Six-day heatwave brings hot nights, severe fruit-crop losses and nightly migration to Adelaide beaches

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Mon 6 Jan 1908: ‘The first real heat wave of the summer is at present passing over South Australia. With the new year the mercury became lively and was well up in the nineties in Adelaide. On Thursday it jumped to 104.4 degrees, but on Friday it went back to 101.9 deg. though nearly everybody felt the heat more on that day than on Thursday. Friday night was warm, as the thermometer did not go down below 76 deg., and Saturday broke fine and hot, with every promise of establishing a record, and this was accomplished, as at noon the sun temperature was 153.2 deg., and the shade 105.4 deg. Later in the day it rose to 155.5 deg. in the sun and 107.9 deg. in the shade, with the minimum temperature at 75.6 deg. The clerk of the weather had something even hotter for Sunday, as the sun temperature rose to 156 deg., and the shade to 106.3 deg., with the minimum at 76.9… Though conditions have been hot all over South Australia for several days, the other States have not fared any better. Melbourne residents have been experiencing an oppressive heat ever since the new year, the conditions there, owing to the greater humidity than is recorded in Adelaide, being extremely trying… If it will be any consolation to the heat-weary, it might be mentioned that we have not by any means touched previous records for a single day’s heat’.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Thu 9 Jan 1908: ‘Although the past six days almost convinced perspiring citizens that something like a record had been established for the State, a brief chat with Mr Dodwell afforded satisfactory proof that there were more lengthened “spells” of warm weather in the years gone by…’

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Thu 9 Jan 1908: ‘One of the unpleasant features of the heat wave bus been its disastrous effect upon the fruit supply. The cherry crop, which, in the absence of high temperatures, would have lasted another week or two, has been finished up. Those consignments which were marketed during the last few days wore so shrivelled by the sun that they more resembled raisins than cherries. Most of the strawberries and raspberries which remained were burnt up too… Large quantities of tomatoes have been destroyed on the bushes, and this will, no doubt, the market under-supplied for a while… Mr. W. Moulds, of Uraidla, reached Charlick’s Market’ on Tuesday afternoon, and told a pitiable tale of what he had seen on his journey down from the hills. “The chief damage,” said Mr. Moulds, “is in respect of the apple crop. Growers bad been expecting a splendid season for pip fruits, but the hot weather has caused the apples to become scorched, and an average, sample of the crop will be a poor one. These apples are chiefly intended for export, and there is no doubt that the buyers will be disappointed in the quality. Some of the fruit on the trees in discolored-brown-and being scorched will be small in size. The leaves of many of the trees are going brown, giving the orchard the appearance of autumn. It is certainly the worst spell of hot weather for many years so for as its effect on the gardens is concerned…. another gardener stated that the damage resulting to the gardens from the recent heat wave would run into- many thousands of pounds’.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Thu 9 Jan 1908: ‘There has been a nightly exodus of perspiring city folk of both sexes during the heat wave to the watering places along the coast. Glenelg and Henley Beach are the most favored resorts, and at either place bathers may be seen indulging in a cool dip up to midnight’.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Thu 9 Jan 1908: ‘Great relief was experienced by Adelaide residents on Tuesday evening when pleasant breezes from the south lowered the temperature. At midday on Tuesday the thermometer reading was 108.4 deg., and some idea of the fall will be obtained when it is stated that the night temperature came down to 67 deg., a difference of over 41degrees. The readings of the previous nights since the new year were: January 1, 79.5 deg.; January 2, 83.5 deg.; January 3, 82.5 deg.; January 4, 88.5 deg; January 5, 88 deg.; January 6, 79 deg. It will be seen, therefore, that Tuesday night was by far the coolest for over a week’.