Hi Jeff or anyone,
If images of the lightning can be posted that would be awesome as it I am not at all surprised!
John, I must say I tend to agree with the seriousness of not only those fires but all fires. My reasoning behind the reasoning of such widespread bushfire areas and the danger threat associated with most regions probably unrivalled by almost any other situation we have ever seen are affected by the following factors:
- many or most areas of the SE of Australia are in deep drought
- we are in a pattern of well above temperatures so early in the season so the probability of strong heating and less widespread thunderstorm activity and associated low rainfall is high
- the concequent effect of countless lightning strikes across a widespread region has in my opinion been once again unrivalled by any other bushfire seasons in recent history
- last and not least - the cold outbreak could not have been timed perfectly (from a distastrous effect perspective). Most of us probably took note of the snow that came from the cold outbreak which would have provided moisture for higher altitudes. But what about the subsequent frosts on one or two days following the rain and snow! I noted that just in Mudgee region alone and it seems a similar effect towards Gunnedah and Tamworth that frosts have burned and killed off any existing vegetation to create an even more extensive fire hazard right across the eastern region of Australia.
John, you may well suggest that this weekend will have the potential of dangerous bushfires but I would like to alert to the period perhaps around Christmas/Boxing Day. If we have a repeat system periodically as the large low during mid - November, they are the slow progressing systems that can generate high temperatures, strong winds and very low humidities as well as high Haines Index values over several consecutive days covering wide region of SE Australia. I hope this is not realised.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
