Severe Frost Affects South Australia
Date
13 July 1881
Meteorological data recorded at the time
Severe frost was reported across several parts of South Australia. At Farrells Flat, white ice more than one-eighth of an inch thick covered the ground. Near Clare, the ground became hard from frost and considerable ice formed on water pools. Cold and wet conditions were also reported in the Mount Gambier district, while repeated frosts occurred around Port Augusta and Kapunda.
Historical descriptions / observations
The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide) Thu 14 Jul 1881: ‘Farrells Flat, July 14. We have just experienced a very severe frost, said to be the sharpest for the season. The country this morning as far as the eye could see was covered with white ice more than an eighth of an inch in thickness’.
South Australian Register (Adelaide) Thu 14 Jul 1881: ‘Port Augusta, July 13. We have had severe frosts of late which may possibly affect the crops if they continue’.
Burra Record (SA) Fri 15 Jul 1881: ‘Kapunda, July 13. The weather has been very showery lately with doses of frost in between. The general opinion is that it is the coldest winter we have experienced for some time’.
Northern Argus (Clare) Fri 15 Jul 1881: ‘On Wednesday night [13 July] the frost was unusually severe, the ground being quite hard, and ice of considerable thickness was seen on the waterpools’.
Impacts / Stories
The severe cold had noticeable agricultural and livestock impacts. In the Mount Gambier district, some early-born lambs died during the intense cold and wet weather. At Port Augusta, there were concerns that continuing frosts could damage crops. Near Clare, severe frost slowed the growth of young wheat, although the plants were still described as healthy and developing strong roots. The widespread frost and thick ice also illustrate how unusually cold the conditions were across several South Australian districts.
Source
Glaisher