Meteorological conditions associated with the Dandenong bush fires of 14-16 January 1962

A close examination is made of the meteorological conditions leading up to and accompanying the disastrous bushfires in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne on 14-16 January, 1962. The fire period was marked by considerable fluctuations in surface temperature, dewpoint and relative humidity, and reversals of wind direction. The fire blew up on 16 January with long distance spotting, a fir e whirlwind being photographed. Synoptically, the late spring and early summer were marked by marked positive pressure anomalies over eastern Australia, the tracks of the anticyclones being further south than normal, and there was a tendency for the highs to remain stationary over Tasmania. Considerable rainfall deficiencies occurred over Victoria in November, December and early January. Subsidence led to the formation of an air mass over southern Australia, just prior to the fire outbreak, marked by low dewpoints and high temperatures, and a coastal front formed which moved over and retreated from the fire area several times. Moist air advection and up-glide led to rain on the early morning of 17 January which brought the fires under control. Low level jets preceded the blow-up of 16 January, the wind profiles being of a type described by Byram as very dangerous in this respect.