We are in a drought right now - that explains it.


https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/weather/severe-drought-fire-fears-for-...



Sky News predicts
Australia's scorched eastern states are set to fry further in 2026,
according to a Sky News analysis that puts the chance of an El Nino forming this year as high as 75 per cent.



The Melbourne CBD is seen under a blanket of smoke from Yarra Bend Road bridge in Fairfield. Picture: Brendan Beckett



Rob Sharpe
Sky News Australia Meteorologist
4 min read
January 28, 2026 - 5:00AM


South-eastern Australia is experiencing one of its worst heatwaves on record as drought lingers and fires burn.

And there are signs that conditions will get even worse in the next 12 months.

I can reveal that La Nina is about to end and an El Nino is on the horizon. 

Drought and fire
South Australia, Victoria and parts of New South Wales and Tasmania have endured drought for much of the past two years.

The dry landscape has played a key role in the current fire situation in Victoria – the worst since the last major drought which culminated in the Black Summer of 2019/20. 

During spring many of the hardest hit drought regions got decent rainfall, but the substantial falls hoped for didn’t materialize. 

The key was the Sudden Stratospheric Warming event from October to December. 

It brought extra cold fronts to southern Australia – particularly benefiting Tasmania. 

However, it reduced rainfall in NSW – seeing its driest spring in six years.

Google AI:


In June 2007, then-Victorian Premier Steve Bracks announced the construction of a major desalination plant near Wonthaggi, on the Bass Coast, as part of a $5 billion water strategy to secure Melbourne's water supply against climate change and drought. Despite previous concerns regarding the high cost and environmental impact, this reversal made it a key, albeit contentious, element of his water policy.


Key Aspects of the Bracks Desalination Plan:
Project Announcement: Announced on June 19, 2007, to ensure long-term, climate-independent water for Melbourne and Geelong.


Location: The plant was planned for the Bass Coast, with Wonthaggi identified as the site.
Opposition and Concerns: The decision faced significant local opposition from the Bass Coast community regarding environmental impacts, tourism, and landscape damage. Critics labeled the decision as a "hoax" shortly after the 2006 election, emphasizing the high cost and energy consumption.


Strategy Shift: The plan was a major shift from a previous focus on conservation and recycling, with the government facing criticism for ignoring cheaper alternatives.


Economic Impact: The project was predicted to double water bills, with later projections indicating a total cost of over $19 billion over 28 years in construction and operation.
The initiative was defended by Bracks as necessary for the state's future water security.