summer in January apply.
Has the climate changed?
Summer is going to be great.
Especially in western Sydney! Current modelling predicts the temperature will reach 50 degC for the first time this summer. To be fair we have had weather like this and total fire bans in October on the North Coast before but usually late October.
Ok so maybe not quite like this.
Heard on ABC this morning that Mondays temps in Grafton and Kempsey (both 40.1 degC) and Armidale (31.1 degC) were all new record temps for October.