Real Climate Records

REMARKABLE EXTREME FOLLOWS LIKELY CONTINUANCE OF THE

CHANGE.

Extremes of heat and cold characterised the weather experienced in Melbourne on Saturday and yesterday. The firstnamed

day earned for itself the reputation of being the hottest ever experienced locally in the month of October.

On Sunday, however,  the wind from the south-west had just the suspicion of an icy chill about it, which was exceedingly refreshing after the hot northerly breezes of the previous day.

The cause of the heat, according to Mr. II. A. Hunt, the Commonwealth meteorologist, was that the conditions were controlled by

a “high” over the east of the continent and the Tasman Sea, whilst the moving up of a “low” over the centre of Australia and the Bight heralded an Antarctic disturbance, which was responsible for the cool change.

The shade temperature recorded at the Observatory at 3 p.m. on Saturday, 98.4 deg., was a record, the previous highest reading having been on 30th October, 1883, when 96.1 was reached.

In the city, however, the heat, as actually experienced by pedestrians, was higher still. The shade temperature chronicled by Gaunt’s instruments, in Bourke-street, at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday was 88 deg.; it was 99 at midday, and, finally, during the afternoon, reached 100.2.

This was an early taste of summer. which, accompanied as it was by clouds of dust, was not relished by citizens generally, who, unless duty was , imperative, largely remained within their houses until the cool of the evening. The change to better living con

ditions came in gradually during Saturday night. The southerly wind, as it creeps along the coast, was light at first, but it grew stronger as it penetrated inland. Yesterday morning, therefore, had a “close” feeling about it.

At 930 a.m. on Saturday the temperature at the weather bureau  was written down at 87.7; whilst at the corresponding time on Sunday it was only 67 deg.

From this point, however, it gradually advanced until before noon it reached the maximum, which was 71. Then the influence of the southerly attained full effect, and by 3 p.m. there had been a welcome fall to 62.5. The cool conditions are, it is stated, likely to continue for a day or two, and there may be some coastal showers, which will also be welcome.

HEAT IN THE COUNTRY.

BAIRNSDALE, Sunday.

Yesterday the thermometer registered 101 deg. This io the highest temperature ever recorded locally in October.

BALLARAT, Sunday.

The thermometer registered 92 in the shade yesterday and to-day. This is a local record for October.

WARRACKNABEAL, Sunday.

Severe heat was experienced here yesterday, the maximum shade temperature being 101.5 deg.

MURCHISON, Sunday.

Extremely warm weather has been experienced here during the week. The maximum shade temperature recorded at the local post office ranged from 87 deg. on Monday to 102 deg. at 2 p.m. yesterday, which is easily a local record for October.

A RECORD IN HOBART.

92 DEG. IN THE SHADE.

HOBART, Sunday.

Yesterday was the hottest day yet recorded here in October, the temperature being 92 deg. in the shade.

Bush fires have been raging all round, but the damage has been principally confined to fencing. A bridge at Hastings has been destroyed.