Adelaide weather: Fire danger seasons brought forward as state sizzles
THE fire danger season for the Mount Lofty Ranges and metropolitan fire ban districts has been brought forward two weeks, as crews remain on high alert during a hot start to November - reaching 33C at 12.55pm.
THE fire danger season for the Mount Lofty Ranges and metropolitan fire ban districts has been brought forward two weeks, as crews remain on high alert during a hot start to November.
SA Country Fire Service (CFS) announced the season had been brought forward by two weeks to November 17, due to a drier than average winter and increased temperatures through spring.
CFS Acting Chief Officer Andrew Stark said recent breakouts from burn-offs in these areas confirmed the need to bring the season forward.
Those living in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Metro fire ban districts are encouraged to prepare for the fire season by cleaning up around their homes now.
"Now is the time for people living in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide interface area to be reducing fine fuels around your home. This means clearing vegetation, ensuring grass is mowed and maintained, gutters are cleared etc," Mr Stark said.
"For those planning to burn excess vegetation on their property, first make sure you are in an area that has not commenced the Fire Danger Season, then check with your local council for restrictions."
Ten of South Australia's 15 fire ban districts have now started the Fire Danger Season. The Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Murraylands, Riverland, West Coast and Yorke Peninsula began today, joining the Flinders, North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral districts which commenced on October 22.
The Upper South East will begin on November 15, while the Lower South East starts on November 22 and Kangaroo Island on December 1, all as per usual.
Today was forecast to be the hottest November 1 day since 1988, at 36C, but has only reached a peak of 33C so far.
Steady winds, showers, and possible thunderstorms are all expected to accompany the uncharacteristic spring heat, which is well above the November average of 24C.
This follows a hot overnight temperature of 30C at midnight, which didn't ease up throughout the night.
By 2.30am, it dropped only to 27C and then 25C at 5am, but it has only gotten hotter from there.
More recently, the temperature reached 32C in Adelaide at 1.30pm, while it was 39.3C at Renmark Airport.
Senior Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Matt Bass said a trough in the west is causing the uncharacteristically hot and stormy weather.
"That trough is causing quite a bit of storm activity ... and should fire up this afternoon, particularly over the Eyre Peninsula," Mr Bass said.
"We might that shower and thunderstorm activity drift down across Adelaide later on this afternoon or this evening," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also warned against the dangers of damaging wind gusts.
The unstable conditions expected on Thursday have prompted a severe fire weather warning and total fire ban for the Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges and the Riverland.
Police are also investigating two suspicious fires in Adelaide's eastern suburb which they say may be linked.
At about 2.20am on Thursday morning, police found a number of wooden pallets had been set alight behind the Firle Shopping Centre complex.
The fire was contained and did not spread to any businesses, but at the same time police were then to another fire.
Two wheelie bins had been set on fire on Glynburn Rd a short distance away, and police say they were deliberately lit.