Tasmania weather: Soaring temperature across state could pose fire danger

Tasmanians are being urged to prepare their properties for increased fire risk, as the state braces for ‘heat spikes’. SEE THE FORECAST >>

Tasmanians are being urged to to prepare their properties for increased fire risk as the state’s spell of hot, dry weather continues.

Temperatures into the mid-30s are expected to affect different parts, with increased fire risk. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting “spike days” where temperatures rise very quickly within hours.

BOM senior metrologist Luke Johnston said Tasmania had a dry summer, with rainfall across the state below average.

Despite the soaring temperatures, Tasmania is yet to receive a fire weather warning, but has come very close.

“We do continue to see spiky days like that, we call them spike days because it’s sort of not that hot. It’s not that hot and then all of a sudden, it’s really hot,” Mr Johnston said.

Multiple units from the Tasmanian Fire Service and Tasmania Police battled a large grass fire at Herdsmans Cove and spot fires at Bridgewater, with water bombing aircraft dousing the flames. Photo: Rory Jones

“If we do start to see a couple more spike days, like we saw on Friday, we’d be very much into the into the realms of fire weather warnings again.”

Mr Johnston said it had been a dry start to the year, especially in the state’s West and also in the state’s capital.

“Hobart so far this year, received about 36mm of rain, but by the end of February, if it was an average start to the year, we’d be looking at about 85mm so we’re about 50mm shy of average at this point in the year,” he said.

“That contrasts towards the spring period last year when there was a significant amount of rain.”

Mr Johnston said because of the dry weather over the new year period there’s elevated fire conditions.

“With all this dryness, and we’re starting to see pockets of hot weather much like what we saw on Friday, Hobart got to 36.7C. The end of this week coming, so Friday February 24th, with potentially over 30 degrees again in Hobart, mid to high 30s inland in Tasmania again,” he said.

2019 Tasmanian bush fires. Backburning Operations near Lonnavale, Riveaux Road Fire – at Southwest National Park. . Picture – LUKE TSCHARKE / PAR AVION

The Tasmania Fire Service have urged people to prepare their properties in case of a fire.

“We’re expecting high temperatures across the state for the next few days which can increase the risk of fires becoming uncontrollable,” Regional Chief, Southern Region, Jeremy Smith said.

“We are also asking community members to limit the possibility of fires starting by familiarising themselves with information about operating machinery and equipment around dry vegetation and in hot conditions.”

FORECAST

Hobart

In the states capital, Hobart will have a mostly sunny 27C on Sunday before cooling down to 21C and showers on Monday, 19C on Tuesday, 22C on Wednesday. Hobart will then heat up to a scorching 27C on Thursday and a partly cloudy 30C on Friday.

Launceston

Launceston is having temperatures in the mid 20s for most of the week with a maximum of 25C on Sunday, 27C on Monday and partly cloudy, 23C on Tuesday and 24C of Wednesday before heating up back to a cloudy 27C on Friday.

Burnie

On the North West Coast, Burnie is having a cooler week with a maximum of 23C on Sunday and Monday, before calling down for a sunny 21C on Tuesday, 19C on Wednesday and 21C on Thursday.

Bicheno

On the East Coast, Bicheno will have a partly cloudy 26C on Sunday, showers and 23C on Monday, before cooling down to 18C on Tuesday and 19C on Wednesday.

Strahan

In the states west, Strahan will reach a maximum of 22C on Sunday with a possible shower or two and cooler temperatures throughout the week until a soaring 27C on Thursday and 28C on Friday.