Large parts of northern Australia are being warned to prepare for worse-than-usual bushfire conditions for the coming months.

The latest seasonal bushfire outlook, for spring, found unseasonal rainfall in Queensland and the Northern Territory had lifted fuel loads and raised fire danger as a consequence.

Parts of western Victoria and eastern South Australia are also at an increased risk of an early start to the fire season, while authorities have warned Tasmania could follow if warm and dry conditions continue.

The forecast, released by national fire and emergency services council AFAC on Wednesday, followed the hottest August on record across Australia. It also came as the recent temperature-breaking run of hot weather has sparked early bush and grassfires in parts of NSW.

An increased fire risk in southern and central Queensland has been driven by parched grasslands caused by winter frosts and dry winds.

Today, AFAC released the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook for Spring. Given the current wet conditions and an uncertain rainfall forecast, NSW is expected to have generally normal fire potential across the season.

More details at: https://t.co/rlfwCVajcb pic.twitter.com/aDHEiUMZgp

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) September 4, 2024

AFAC chief executive Rob Webb said climate change had lengthened the bushfire season in some regions but spring was the typical peak for northern areas.

“There’s no doubt through the changing climate, our fire seasons are getting longer but the typical peak of the fire season in northern Australia is this time of year, that August and into-September period, and it works its way south into the summer months,” he said.

“But the key thing is, a normal season still means bushfires in Australia and whether it be spring or into the summer months, it’s an important time for people to be prepared.”

Fire and safety commissioner Darren Klemm urged Australians to act now.

“Don’t wait for a bushfire to start. You need to plan what action you will take to protect yourself, your family and the things you value most. The time to make that is now,” he said.

“Know where to find your local bushfire information, make that plan and discuss it with your family. Taking these small steps, and they are just small steps, can make a huge difference during an emergency where you live.”

A fire in the Hunter Valley on Monday. Photo: NSWRFS

The council found an increased chance of above-average spring rainfall in NSW, Queensland, eastern Tasmania and far-south-east SA.

Large parts of Western Australia are expected to have another summer with below-average rain.

Heat records have tumbled in recent weeks, including Australia’s hottest winter temperature being set at Yampi Sound, north-east of Broome in WA, on August 26.

The 41.6-degree high eclipsed a 41.2-degree record also set in WA in August 2020.

A top of 40 degrees in the NT’s north-west set an August record, while SA broke its record on August 24 when the mercury reached 39.4 degrees at Oodnadatta – almost three degrees higher than a record set in 1946.

Widespread bushfires have already broken out in several states, including dozens of blazes in NSW during the period of unseasonal heat.

Webb said the hot conditions leading into spring helped create ideal conditions for fires to spread.

“Any time vegetation is put under strain, if you get particularly warm or dry conditions, that dries out and evaporates, so it’s easier for any fires that do start to take hold a bit quicker,” he said.

“It will tend to dry the fuels out a little bit more and that’s what we need for a bad fire season, something to burn.”

Hot conditions are predicted throughout spring.

The council found maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be above average through the season, with northern and south-eastern Australia both a high chance of experiencing unusually high maximums.

AFAC’s update follows the release of the long-term spring outlook by the weather bureau last week.

It matched the predictions from AFAC for a warmer-than-average spring, and noted some parts of the nation might get more of a drenching than usual.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, conditions are increasingly likely to be warmer than average across all states and territories in the next three months.

Most of Queensland, NSW and the ACT are expected to have above-average rainfall, while parts of South Australia and Tasmania can expect slightly more rain than usual.

-with AAP