Australian heatwave subsides but bushfires continue to rage by Alex Deakin
The states of South Australia and Victoria have experienced record-breaking high temperatures during the past week.
The heatwave has caused a number of heat-related deaths and a series of raging bushfires. The death toll is feared to be about 20, and fire-fighters are still tackling a blaze in the Gippsland region of Victoria.
Players and spectators at the Australian Open struggled with the heat on Friday, as temperatures in Melbourne peaked above 43C (109F) for a record-breaking third consecutive day.
The heatwave has been due to the influence of a slow-moving area of high pressure, also known as an anticyclone, centred off the southeast coast near Sydney. In the southern hemisphere, air flows in an anticlockwise direction around an anticyclone, and hence warm air has been drawn to the region from the hot and dry interior of the country.
Some relief from the heat came at last on Saturday, as the wind direction changed, bringing in cooler air from the south. The influence of this southerly wind meant that by Saturday, the temperature in Melbourne dropped to a relatively comfortable 31C (88F). The forecast for the week ahead is for the temperature to remain in the low 30s (high 80s F), which is certainly much cooler than last week, but still around five degrees above average for the time of year.
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