Warmer days are coming to Melbourne, host city of the Australian Open tennistournament.Sunshine, mingled with a few clouds, will afford enough warming to boostWednesday's afternoon temperatures above 80F, or about 27C. There will belittle chance of any rain. Afternoon winds will be southwesterly at 8 to 15mph, or about 12 to 25 km/h.
January marks the height of summer "down under." For this city of Melbourne,this can mean sharp day-to-day shifts in weather and temperature havingconsequences for outdoor tennis play at the Open.
The normal daily temperature extremes during the Open include a high of 78F, or25.6C, and a low of 57F, or 13.9C. However, averages do not begin to tell thewhole story.
On one hand, daytime temperatures can top 110F, or 43C, easily hot enough toaffect play dramatically. This happens when desert heat from the heart ofAustralia sweeps southward ahead of cold fronts. Gusty winds and dust canaccompany these hot blasts, which normally have very low humidity.
At the same time, Melbourne's proximity to the South Ocean, always a cold bodyof water, means that cool winds are common. When such southerly winds coincidewith rain, it can feel downright chilly with daytime readings not far from 59F,or 15C.
While not a wet climate during summer, Melbourne does get measurable rain onabout one day in three during mid-January. Occasionally, there is thunder andlightning.
While the primary facility boasts a retractable roof and thus allows forall-weather play, many matches are held on open-air courts subject tocancelation due to rain or heat. For example, play during Jan. 28-30, 2009, wasaffected by the heat as temperatures soared above 110F, or 43C.
This year, scheduled play, in light on Monday's opening, will run 14 days,through Jan. 31.
