Sydney in the sun.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2, 2 January 1914, Page 5

Sydney in the sun.

A SULTRY CHRISTMAS.

HOTTEST DAY OF THE SEASON.

The English visitor who happened to be spending a first Christmas in the sunny south yesterday (states the Sydney Daily Telegraph of Dec. 26) was apt to sigh* with Francois Villon jfor the “snows of yesteryear.” The acclimatised Sydneyite expects, as a general rule, to spend a fairly warm Christmas—that is, as regards wea!ther. .That of 1913, however, excelled | itself, and put up the record of “the I hottest day of the season.” Lowering j clouds, remnants of the previous might’s storm, were chased across the sky by a red-hot westerly, and the glass, which began an upward movement quite early in the morning, soared steadily on until 95.2 was reached. In some of the suburbs it was a full degree hotter, and perspiring residents had the fact fairly burnt into them that “summer is come.” It was certainly not a day to encourage large attendances at the churches, yet citizens did their duty in this respect with praiseworthy conscientiousness, and the congregations at all the Christmas services were large—in some instances particularly so. In tlie city itself, except during the hours when churchgoers were about, an atmosphere of comparative quiet reigned., The country cousin, come to town, in common with his city relative, had abandoned for the day the stuffy streets, and sought cooler glades*. Thousands fled to the beaches, where the water was tempting and cool, and cosy nooks were sought out and taken possession of by armies of picnickers, who in this way found accelerated appetities for their Christmas dinner. THE WEATHER RECORD. Yesterday morning broke hot and sultry, and at 2 p.m. the maximum for the day was reached, this being 95.2 deg, while the humidity was 32 per cent. Although not a record for December by any means, the heat was extremely oppressive. The maximum temperature for December occurred on New Yeai - ’s Eve, 1904, when lOT.odeg were recorded. Yesterday’s reading, however, is the highes this season, .the previous highest being 92deg, registered on October 22. After 6 o’clock last night the temperature fell Very gradually from 88 to 75dog, but for a long time the heat kept tip, and lasted practically throughout the night.: A hot, north-westerly wind blew fight through the day, but although it later moved round ,to the south, only a very slight southerly made its appearance, and it did not cool the air to any extent.

Early this morning, however, the wind from the south freshened, and the temperature fell considerably. Sydney was not the only place to suffer, however, for at Parramatta the record of 96.6c1eg .was reached. This place also felt the effects of a thunderstorm on Christmas Eve; heavy thunder was followed by vivid lightning, and between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. 66 points of rain fell, and a later fall of 2 points brought the total to 68 for the day. At this time Sydnew met with a slight storm, and although only 7 points of rain fell indications Were for a big downpour. Some good falls were reported elsewhere. Condobolin benefiting by 144 points, Kiama by 90, and Bega by 30 points.