Northern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2018

This Hazard Note details the Northern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2018. The Outlook provides information to assist fire and land management agencies in making strategic decisions such as resource planning and prescribed fire management to reduce the negative impacts of bushfire. Download the Outlook by clicking 'download' at the right of screen.

The bushfire outlook across northern Australia is mixed this year due to the variability in rainfall from the last wet season. While temperatures were high across the north, the mixed rainfall resulted in parts northern Western Australia, northern Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory receiving above to very much above average rainfall, and other areas receiving below average rain.   

• Western Australia had its third wettest wet season on record, resulting in strong vegetation growth. Above normal fire potential is expected for the Dampierland, Pilbara and Carnarvon regions, as well as parts of the central Kimberley and Ord Victoria Plain.
• In Queensland, the rain fell early last wet season, but conditions have been dry to average since April. Above normal fire potential is expected in forested areas impacted by Cyclone Debbie last year, and Cyclone Marcia in 2015, due to the changes in the vegetation structure. Savanna country north of Normanton also has above normal fire potential due to strong vegetation growth from the wet season rainfall.
• The Northern Territory is expecting normal fire potential due to average fuel (vegetation) loads and effective mitigation burning.

Full details are available in the Northern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2018.

The Outlook is a product of the Northern Australian Fire Managers Forum, which was held in Townsville, Qld, in June 2018. The Forum celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

See the full Outlook by clicking the DOWNLOAD button at top right.