SOUTHERN Australia is facing a fierce fire season this summer due to a lack of rainfall.
The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and the Bureau of Meteorology has released its seasonal fire forecast which shows the impact of a poor La Nina through southern Australia.
The Fire Potential Outlook shows above-normal fire potential is expected for southern Victoria, northern and central New South Wales, south-western Western Australia, eastern Tasmania and south-east Queensland.
Bushfire CRC scientist Dr Chris Lucas said the outlook for summer showed the impact of good rainfall in parts of the country and poor rainfall in others.
"La Nina generally brings widespread rainfall, but this year what it delivered was very patchy,'' Dr Lucas said.
He said the fire potential predictions took into account fuel abundance, recent fire history and the amount of fire-fighting resources available in a particular area.
The report shows in coastal Victoria low rainfall has led to an increase in forest fuels and an early start to the fire season is likely in some areas.
In coastal Victoria forest fuels are abundant and above-normal fire potential is expected.
An early fire season is likely unless there are heavy spring rains.
