ABC, By: Eric Tlozek, 12/17/2013

The 2011 flood victims planning to sue the State Government and dam operators say justice is more important than compensation. Hundreds of people last night packed into a hotel at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, to hear from law firm Maurice Blackburn about its planned class action.

International litigation funder Bentham-IMF recently committed to financing the suit. Maurice Blackburn principal Damian Scattini says he expects that will make more people join the 5,000 who have already registered for the class action. "I think a lot of people have been waiting, frankly, to have the announcement that the matter is definitely going ahead," he said. Flood victim Kym Kitchener says she has joined because she wants people to be held responsible for the floods.

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By Wunderground.com, 12/13/2013

Fresh off the recent pounding from Winter Storms Cleon and Dion, another round of nasty winter weather is poised to spread through the eastern third of the nation. The Weather Channel has named this system Winter Storm Electra. Winter Storm Electra will kick into gear Friday and head for the Northeast this weekend, with more snow. Warnings, advisories and watches have been issued for the areas that will be affected by Electra.

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ABC, By: Cath McAloon, 12/09/2013

In its first report since losing Federal Government funding, the Climate Council says climate change is hampering fuel reduction burning, and causing more frequent high-fire-danger weather. The council, which replaces the former Climate Commission, is now crowd funded, and has compiled data on bushfires in Australia.

ANU professor Will Steffen, who is a member of the council, says in the past 30 years there's been an increase in the frequency of high-fire danger weather. Professor Steffen says the fire season in southern Australia is starting earlier and finishing later, meaning there's less time for fuel reduction burning.

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Weatherzone, By: Drew Casper-Richardson, 12/07/2013

Very hot, dry and windy conditions have caused the issue of a Catastrophic Fire Danger for the Eucla in Western Australia. A trough has been lingering over Western Australia in recent days, triggering widespread heavy rain and storms over northern and central parts. On Saturday, the trough will filter a very hot airmass over states southeast and bring fresh to strong northwest winds over the region.

The combination of these conditions are ripe for fires to spread rapidly and be difficult to bring under the control. This has lead to the Catastrophic Fire Danger being issued for the Eucla, the highest Fire Danger rating. In the Eucla, temperatures will reach the mid-to-high thirties with northwest winds gusting to 60-70km/h.

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Weatherzone, By: Brett Dutschke, 12/04/2013

An abrupt wind change is helping to cool much of southeastern Australia by 10-to-15 degrees, nearly 20 degrees in some places. Inland areas are experiencing the biggest change, heating up to the low-to-mid forties one day and mid-to-high twenties the next as hot northerlies turn colder southerly. Yesterday Coober Pedy reached 45 degrees, 11 degrees above average, and is only likely to get to 27 degrees today, seven below average, an 18-degree drop in 24 hours. Mildura which nudged 40 degrees yesterday should only reach 23 today, a 17-degree drop. For coastal areas the change is not quite as sharp due to sea breezes keeping heat away ahead of the colder change. Adelaide got to 29 degrees yesterday and about 20 today, although showers will make the afternoon a few degrees colder. A similar scenario is unfolding in Melbourne, where it only reached 25 degrees yesterday and 21 degrees today before rain and colder winds kicked in, dropping the temperature to about 15 degrees before lunchtime.

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