School Messages - WEATHER SYSTEM CHANGES

You may already be aware that the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has declared a third consecutive La Nina event, meaning ongoing rainfall and subsequent flooding in many parts of NSW is likely for the remainder of 2022 until March 2023. That said, parts of NSW are still likely to experience elevated bushfire and grassfire risks throughout summer, where rainfall has not been as prevalent.

This means that schools and school communities across the state, whether coastal or inland, must remain vigilant and prepared as we enter Term 4 and the warmer months.

The best way for you and your family to do this is to ensure you are familiar with the new warning alerts from the NSW SES for floods, storms and tsunamis, as well as the new Australian Fire Danger Rating system from the NSW Rural Fire Service.

How to stay up to date with weather warnings?

NSW emergency services are in the process of transitioning critical warning systems to a set of consistent colours, signs and terminology that will be used across Australia.

Australian Fire Danger Rating System

The first of these is the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS), which was implemented on 1 September 2022. Importantly, the Australia fire danger rating system has been improved and simplified to make it easier for people to make decisions to stay safe on days of fire danger risk. Please take some time to look at the improved and simplified system to prepare you for possible bush or grass fires.

You will now start to see the replacement of all existing fire danger rating signs along NSW roads.

You will also see these changes on the NSW Fires Near Me app. NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) encourages you to download the app and set a watch zone in the app for your school and home locations to receive early alerts when there is a fire in your area.

New NSW SES flood and and tsunami warning system

The second of these changes is the new Australian Warning System adopted by the NSW SES. The new warning system includes warning levels, action statements, hazard icons, colours and shapes for floods, storms and tsunamisExternal link. You will notice that the icons are consistent with those that you see on NSW Fires Near Me.

These changes have now been made on the Hazard Watch app on the SES website which provides you with information on increased flood hazards across NSW.

Once again it is recommended that you and your family familiarise yourselves with the new flood, storm and tsunami warning system ahead of the predicted wet summer season in many parts of the state.

The Department of Education and our school will continue to work with SES and RFS in order to provide updates to you and our school community if our school is made non-operational due to severe weather or another emergency.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we prepare for any weather events, together as a school community.