Prolonged heatwave, bushfires and severe water shortages affect South Australia

The Narracoorte Herald Tue 1 Feb 1898: ‘Scorching Weather—Another heat wave is now passing over us, and the weather since Thursday last has been extremely hot and trying… Saturday, Sunday and yesterday were particularly warm days, ‘ the thermometer reaching about 100° inside ordinary dwellings, while within cooler resorts the temperature was unusually high. The atmosphere has been thick and hazy with the smoke from bush fires that have been burning in the surrounding country during the last few days. On Saturday the town was quite enveloped in smoke, and the reflections of some of the fires could be clearly seen. The Government Astronomer has foretold cool changes on two occasions now, but neither of his predictions have come out right, and yesterday was as hot as ever. During Saturday night the thermometer did not go below 80°, and about 10 o’clock it registered as high as 90 °, but on Sunday evening it became pleasantly cool during the night, and the mercury went down as low as 70 °. The forecast issued by the Government Astronomer yesterday afternoon for the 24 hours ending this evening is ‘High temperatures all over the colony, though on the coast from Kangaroo Island eastward it is likely to be fairly cool. Heatwave likely to continue for some time’.

The Advertiser Sat 5 Feb 1898: ‘Langborne’s Creek, February 3. The weather is fearfully hot, and it bas been so for nearly a week. People of all ages are feeling the strain very much, and all kinds of work is at a standstill’. ‘Clarendon, February 4. The intense heat continues. Nothing like it has been experienced for years. Nearly all water supplies are exhausted, and creeks which have never been known by the oldest residents to have given out are now nearly dry. At Kangarilla some of the residents have started boring for water with a hope of getting a good domestic supply…. Scrub fires are incessantly troubling us. No sooner is one got under than another starts up. The whole country from Myponga to Mount Lofty has been attacked. Fortunately the bulk of the fires are confined to the ranges, but should they get down on to the grass land the whole country will be swept… Since the burst of heat set in very few visitors have reached Clarendon’.

South Australian Register Wed 9 Feb 1898: ‘Watervale: The weather during the last four weeks has had such a bad effect upon the fruit and vegetables in this district that tho Local Bureau have decided to abandon the idea of having a Show this year. The fruit is small and parched, and it is a wonder tho trees survive at all. The creeks have ceased running, and the springs are very low, and most of the tanks are dry’.