Real Climate Records

For the third time within the space of a month Sydney has experienced trying heat with the mercury reading over 100 degrees. On December 24 it reached 103.4, on December 30 101.4, and yesterday 102.8 degrees. Yesterday was more remarkable for the big range of temperatures, for between 1.45 p.m. and 8 p.m. there was a fall of 35.7 degrees.

A hot north-westerly to westerly wind during the morning served to intensify otherwise

sultry conditions, but its drying influence was very marked. Between 9 and 10 o’clock, while

the north-wester effected a rise from 88.9 to 90.4 degrees, the humidity was lowered from

60 to 34 per cent. The heat gained rapidly in intensity until 1.45 p.m., when, with the humidity down to 21 per cent., a reading of 102.8 was recorded.

Soon thereafter cooler conditions were experienced. Within half an hour the city and suburbs were swathed in clouds of dust. The discomfort of the heat was exceeded in most suburbs by dust storms, which were only relieved an hour later by refreshing rain squalls.

At some places hail accompanied the rain, and at the Coast Hospital a motor car belonging to the Eastern Suburbs Ambulance had its radiator damaged by large hail.