Real Climate Records

A heat record for the season was established in Sydney yesterday. A scorching westerly wind

sent the temperature up to 96 degrees, the reading being taken between 2 and 3 o’clock in the

afternoon.

The previous highest temperature for the year in the city was 93.2 degrees, which

was registered on November 2. Although both those temperatures are high, they are much

short of the record for the month of December, 104.1 degrees being registered on December 17,

1900.

Mr. Hunt, Acting-Meteorologist, stated that since 1859 there have been a number of unusually high temperatures, 100 degrees being reached on 10 occasions. In 1862 the maximum

temperature for December was 100.5, In 1863 103.1, in 1868 101.5, in 1871 103.8, in 1872 100.1, in 1896 101.4, in 1899 102.1, in 1900 104.1, in 1901 104, and in 1902 100.

Mr. Hunt added that the heat was oppressive on account of the hot north-westerly winds which were blowing from across the dry interior.  There were several strong gusts, but the highest velocity of the wind was only 22 miles.

The temperature at Sydney at 9 a.m. was 84.1; between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. it reached 89.9; between 11 a.m. and noon, 93.8; between noon and 1 p.m., 94.2; between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. 95.1; between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. 96 (the maximum). After 3 o’clock the temperature began to fall, and a strong southerly wind, which reached the city shortly before 5 o’clock, brought the reading down to 71.5 degrees.