Feb 21

Heat Waves Compared. 21 Feb 1914. 116deg.F = 46.6 Celsius. The BOM 2020 heat record was beaten 8 times in 1858 and 6 times in 1908.

HEAT WAVES COMPARED. (1914, February 21). Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), p. 38. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88835222?searchTerm=heat%20waves&searchLimits=#

Just now, while citizens are wondering if anything worse than the present heat wave could be experienced, it is interesting to recall that this wave is but a ripple compared with earlier ones, some of which should still be within the memory of all the community. Wednesday put up a record for the season and registered the highest temperature ever known in Adelaide during the month of February, with three exceptions. On February 12, 1899, the maximum shade reading was 113,6 deg., and on February 1 and 2, 1912, the thermometer showed 112.6 deg. and 112.8 deg. on consecutive days. The record of 116.3. deg. was established on January 26, 1858. ‘ The highest shade temperature of recent years
Was 114 deg. on December 31, 1904. But when speaking of heat spells, those who  think two or three consecutive registerings  of 100 or more something of an achievement, must take off their hats to the memory of what their ancestors put up with for there was a spell of 10 days in 1858 which will long challenge all-comers, file consecutive daily readings on that occasion
were:—

January 21 ….93.8
January 22 . 103.0
January 23 . 110.7
January 24 . 1O9.0
January 25 . 113.0
January 26 . 116.3
January 27 . 112.2
January 28 . 107.8
January 29 . 109.4
January 30 . 107.1
But in January, 1908, there were two spells which — though neither was so severe as that of 1858— together look very imposing.  The month began us follows:-
January 1 …. 97.7
January 2 .. 105.0
January 3 .. 101.9
January 4 .. 107.9
January 5 .. 108.3
January 6 .. 108.8
January 7 .. 108.4
January 8 …..90.3
Then cool weather intervened for three days, after which, another heat wave came
long, thus:—
January 12 …. 93.6
January 13 .. 102.2
January 14 .. 107.3
January 15 .. 111.5
January 16 .. 110.4
January 17 .. 110.3
January 18 .. 110.5
January 19 .. 110.9
January 20 .. 92.4

That January month has a mean temperature of 94.7 deg., but February. 1857, holds the record for mean heat. Only on three days of that month was. the temperature below 90 deg. The normal mean temperature of February is 86.1 deg., but this month has an average of 93.6— six days have registered over 100, and five over 105. Only twice previously had there been five or more days in the month of  February with a shade maximum of over 105 deg. Such extensive heat is not locked for in this month, because the period of daylight now is much shorter than in early January.