Hot weather brings early fire ban – South Australia by Steph Ball
An early burst of summer heat has brought South Australia its first total fire ban of the season.
Very hot and dry northerly winds saw temperatures on Thursday exceed 30C (86F) quite widely across the state, with 41C (106F) recorded in Nullarbor. The hot weather is forecast to continue over the next few days increasing the fire risk across the state. Rainfall in the region has been well below average which has left areas tinder box dry, exacerbating the problem.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting temperatures in Adelaide to top 37C (99F) on Saturday. Adelaide rarely records 35C (95F) in October, with days hotter than 30C (86F) expected to occur on average about twice in the month. It has already exceeded this value three times this month. The average maximum temperature for Adelaide in October should be nearer 29C (84F).
On the other side of the globe, the return of Santa Ana winds this week saw temperatures soar across California, with 32.8C (91F) recorded at Los Angeles Airport on Thursday. The hot, dry winds have increased the risk of wildfires, with the National Weather Service advising of an extreme fire danger across the state.
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