Australia experienced its third-driest September on record, with large parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania getting very little rain. The chance of a drier than normal October is 70%, with the probability rising to 80% in Victoria where the government is attempting to find ways to get water to parched areas in the west. While summer is the time associated with the highest bushfire risk in the southern states, bushfire seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer. Many people living in high-risk bushfire areas are still under-prepared and ill-informed on the dangers and the preparations needed. El Niño is a climatic event. In Australia it is associated with reduced rainfall and higher temperatures. The current El Niño, which will last throughout Australia’s summer, is one of the top four on record in terms of strength.