Lack of forecast rains to prolong Australian bushfires threat

The Gospers Mountain fire is seen burning in bushland near Colo Heights, north west of Sydney, Australia, November 13, 2019. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts/via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Official weather forecasts for Australia out on Thursday showed no substantial rains for at least three months, providing grim news as firefighters battle to get more than 100 bushfires raging across the east coast under control.

Wildfires in New South Wales and Queensland states have killed four people, destroyed hundreds of homes and wiped out 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of farmland and bush over the past week.