Updated
Queensland is facing more fire danger, with severe to
extreme fire conditions forecast to return next week, despite an easing
in conditions expected today.
Key points:
- The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting fire conditions to improve on Thursday, before deteriorating again on Friday
- Temperatures are expected to be significantly hotter than the September average
- Over the weekend, BOM says there will be no rain at all in the whole of Queensland
There is a short reprieve for those fighting fires or living in the fire-affected areas, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasting conditions to improve before deteriorating again on Friday.
Lower temperatures and lighter, onshore winds are expected to bring moisture in the air today, rather than the dry gusts experienced in the past week.
BOM senior forecaster Gabriel Branescu said the fire danger would still be "high" in the south-east of the state, that would increase to "very high" on Friday and Saturday.
"On Friday we expect the winds to turn more south-westerly, bringing some drier air across the south eastern parts," Mr Branescu said.
"That dry air will combine with warming temperatures, so two more days — Friday, Saturday — when the fire dangers will be elevated."
But next week he said Queensland could see "severe to extreme" fire conditions return, with temperatures expected to be significantly hotter than the September average.
"It looks like even hotter temperatures on the way, in the whole southern part of the state, [which] will cause fire dangers to maybe even go back to severe and extreme in the southern inland," Mr Branescu said.Mr Branescu said it was too early to say where and when those conditions would occur but it was likely to be Tuesday or Wednesday.
He also said there was no significant rain expected in the short term.
"In fact, over the weekend there will be no rain at all in the whole of Queensland," he said.
For more information about Queensland's bushfire emergency, listen live to ABC Local Radio in your area:
Meanwhile, Queensland police said in a statement late on Wednesday that two teenagers had been charged over an alleged deliberately lit fire that destroyed bushland and forced residents to evacuate their homes in the Peregian area on the Sunshine Coast on Monday.
A 14-year-old boy from Peregian Springs and a 15-year-old girl from Coolum Beach girl were charged with endangering particular property by fire.
Grants were announced late yesterday for people affected by bushfires in Peregian Beach, Marcus Beach, Peregian Springs, Peregian Breeze Estate, and Weyba Downs.
They can access $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more.
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