Fire authorities in Western Australia have downgraded a major bushfire near Boddington, but have warned evacuated residents it is still not safe to return to their homes. The news comes as Australia faces a week of stark weather contrasts, with the north bracing for intense monsoonal rain and potential flooding.
Fire Threat Eases but Danger Remains
The blaze, which ignited south-east of Perth, has now burned through more than 4,000 hectares of land. It caused significant damage to the Newmont Boddington goldmine and forced many locals to spend Christmas night in an evacuation centre.
On Saturday morning, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) reduced the alert level from emergency to "watch and act." However, they stressed that unstable conditions mean a possible threat to lives and homes persists. "It is not safe to return due to unstable fire and weather conditions," a DFES statement said.
Senior Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How noted a cool change was helping to ease the immediate fire danger in the region. Despite this, eight fires continue to burn across the state.
Northern Australia on Flood Watch
While Western Australia contends with fire, the weather story is dramatically different in the country's north. The bureau has issued a severe weather warning for large parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory as a monsoon trough develops.
"We are expecting very widespread monsoonal rain and storms," Mr How explained. A flood watch is in place for a vast area stretching from the Mackay coast to Townsville and inland through to Tennant Creek in the NT.
North-west Queensland, particularly the Gulf Coast, is forecast to bear the brunt, with between 300 to 500 millimetres of rainfall predicted. This volume is likely to cut roads, isolate communities, and disrupt all travel. Separate flood warnings are active between Townsville and Cairns, with up to 150mm of rain expected early next week.
Nationwide Forecast: Heat for the South
The rest of the country is set for a spell of warm weather in the coming days. Adelaide, Melbourne, and Canberra are all anticipating temperatures in the mid to high 30s Celsius. Hobart will be a notable exception, with milder conditions in the low 20s.
Back in Western Australia, the milder conditions aiding firefighting efforts are only temporary. Forecasters warn that heat is set to return, with large areas of the state expected to see temperatures remain above 30C after Sunday.
