Varmt i Australien

Aftonbladet meddelar att Australiens Bureau of Meteorology på grund av rekordvärmen har fått lägga till en färg till sina temperaturprognoskartor. Tidigare gick skalan till 50 grader - nu går den till 54.

Bureau of Meteorology kommenterar situationen:

Assistant Director of Climate Information Services, Neil Plummer, said the heatwave had broken national records. This is consistent with the trend of an increase in extreme heat events associated with climate change.
"On Monday the average maximum daily temperature record for Australia was broken at 40.33°C. The previous record, 40.17°C on 21 December 1972, was held for 40 years. The daily average maximum temperature yesterday (8 January 2013) is a close third at 40.11°C.
"The number of consecutive days where the national average maximum daily temperature exceeded 39°C has also been broken this week—seven (7) days (between 2–8 January 2013), almost doubling the previous record of four (4) consecutive days in 1973," said Mr Plummer.
Extreme heat events, such as this one, have wide ranging impacts across agricultural and horticultural sectors, infrastructure and transport, and not least human health and safety. The Bureau is also providing advice through federal and state emergency services partnerships to assist during this heatwave and its impacts.

I sydöstra Australien rasar många bränder.