Daily Talk Forum

Running HOT for NINE more days

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S scorching start to autumn is forecast to stretch for another nine sizzling days.

The forecast comes as the Bureau of Meteorology predicts today's maximum will reach a brutal 40C in Adelaide – a shade above yesterday's top of 39.8C

Long-range forecaster Haydon Walker has predicted there will be no relief from the heat until Tuesday week, when temperatures are tipped to at last descend into the 20s.

"The extended hot spell is a product of north winds coming off the desert," he said.

Kyancutta, in the state's west, recorded SA's highest temperature yesterday – 42.1C – while Neptune Island, off Eyre Peninsula, was the coolest place, with a merciful top of 26.1C.

The punishing weather is taking its toll, with at least six people treated at Adelaide hospitals for heat-related illnesses during the week and another seven – the oldest aged 88 – receiving treatment for dehydration yesterday.

The heat yesterday hit the city's super Saturday of events, including WOMADelaide, the NAB Cup Grand Final and Port Adelaide's trial game against Fremantle.

The Power's NAB Challenge at Noarlunga Oval was staged in the heat of the day, with players taking every precaution to stay hydrated, including using wet towels, ice vests and water-spraying fans on the boundary line.

Revellers enjoying WOMADelaide also endured the stifling conditions and 10 people were treated for minor heat stroke, St John Ambulance volunteers said.

Performers from the Terem Quartet, a St Petersburg outfit which entertained world music fans at the festival yesterday, described WOMADelaide as like a "Russian sauna".

Andrey Smirnov said for their first WOMADelaide in 1993, the group had arrived from Siberia, where the temperature was -44C.

"Now it's only -6C in Russia, no big difference," he joked.

Indie musician John Butler, who was sporting a cooler look without his trademark dreadlocks, paid tribute to the WOMADelaide crowd.

"They are not self-conscious, they are not trying to look cool; they are just having a good time," he said.

The sellout 40,000-strong crowd watched acts including West African Farafina, The Beautiful Girls and US DJ Nickodemus, and kept cool under shady trees, parasols, big hats and mist tents, run under special water restriction exemptions from SA Water.

The scorching heat has forced the cancellation or rescheduling of several amateur weekend sporting events, including junior football, soccer and cricket. Monarto Zoo is closed today because of the heat and Adelaide City Council has cancelled its Rundle St Sunday Market.

And with a host of other sporting and artistic events still taking place over this long weekend, the State Government has issued a health warning.

Acting chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips advised people to regularly check on their elderly relatives and neighbours living alone during the hot weather.

As gardens wilt and Adelaide's water supply dwindles, the extended hot spell also has put police and firefighters on alert for accidental or deliberately lit fires. Police officers from Operation Nomad are patrolling bushfire prone areas around the state as South Australians enjoy their Adelaide Cup long weekend.

The bureau's seven-day forecast puts temperatures in the mid to high 30s right through the week until a peak of 38C on Saturday.

This will mean 14 days straight above 30C.

News.com.au

SCORCHING Adelaide is on the brink of recording its longest heatwave since weather bureau records began in South Australia.

Temperatures passed 37C in the city today, the eighth day in a row above 35 degrees Celsius.

Adelaide has weathered similar extreme hot spells before, the last in February 2004, Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Martin Crowe said today.

"But the last time this happened in March was in 1934," Mr Crowe said.

A new record for the longest heatwave since bureau registers began in the 1860s will be set tomorrow if the mercury passes 35 degrees.

But Mr Crowe says a brief cool change is most likely to keep maximum temperatures just below 35 degrees tomorrow.

Police are warning the public to "remain vigilant" in the extremely dry weather conditions.

Some sporting fixtures were cancelled over the weekend and the main race in today's Adelaide Cup was pushed back 40 minutes due to the heat.

Temperatures are expected to remain at 34 degrees or above in the city and around parts of the state until the weekend, and possibly beyond.

News.com.au

I remember having to leave school once for a week because it was 42 degrees .. Summer...
Do they still have that rule now?

I think so, today is over 36, that's 9 days in a row above 35 C and breaks the longest heat wave on record. There is no relief in sight and the forecast is for another 9 days above 35 C

Record heat and no relief in sight for another week

ADELAIDE is the epicentre of a record-breaking heatwave which is forecast to continue over the coming week.

Temperatures peaked at 38.4C at 3.56pm yesterday, making it the ninth consecutive day of temperatures above 35C and the longest Adelaide heatwave on record.

But the Bureau of Meteorology has warned the previous record – of eight days that last occurred in February, 2004 – is on track to double as Adelaide faces another week of 38C and above temperatures.

This is also the first time autumn temperatures have stayed above 35C for more than eight days.

A cool change is not expected to hit the city – among the hottest places in the state for much of yesterday – until at least next Wednesday, but it is still too early for forecasters to be certain.

In a rare occurrence, Adelaide's maximum temperature was significantly higher than several outback towns, including Coober Pedy, Andamooka, Ernabella, Moomba, Oodnadatta, Roxby Downs and Woomera.

The maximum temperature in the Riverland was also lower than Adelaide's, reaching 38.4C at Renmark at 3.30pm.

The hot start to autumn has also pushed Adelaide's average maximum temperature for March to about 36C, well above the long-term average of 26C.

Other places around the state, however, enjoyed slightly cooler temperatures with the mercury in some towns such as Kingscote only reaching 24C. Lyndoch, Clare and Snowtown even received rain and thunderstorms.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Hannah Marsh said it was rare to see Adelaide among the hottest areas.

"But we saw Adelaide's temperature rose above or at least equalled the maximum temperate of many inland centres," she said.

Melbourne fire breather and sword swallower Manx was one person not trying to beat the heat in Rundle Mall yesterday.

The performer instead surrounded himself with fire as he entertained those game enough to brave the heat.

More than 40 people have presented at Adelaide hospitals since Saturday.

The Health Department has warned extreme heat can be dangerous and even fatal, and urged people to keep hydrated and try to stay cool.

High temperatures also increase the risk of food poisoning, which kills about 120 Australians a year.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paddy Phillips said symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, faintness and dizziness, loss of appetite, weakness, headaches, vomiting, and lack of sweating.

"It's important that people stay well hydrated drinking water, keep out of the heat and use fans and air-conditioners to stay cool," she said.

"People should also check on their elderly relatives and neighbours living alone regularly during the hot weather."

News.com.au

And they're sending it all over here for us - how considerate.