When is fire season in Queensland?
The fire season in Queensland normally commences in the far north of the state in July and progresses through to southern areas as Spring approaches. It can extend through to February in southern and far south-western areas. These timeframes can vary significantly from year to year, depending on the fuel loads, long-term climate and short-term weather conditions in each area. Queensland's season is at a different time to other states of Australia.
Bushfire activity varies across Australia with the changes in the seasonal weather patterns. Wind, temperature, humidity and rainfall are weather elements that affect the behaviours of bushfires. Weather systems work differently across Australia's temperate and tropical regions. Severe bushfire conditions are influenced by a combination of these systems, but in most cases by hot, dry winds blowing from central Australia.
For Far North and Far North West Queensland regions, the warm, dry and sunny winter and spring, when grasses are dead and fuels have dried, becomes most susceptible to bushfires.
For Southern Queensland, the greatest danger occurs after the dry winter and spring. The worst conditions occur when deep low-pressure systems near Tasmania bring strong, hot and dry, westerly winds to the coastal districts. The end of the fire season is determined by the onset of moister conditions, sometimes the result of a tropical cyclone developing near the Queensland coast.
(Image credit: Bureau of Meteorology)
More information
- Visit the Queensland Fire Department website to learn how to prepare for bushfire season.
- Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website to learn more about bushfire weather.