The vast majority of the population will face above-normal bushfire risks this year and homeowners must prepare now, Australia's fire chiefs have warned at the launch of the bushfire outlook.

Key points: Forecast of an elevated fire risk for the bulk of eastern and South Australian coasts

Forecast of an elevated fire risk for the bulk of eastern and South Australian coasts Warm and dry winter contributing to summer bushfire risk

Warm and dry winter contributing to summer bushfire risk Bushfire season tipped to start earlier than usual after a dry spring

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre's (CRC) latest seasonal outlook has predicted elevated fire risk for the bulk of eastern and South Australian coasts.

Australia's warmest winter on record has combined with the ninth driest winter on record and left fuel loads dry across most of southern Australia, increasing the bushfire risk.

On top of this, predictions of warmer weather in the south-east this spring suggest bushfires might arrive earlier and be more active.

A map released by the CRC shows the most populated areas of southern and eastern Australia at higher risk.

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is forecasting above-normal bushfire risk for large swathes of eastern Australia. ( Bureau of Meteorology )

Fire chiefs sound alarm for coming summer

Fire commissioners from around Australia are at an emergency management conference in Sydney this week to discuss the fire season ahead, which is beginning earlier than normal.

They urged homeowners to prepare for the season ahead.

"The majority of Victorians will be living in places that will be rated as the highest risk parts of Victoria for this summer, which means it's time to act," Victoria's fire commissioner Craig Lapsley said.

He said the forests of Victoria are a particular concern.

"We're already seeing some fires in the very eastern parts of Victoria, very difficult to manage, and that's in winter moving into spring," he said.

NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said conditions in some areas this year are worse than previous disastrous seasons.

"The vegetation moisture levels today are considerably drier and are showing a worse situation than they were leading into the 2013 fire season," he said.

"We need a lot of rain to displace the moisture deficit across the landscape."

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the large aerial fire bombers had already arrived in the state in preparation for a bad fire season and it was possible he would have to declare catastrophic fire days this season, given the conditions are worse than 2013.

"As an indication, in August we have see over 2,300 fires — indicative of how dry the landscape is, how easily fires are starting, and how quickly they're spreading," he said.

Queensland's fire season has already started and the area at greatest risk is its holiday playground from south of Rockhampton to the NSW border.

Acting Queensland commissioner Mike Wassing said Tropical Cyclone Debbie produced a lot of vegetation growth, but that had since dried out.

"What we've also seen with ... Debbie is it ripped the canopies out of the trees. That put fuel load onto the ground and exposed it to more sunlight than normal," he said.

"It significantly increases fire behaviour as a result."

Bushfire outlook puts all states on notice

The CRC outlook, released today, stated:

South-east Queensland can expect an above-average fire season after record winter temperatures

South-east can expect an above-average fire season after record winter temperatures The chance of an early start for the Victorian fire season swamping its traditional late start in the year, with spring conditions to play a large part in fire severity

The chance of an early start for the fire season swamping its traditional late start in the year, with spring conditions to play a large part in fire severity New South Wales appears set for above-normal fire potential for the eastern forested areas after below-average rain led to a drier fuel load

appears set for above-normal fire potential for the eastern forested areas after below-average rain led to a drier fuel load The same for Tasmania , with a dry winter leading to an early fire season with increased fire risk

The same for , with a dry winter leading to an early fire season with increased fire risk In the ACT , the bushfire potential is above-normal due to upper soil and forest fuel dryness

In the , the bushfire potential is above-normal due to upper soil and forest fuel dryness South Australia has increased the risk of fires in the north and central south after abundant growth last year dried out this winter

has increased the risk of fires in the north and central south after abundant growth last year dried out this winter The south-west of Western Australia recorded its driest autumn in five years, with above average potential for fires.

The CRC's northern outlook, released in late July, predicted above-normal fire potential for western and northern Queensland and Western Australia and throughout parts of the Northern Territory's centre and north.

Winter conditions lead to summer fire concerns

The Bureau of Meteorology said south-west WA has been getting dry for about 40 years, so the fires were more intense and start earlier.

South-west region fire superintendent Peter Norman said the floods earlier this year had not helped.

"That just increased fuel loads with grass growth and obviously increased dangers, now that that has cured and dried through the driest winter and autumn in five years," he said.

Winter rain was significantly down on the long-term average, with 2017 the ninth driest on record. ( Bureau of Meteorology )

Overall across Australia, rainfall in winter was significantly down on the long-term average and the ninth driest on record.

According to BOM's outlook, with climate drivers ENSO and IOD at neutral there is no widespread likelihood for wetter or drier conditions in spring.

However, stronger than normal easterly flows across the south of the country could cause parts of the east coast to have increased chance of wetter conditions, while there is an increased chance of it remaining dry in the west.

The BOM forecast maximum temperatures would likely be warmer than average for northern and south-eastern Australia.