00:00With no meaningful rainfall for much of the state since December, and after a relatively
00:07dry winter, authorities are warning of a dangerous bushfire season ahead.
00:12The conditions are dry, the risk is there, and we ask people to start that preparation
00:17now.
00:18The biggest concern is in the state's southeast, where conditions have been unseasonably dry.
00:22This is a part of our state where it is typically very waterlogged this time of year, they've
00:26typically had great rainfall through winter, and that just hasn't eventuated, so there's
00:30a lot of standing timber down there, there's a lot of scrub.
00:33The seasonal outlook for the remainder of spring and early summer in SA is neutral,
00:37with no strong indications either way as to if it'll be hotter or cooler, drier or wetter.
00:43This is because our climate drivers, the El Niño or La Niña, or Indian Ocean Dipole,
00:48are all sitting around a neutral or a very weak phase.
00:51And while it is true that we hope for rain to come throughout the remainder of spring,
00:56if that doesn't eventuate, we will face a potentially very problematic summer.
01:01Residents in bushfire-prone areas are urged to get their bushfire action plan ready now,
01:07prepare their property, and ensure they have firebreaks in place around their home.
01:12These are tangible steps that people can start now and maintain during summer that will make
01:16a real difference in the event of a fire, and will make a real difference for our firefighters
01:20when they come on scene to help protect properties and lives.
01:23The only thing that presents a bigger risk to loss of life and property during a bushfire
01:29than drier conditions is complacency.
01:31A message to heed on the eve of another potentially dangerous summer.
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