Real Climate Records

SOME PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES.

Last week the atmospheric pressure systems were such as to make the weather conditions in this State ideal for a heat wave.

Had similar conditions prevailed in midsummer, an exceptionally severe spell of heat would have been ex- perienced, so the public may he grateful that it is mid-autumn instead.

When seen at the Weather Bureau at West-terrace on Monday, Mr. Bromley remarked that the thermometer readings during the past week had been abnormal, as the mercury had recorded over 85 deg. on seven consecutive days, on three of which temperatures of over 90 deg. had been experienced, or two more than the average number of days over 90 deg. for

the month of April.

Despite the fact that the first few days of April were very cool, the mean maximum temperature to date was 82 deg., of practically 9 deg. over the normal day temperatures for

this month.

During the past 55 years there was one year when the mercury rose to 85 deg. or over in April on eleven consecutive days, and another year with nine such days. In 1904 the first part of April was exceptionally warm.

On 15 out of the first 17 days of the month, the temperature reached 84 deg. or more, and the mean for that period was 86.5 deg., or 4½ deg. per day warmer than any weather so far experienced during the present month.

In April, 1901, the temperature was over 90 deg. on four days, but that was not the record.

In April, 1865, over 90 deg. was recorded on five successive days, and on three, of those days the mercury jumped to 95 deg. For a continued hot spell in April that was easily the record, but the highest shade reading for April was experienced in I866, when on the 10th of the month 98 deg. was recorded.

The 9 a.m. report on Monday stated “The high pressure system which has covered this State during the past week, causing one of the warmest spells on record for April, is shown on this morning’s weather chart with its centre near Sydney, while it’s isobars still cover the greater part of this State and south-eastern Australia.

At the same time, another anti-cyclone has advanced over Western Australia, the centre being noted to the south of Albany. Between these two systems a moderate depression exists, and

under its influence cloudy and rather sultry weather prevails over South Australia.

The barometer at the city is now beginning to fall, indicating the eastward advance of this low, and within the next 24 hours its centre should pass the meridian of Adelaide, and the cool winds on its retreating edge should become general, and later on showers may be expected over the southern districts.”

The 9 p.m. report stated:-“In Adelaide the temperature to-day reached 89.3 deg., and it was 91 deg. at Streaky Bay and 90 deg. at Snowtown. The low which was over the Bight this morning is moving eastward. and by 3 p.m. the cool change had reached Streaky Bay.

The high to

the westward is pushing in, and we may expect cooler couditions, with southerly winds, to extend eastward, and become general over South Australia to-morrow, the change probably reaching the city before morning.”