On the East coast the drought is more severe as time goes by. This time last year there was not the added problem of bush fires that we have now, today there is 50+ bush fires in Queensland alone. Last Summer was record breaking in maximum temperatures and duration of heat waves, the wet season didn’t happen at all.
So really Doug, for me the conditions are just an extension if 2018 but worse. This October I extracted less than 20% of the honey I did in 2018. Thank goodness it is just a hobby and an interest for me.
Sydney and for up to 200 miles around it is now in a total fire ban for the next week.
I went out to my hives a few days ago at 10am with my head lights on so others on the road got ample warning I was there, at my hives the bush fire smoke was so heavy my eyes were watering and didn’t even think of lighting my smoker.
Two days running of a blue sky, great. It means the local bush fires are under control at least.
Cheers