Code red fire alert , here we go again !

[Merinda]

Thankfully recent rain has kept Melbourne green this year , unlike the dead brown lawns and grassy areas of early 2009 , so hopefully there wont be any major problems with grass fires in the suburban areas .
Unfortunatly the people in the western area of this state (Victoria) have been ordered to evacuate the area ASAP as the fire danger has been upgraded to "catastropic" code red.

We would be grateful for any snowballs you girls from the Northern hemisphere can throw at us.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/666 ... d-for-vic/

[Angela]

Merinda,
The weather here is really bad, I haven't been out of the house for almost four days, but I'd take the snow and cold anyday rather than fire.
I've always had nightmares about being trapped in a burning building. I can't stay in a strange house, hotel, or guest house without personally checking and rechecking all fire precautions, sometimes to the amusement of others.
I hope you (and all the Aussies) don't have to suffer any fire damage.
And on a lighter note, you're welcome to all the snow in Scotland!

[DonnaT]

I read about fires near Pirth earlier in the month.

[Virginia]

HI Merinda,

Just be careful out there!

I have heard that the average temperature for the earth and on to specific areas of the globe, down to small geographic areas, like towns and cities, vary very little over a given time. In our area they have computed the data on our recent "cold spell," and concluded it is the coldest 10 day period for this time since records have been kept, back to the mid - late 1800's.

Don't know how that compares to your average temperature for your summers and your time of year. Is it hotter than usual over say the last 5 - 10 - 15 years or so?

Virginia

[Merinda]

The state of New South Wales has been hit badly over the past month or more , much property has been lost up there.

Feels like the lul before the storm at the moment , 7:50 AM daylight saving time (6:50 in reality) , the sun has been up for over an hour , the leaves on the trees are totally still.
Although I live well away from the potential fire regions , We are expecting 43 degrees (C) ( 109 F) in the city when that fan forced hot North wind hits.

[Merinda]

HI Merinda,

Don't know how that compares to your average temperature for your summers and your time of year. Is it hotter than usual over say the last 5 - 10 - 15 years or so?

Hi Virginia ,

It is common to get a number of days 40 - 43 degrees celcius ( 104 - 109 F) at this time of year , its just that the country areas are not taking any chances after last years devastation.
I don't think our Summers have gotten any hotter over the years , however on the day of last years fires , the temprature hit 46 in the city and 48 (118 F) out here in the North and thats extreme for this region.

[Darla H]

Please be careful. That is what i do for a living (fight fire).

[Merinda]

It is now beer o'clock (4 PM) and its tasting great and going down fast.

42 degrees C (107 F) and I'm told to keep up my fluids , not a problem , the bottle shop is only 2 minutes walk if I run out tonight.

After taking a long walk to have some photo's processed in what you USA girls call flip-flops , my toes feel like they have been burnt with the hair dryer.

So far so good with the fires , no major outbreaks at this stage , but the wind is expected to strengthen in the comming hours.

[Merinda]

At 5 PM the temp hit 44 degrees C (112 F) , I had to wear sunglasses in the outdoor spa , the air was burning my eyes.
I didn't need a towel to dry off afterwards.

So far no major fire outbreaks , although the "Ingham chicken processing factory in the city turned into a fireball , no one hurt as far as I know but KFC may need to buy its stock from elsewhere.

KFW = Kentucky Fwied Wabbit ???

[Leeza]

That might help take care of the Wabbit population.

Leeza

[Merinda]

Last night was the hottest equal to the record of the year 1902

The nights minimum temprature was 30.6 C (87.9 F) recorded early this morning

At 8PM last night it was still 40 C (104 F)


Just after midnight it was still 37 C (98 F) when we had an electricity outage for a couple of hours , pole transformers were overloaded with the high demand because of excessive use of airconditioners.
Covered head to toe in perspiration , couldn't sleep , no fan , no air movement and definately no dress ups .

Time to move to Tasmania .

[Virginia]

I can identify with the heat. I remember attending a meeting in Las Vegas in August, several years ago. It hit 118, but being inside then taking an air conditioned cab back to my hotel, taking a nap then about 10:00 pm after dinner, I thought I would at least take a walk, stepped out of the hotel at 10:00 at night and the heat practically sucked the breathe right out of me at 110. It was an eye-opening experience.
Needless to say, I retreated back inside for the evening and yes I did play and remember what they say about Vegas, "those hotels were not built by winners!!" Ouch!
Hope it cools down for you, probably makes your make-up hard to keep on!?

Virginia

[Merinda]

Thanks virginia ,

Conditions today are now mild with a cool southerly breeze , it was good to have a comfortable sleep last night.

[Susan]

Dear Merinda

I just read that Melbourne has had its hottest night in over a century, my sympathy dear.

Would it be possible to pass some of your excess heat to us here in the Northern Hemisphere, it might melt all the snow and ice we have atm

best wishes

[Jamie L]

Merinda,
I do hope that the heat wave passes soon and the country can escape the ravages of fires. After spending the last decade or so here in Las Vegas I can relate to the blast furnace winds as well to the over one-hundred (F) degrees at night.