The lead-up to the 1978/79 fire season in south-eastern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, saw plentiful Winter and Spring rains dwindle as a very severe drought developed over the Summer months, with reports in January of exceptionally high temperatures and dry northerly winds desiccating pastures and bushland.

After a good growing season in the eastern wheat belt and grazing lands, conditions were otherwise ideal for harvesting the abundant and good quality crops except for delays incurred during periods of heightened fire danger when a number of minor outbreaks occurred. Fodder crops had been harvested early, however, un-grazed native pastures, remnant bushland reserves and unmanaged hobby farm allotments carried heavy standing loads of fully cured grass and fine shrub fuels.

In the absence of regular summer thundershowers and the predominance of dry continental air, the fire situation became critical with serious outbreaks occurring in the Goulburn, Mittagong and Murrumbateman areas by the second week of February.

Weather observations and subsequent forecasting for South-Eastern NSW and Canberra on 13th February, had predicted High to Very High fire dangers for grasslands and forests; but had not reckoned on the effects of a small and very active heat low that had developed undetected in a pre-frontal trough inland between weather stations.

As it began moving eastwards during the morning, conditions deteriorated well beyond those forecast alerting fire authorities who increased the number of fire fighting units on standby to near maximum in readiness for the 'blow-up' conditions becoming evident across the region.

This day saw major fires running near Gundagai, Yass, Goulburn, Shoalhaven River, Mittagong and Canberra.