It comes as the Copernicus Climate Change Service released fresh data showing last month was the second-hottest October on record, after October 2023. This year is “virtually certain” to be the warmest on record, and the first year to be 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures.

Dr Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the European Union-funded Copernicus, said October was 1.65 degrees above pre-industrial temperature averages.

“After 10 months of 2024, it is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels,” she said.

“This marks a new milestone in global temperature records and should serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming Climate Change Conference, COP29.”

Bureau of Meteorology climate specialist Caitlin Minney said conditions in the east of the state were forecast to be wetter than average between December and February, but remain drier than average in the west and north-east.

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“We are leading into quite dry conditions over Victoria, even with a wetter-than-average forecast likely, but not guaranteed, for summer.”

The bureau’s snapshot of October temperatures also showed last month had the second-highest mean temperatures on record, and forecast warmer-than-average conditions over summer.

From November 18, permits will be required to light open fires or burn off in the Wangaratta, Benalla, Mansfield, Mount Buller, Indigo, Alpine, Towong, Wodonga and Falls Creek regions.