Temperatures to climb as the Australian Open finishes its 1st week
By
Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Jan 23, 2020 5:57 PM EDT
Weather Forecast overview for Asia
As the Australian Open plays on, dry conditions should allow matches to continue as scheduled through at least the beginning of the week. However, sweltering temperatures and poor air quality loom on the horizon.
After wet weather disrupted the start of the grand slam tournament on Monday, drier weather and warmer air returned to Melbourne. Afternoon highs reached 32 C (90 F) on Wednesday.
The normal high temperature for the middle of January is 26 degrees Celsius (around 78 degrees Fahrenheit).
Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, right, and Michael Mmoh of the U.S. play during their second round singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Winds picked up ahead of an approaching cold front, adding to the challenge for any outdoor matches.
Despite a quick win in straight sets, star player Novak Djokovic said the playing conditions proved challenging, according to Express.
"I don't think players enjoy these kind of conditions, to be honest," he said. "It is what it is. You have to accept them and embrace the fact that you're going to - I guess you're going to be challenged on different levels, not just by your opponent, but also the conditions."
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This front also brought periods of rain Wednesday night and into Thursday morning that brought a layer of dirt to outdoor courts, making them look as if they were made of clay.
Outside of a stray afternoon shower, dry conditions returned on Thursday. Gusty winds persisted on Thursday, but they were not as strong as Wednesday, with some gusts reaching up to 60 kph (37 mph).
On Friday, dry conditions continued while the cold front stalled farther east over eastern New South Wales. To the delight of players, winds are expected to be no more than a light breeze.
Matches should continue as planned through the rest of the weekend as high pressure sits over southern Australia, promoting dry conditions.
Saturday ad Sunday was dry with a mix of clouds and sun. Temperatures were seasonal.
While dry conditions are expected to remain in place on Monday, winds turning out of the south will bring cooler conditions.
Marine air from the Bass Strait will limit how high temperatures are able to climb as the second week of play kicks off.
On Tuesday, dry and mainly sunny conditions are expected again as an area of high pressure will pass over southeastern Australia.
As this area of high pressure shifts east through the middle to end of next week, winds will become more northerly. This will allow temperatures to climb once again.
However, forecasters will be monitoring the potential for a tropical low over northern Australia during this late-week time frame. If this feature drifts to the south, northerly winds may help to pull tropical moisture from this feature into southeastern Australia, which could lead to delays during the end of the tournament.
While dry weather will be welcome to keep match schedules on track, it can open the door for poor air quality to return to the Melbourne area.
Controversy rose as qualifiers began amid smoky conditions in Melbourne. Matches were postponed, and several athletes shared concerns over the safety of the conditions.
Dry weather and gusty winds can create conditions for any ongoing or new fires to spread quickly closer to Melbourne.
Most of the bushfires in Australia are burning in eastern areas of the state, so any northeast winds can usher in smoke and cause air quality to deteriorate.
The annual tennis tournament and first of the sport's four 'Grand Slam' events will continue into early February.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Sports
Temperatures to climb as the Australian Open finishes its 1st week
By Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Jan 23, 2020 5:57 PM EDT
Weather Forecast overview for Asia
As the Australian Open plays on, dry conditions should allow matches to continue as scheduled through at least the beginning of the week. However, sweltering temperatures and poor air quality loom on the horizon.
After wet weather disrupted the start of the grand slam tournament on Monday, drier weather and warmer air returned to Melbourne. Afternoon highs reached 32 C (90 F) on Wednesday.
The normal high temperature for the middle of January is 26 degrees Celsius (around 78 degrees Fahrenheit).
Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, right, and Michael Mmoh of the U.S. play during their second round singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Winds picked up ahead of an approaching cold front, adding to the challenge for any outdoor matches.
Despite a quick win in straight sets, star player Novak Djokovic said the playing conditions proved challenging, according to Express.
"I don't think players enjoy these kind of conditions, to be honest," he said. "It is what it is. You have to accept them and embrace the fact that you're going to - I guess you're going to be challenged on different levels, not just by your opponent, but also the conditions."
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
This front also brought periods of rain Wednesday night and into Thursday morning that brought a layer of dirt to outdoor courts, making them look as if they were made of clay.
Outside of a stray afternoon shower, dry conditions returned on Thursday. Gusty winds persisted on Thursday, but they were not as strong as Wednesday, with some gusts reaching up to 60 kph (37 mph).
On Friday, dry conditions continued while the cold front stalled farther east over eastern New South Wales. To the delight of players, winds are expected to be no more than a light breeze.
Matches should continue as planned through the rest of the weekend as high pressure sits over southern Australia, promoting dry conditions.
Saturday ad Sunday was dry with a mix of clouds and sun. Temperatures were seasonal.
While dry conditions are expected to remain in place on Monday, winds turning out of the south will bring cooler conditions.
Marine air from the Bass Strait will limit how high temperatures are able to climb as the second week of play kicks off.
Related:
On Tuesday, dry and mainly sunny conditions are expected again as an area of high pressure will pass over southeastern Australia.
As this area of high pressure shifts east through the middle to end of next week, winds will become more northerly. This will allow temperatures to climb once again.
However, forecasters will be monitoring the potential for a tropical low over northern Australia during this late-week time frame. If this feature drifts to the south, northerly winds may help to pull tropical moisture from this feature into southeastern Australia, which could lead to delays during the end of the tournament.
While dry weather will be welcome to keep match schedules on track, it can open the door for poor air quality to return to the Melbourne area.
Controversy rose as qualifiers began amid smoky conditions in Melbourne. Matches were postponed, and several athletes shared concerns over the safety of the conditions.
Dry weather and gusty winds can create conditions for any ongoing or new fires to spread quickly closer to Melbourne.
Most of the bushfires in Australia are burning in eastern areas of the state, so any northeast winds can usher in smoke and cause air quality to deteriorate.
The annual tennis tournament and first of the sport's four 'Grand Slam' events will continue into early February.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo