"We want people to be aware of signs of heat stress," a spokesman for the state's lifeguard service told Reuters. Temperatures hit 47C in parts of New South Wales and ACT on Friday, putting pressure on the electricity grid and prompting plans by authorities to suspend supply in some areas. Racing officials in Sydney, Australia's largest city, postponed the Royal Randwick Race Meeting over fears for the animals' wellbeing in the heat. New South Wales sports officials cancelled some Rugby League junior representative matches and all grades of cricket matches. "For quite a few weeks, nights have been coming warmer and we haven't had any changes to blow the heat away," Zmijewski told Reuters.

Source: Bangkok Post February 11, 2017 04:48 UTC