Went out a short while ago and checked the thermometer under the shade area and found that the temperature is over 50c. Well, the unit only goes up to 50c and the mercury is over that. After that I decided that I would sit down and have a read in the coolest part of the house – the laundry, where the dogs are. I went in there with the dogs, took a cushion and plonked myself down beside them. The Air Conditioner is not coping too well, despite the place being closed up and the awnings down. It is cooler inside than out, certainly, but no where as cool as it should be. The official State Government website says 47.9c. I have half a mind to move the desk into the laundry with the dogs because the ceramic tiles are cool and they are more comfortable than I am.
According to the news we have broken a long standing record. Up until today our highest ever temperature was 45.8 now the new high record is the same as the State Government Web Site – 47.9 – so the 50c on my outdoor thermometer is fairly conservative. We move 80 Klms South East of here and we have a temperature of 48c – another new record.
Ok, so that was yesterday, which topped off several days of searing heat ending in new records across the state. Today, after a record 47.9 the temperature has crashed to a forecasted 26c – currently it is 21.6. This morning at 7:15 I took the dogs out and were they glad to be “free” for a while – well “free” as in they are on 15 foot extendable leads. They were – like me – just so glad to get out again. It was just too hot to take them out these last few days. I think they missed ” checking the mailboxes” I know animals have a greater sense of smell then we do, but how a dog can stand sniffing a blade of grass, or part of a bush for ten minutes, is a puzzle. Still, 21.6 – seriously thought about a pullover to keep me warm :o)
Over 85 properties destroyed and one life lost as fires rage out of control in Tasmania – out of control fires in Victoria and one major fire burning out of control some 80 klms south-east of Adelaide. Nothing up here, which is something to be thankful for.
As expected, many of my plants have died. I did water them every night after the sun went down, but the heat of the day still burned them up, which adds to my comment about ” Full Sun” – that may well be, but not for this little corner of the world. – and before I water the plants at night I have to let it run for a bit before I do because the water is hot for the first few minutes. The long range forecast is for very high temperatures starting again in the next day or so, but in the meantime, I will enjoy being outside, but again, because of the North Wind, I need to redo all my work and sweep up again. Still, if it were not for the trees I am certain that the places would be a lot hotter.
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