The forecast for dry Australia is more favourable than recent weeks for the bushfires. WeatherWatch.co.nz says lighter winds and increased chances of rain and showers will be in the forecast for drought stricken NSW and VIC, developing across next week and next weekend.

While the next few days ahead aren’t ideal with hotter, windier, northerlies blowing through – which may ramp up fires and smoke for a time – there will be a more positive change by next week. This is when high pressure drifts over NZ and brings a more humid nor’east flow into NSW in particular.

From this coming Tuesday right through until next weekend there is a chance for hit and miss downpours. Some may be heavy with thunderstorms (lightning can start further fires and limit some firefighting efforts but the rain will be great). There will also be lighter drizzly falls and some patchy set in rain right across parts of VIC, NSW and QLD. 

While not a silver bullet, this weather change will be very welcome by those fighting the fires.

ECMWF (European modelling) ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION FORECAST
10 DAYS ACCUMULATION: JAN 10 to JAN 19

NEXT 7 DAYS RAINFALL COMPARED TO HISTORICAL AVERAGE (US GOVT)
(Red = drier than normal, White = Usual rainfall, Blue = Wetter than average)

– WeatherWatch.co.nz Exclusive