Keeping Heat Waves in Perspective

The Great Heatwave of 1896 by Dr John McLean.

This heat wave has the dubious honour of being the hottest EVAH.

From the document:

South-eastern Australia’s 2014 heat wave in perspective

“Anything under 110 [43.3C] is now beginning to be looked at as contemptibly cool.” – 1896

In January 2014 parts of south-eastern Australia experienced a sever heat wave. For several locations the heat wave started around January 11 and lasted about a week then with just a few days pause returned and extended into the first week of February. Temperatures in Melbourne exceeded 40C (104F) on four successive days during the first period and temperatures were lower during the second period. In contrast Bourke, in northern New South Wales, experienced 21 successive days above 35C (96F) and seven successive days above 40C (104F) in the second period.

As hot as these conditions were they were still lower than during January 1896 when a hot spell gripped New South Wales.

Read the whole document:

http://mclean.ch/climate/docs/Aus_Heatwave_1896v2014.pdf [PDF, 370 KB]

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