After weeks of wild weather, catastrophic fire warnings, intense tropical cyclones and deadly storms, Aussies have been told to get ready for more – but nearly half aren’t properly prepared.
Since the start of November, deadly storms have ripped through parts of Australia, spanning from the Kimberley region all the way to northeastern NSW.
Destructive winds, giant hail and intense thunderstorms have wiped out beaches and plunged millions of Australians into the dark.
And according to the Bureau of Meteorology, more extreme weather is on the cards.
Hot stuff
The bureau warned the recent spate of wild weather events, such as suffocating heat and destructive thunderstorms, were likely to continue as hot and dry conditions spread over the majority of the country.
According to its long-range forecasts, temperatures are set be higher than average between December and February, with lower-than-average rainfall forecast across inland Queensland and NSW and daily temperatures to exceed the average through the southeast.
It’s also going to be hotter and drier than usual in the west and eastern inland of Australia, with below average rainfall over a three-month period.
The lack of rain and spiking mercury means the risk of severe bushfires across NSW, southern Victoria and Western Australia are far higher.
“As we approach summer, the days and nights are getting warmer and heatwaves can become more frequent,” senior climatologist Lynette Bettio said.
“Summer is the peak season for bushfires across much of southern Australia.”
Destructive storms
The heat isn’t only bringing an increased risk of bushfires but also plenty of thunderstorms and tropical cyclones.
“During this time of year, we see that enhanced instability due to sort of cooler upper-level air masses and warmer at the surface,” senior climatologist Felicity Gamble told NewsWire.
“We see that great sort of overturning of the atmosphere and that leads to increased instability and supports the development of these severe thunderstorms.”
Combined with warmer water temperatures off the Queensland coast that are 1C to 2C warmer than average, there is a higher chance that storms and tropical cyclones will develop.
Tropical cyclones typically develop between November and April, though cyclones usually don’t start until much later in the season.
However, the increasing sea temperatures are creating ideal conditions for more tropical cyclones to form.
“Warm oceans can provide increased moisture and energy and that can enhance the severity of storms,” Ms Gamble said.
“That can feed into the storms getting into that severe thunderstorm category. It also can feed into cyclones and other rain systems as well.”
Unprepared for extreme weather
Aussies are no stranger to extreme weather, be it an oppressive heatwave or devastating winds and giant hail.
However, Allianz Insurance data found that nearly half of Aussies were underprepared for extreme weather.
“Our consumer insights show that 42 per cent of Australians haven’t done any home maintenance ahead of summer,” Allianz general chief manager Shez Ford told NewsWire.
“This is despite more than a quarter of Australians being concerned about the state of their home and its resilience to seasonal weather this summer.”
In the lead-up to blistering winds and extreme heat, Ms Ford urged Aussies to make sure their homes were prepared for anything.
“If there is a storm forecast, we advise homeowners to clear gutters and drains and secure loose outdoor items,” she said.
“If you are in an area with bushfire warnings, clear leaf litter and debris from gutters and around structures and fit ember guards where appropriate.”
Unprotected Aussies
Insurance is also a factor that the majority of Australians often forget until it’s too late.
iSelect research found that 75 per cent of Aussies failed to review their home and contents insurance, only to be left picking up the pieces.
“More alarming findings from our research were that 60 per cent say they’ve never heard of ‘insurance embargoes’, meaning they may only discover they can’t take out or amend cover once an event is already under way,” iSelect spokeswoman Sophie Ryan told NewsWire.
She urged residents to ensure they were not “underinsured” and had a clear understanding of what was in their insurance policy.
“Know what your policy covers,” she told NewsWire.
“Storm, flood and fire are often ‘defined events’, but details and exclusions vary between providers, so read the product disclosure statement and check for any gaps.”
Ms Ryan said it was imperative to buy or review what cover was available before disaster struck.
“Insurers can put temporary embargoes in place when a disaster is imminent, which can delay new cover and leave you out of pocket,” she said.
“Tell your insurer if your place will be empty for an extended period. Many policies treat a home as ‘unoccupied’ after around 60 days, which can change your cover or excess.”
Read related topics:Weather
