Changes to the Bureau's Fire Weather Warnings and Forecasts

The Bureau of Meteorology has incorporated changes to the Fire Danger Ratings used by fire agencies in its weather forecasts and warnings from October 2009.

What's changing?

The Extreme category has been divided into three levels - Severe, Extreme and Catastrophic (Code Red). These new levels are based on the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and the Grass Fire Danger Index (GFDI).

 

The new Fire Danger Ratings.

• Severe fire danger will be indicated when FFDI/GFDI is between 50 and 74;
• Extreme fire danger will be indicated when FFDI/GFDI is between 75 and 99; and
• Catastrophic (Code Red) fire danger will be indicated when FFDI/GFDI is 100 or above.

Due to software constraints and accessibility requirements, the Bureau of Meteorology uses slightly different colours for Fire Danger Rating. Refer to the table below.

 

Note:

In Western Australia the threshold between High and Very High will remain at FDI = 32 Catastrophic fire danger will be indicated by the colour black in Tasmania