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Australia heatwaves 'will be hotter and longer': report Heatwave halts Australian Open tennis tournament
(about 1 hour later)
Parts of Australia are seeing soaring temperatures, as a report warns that the country's heatwaves are becoming "hotter and longer". Soaring temperatures have halted the Australian Open tennis tournament, as a report warns that the country will see "hotter and longer" heatwaves.
In Adelaide, temperatures were forecast to reach 46C, nearing the city's record of 46.1C. Melbourne, where the tournament is held, is seeing a third consecutive day of heat above 40C, with temperatures of 41.7C (107F) on Thursday.
In Melbourne, Australian Open tennis tournament officials announced a suspension of play due to the weather. Australia's Climate Council says in a report that the number of hot days in the country has "more than doubled".
It came as a report by the Climate Council said the number of hot days in the country had "more than doubled". 2013 was recently declared Australia's hottest year on record.
"As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, more heat is trapped in the lower atmosphere," the report said. Australian Open organisers said their extreme heat policy was in force, with matches being suspended at the end of their sets. Temperature, winds and humidity were taken into account, they said.
The announcement came mid-afternoon with the hottest part of the day approaching, the BBC's Jon Donnison in Melbourne reports.
Officials said the suspension could last a number of hours, our correspondent adds.
On Tuesday, a tennis player and a ball boy fainted in the heat during the tournament. Organisers were criticised for allowing the tournament to continue.
'A thousand fires'
Meanwhile, an interim report from the Climate Council said the number of heatwaves in Australia was "projected to increase significantly."
"Both the duration and frequency of heatwaves" had increased between 1971 and 2008, it said.
"As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, more heat is trapped in the lower atmosphere," the report added.
"This increases the likelihood that hot weather will occur and that heatwaves will become longer and more intense.""This increases the likelihood that hot weather will occur and that heatwaves will become longer and more intense."
Melbourne is experiencing its third consecutive day of weather above 40C, with temperatures of 41.7C on Thursday. In the South Australian capital, Adelaide, temperatures were forecast to reach 46C, nearing the city's record of 46.1C.
A fire ban is continuing in the state of Victoria, with several "watch and act" fire alerts in place. Fire bans are in place across the states of Victoria and South Australia, with several fire alerts in place.
"A thousand fires have been reported over the past 24 hours and 39 of those are still listed as going," Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said in a video update. Victoria Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said: "A thousand fires have been reported over the past 24 hours and 39 of those are still listed as going."
On Tuesday night, lightning strikes sparked more than 250 fires in the state, fire authorities said.On Tuesday night, lightning strikes sparked more than 250 fires in the state, fire authorities said.
2013 was recently declared Australia's hottest year on record. Forecasters say the extreme heat in much of south-eastern Australia is not expected to ease until the weekend, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports.