FIRE WEATHER WARNING for the Maranoa and Warrego, Central West, Channel Country, Central Highlands and Coalfields and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts, and parts of the North West, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts for today and Thursday. A surface trough lies from the west of the state to southeast Queensland and is expected to weaken during this evening. Hot, dry and windy conditions will persist across western and most southern and central interior districts, producing the following conditions for the remainder of today: Severe fire danger in the Maranoa and Warrego, Central West, Central Highlands and Coalfields, western parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, northern and eastern parts of the Channel Country, and southern parts of the North West district. Temperatures to 41 degrees, relative humidity down to 5%, and winds to about 40 km/h are expected. A second trough is crossing South Australia and will enter the far southwest of the state during early Thursday, before moving northeast to extend from about Mount Isa to Ipswich by the evening. Hot, dry and gusty west to northwesterly winds, tending west to southwesterly following the trough are expected to cause the following conditions on Thursday: Extreme fire danger in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt district southwest of Chinchilla and the Maranoa and Warrego district southeast of Roma to Bollon. Temperatures to 40 degrees, relative humidity to less than 10% and winds up to 50 km/h are expected. Severe fire danger in the Central West, Channel Country, Central Highlands and Coalfields, the south of the Northwest district; the far west of the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts; and the remainder of the Darling Downs and Maranoa and Warrego districts. Temperatures to 41 degrees, relative humidity to 10% and winds up to 45 km/hr are expected. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Rural Fire Service Queensland advises that fires will be uncontrollable and fast-moving. The next warning will be issued by 11pm EST. For more information on Fire Bans and how to Prepare. Act. Survive. Visit the Rural Fire Service web page at ruralfire.qld.gov.au or call the Hotline on 1800 020 440. For the latest weather information, listen to your local radio station or visit the Bureau of Meteorology web page at bom.gov.au or call 1300-659-219 for recorded Land and Weather Warnings.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:53:49 +0000