Winds ease, taking heat off fireys

THE Gold Coast is in for a warm start to school holidays but light winds are expected to take the heat off local fire fighters, according to forecasters.

Rural Fire Service southeastern regional manager Alan Gillespie said the strong winds which were previously forecast looked like they would ease.

He said this was welcome news for firefighters after Wednesday’s total fire ban.

“We’re really busy at the moment but it looks like we’re not going to get the strong winds,” Mr Gillespie said.

“There is no longer a total fire ban across the city, just on South Stradbroke Island.”

Mr Gillespie said the Gold Coast Hinterland was still the driest it had been since the 1994 and urged residents to take precautions.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Annabelle Ford said winds across the Gold Coast were expected to be light to moderate throughout the next week.

“(Today) they will be fairly light most of the day before the afternoon sea breeze picks up in the afternoon,” Ms Ford said.

Temperatures of 26C are forecast at the Seaway today, about 2C above the September average.