Heatwave Breaks Illawarra Records
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday February 21, 2004
THE heat is easy to beat when you're small enough to jump in a bucket.
Twins Matilda and Jemima Lupis, 2, made the most of yesterday's soaring temperatures in Wongawilli. When the mercury reached 38 degrees, the tiny tots raided the laundry and amused themselves for hours.
Unfortunately, it wasn't an option for everyone.
The region's beaches and pools were packed as temperatures soared to 36 degrees in Bowral, 32 degrees in Nowra and 30 degrees in Wollongong.
Bureau of Meteorology forecast services manager Andrew Treloar said this summer's heat-wave was one of the most severe in the past century, and had broken weather records in the Illawarra.
Wollongong recorded temperatures above 28 degrees for nine consecutive days between February 5 and 13, the only time this had happened.
The previous record was six consecutive days above 28 degrees in 1972, 1991 and 1997.
Mr Treloar said while temperatures weren't the hottest ever - Wollongong's hottest recorded day was 42.3 degrees on January 25, 1982 - the real sting was in the length of the hot spell.
``The high temperatures have gone on for so long, and the humidity has been another factor. It makes the whole situation more oppressive," he said.
``There is a low pressure system over NSW that is not moving very quickly. It is bringing down a lot of hot, humid air from the north."
Southerly winds and a strong low pressure system south of Australia also caused large seas yesterday.
Swimmers at the North Wollongong rock pool had to contend with waves in the usually tranquil waters, and surfers were out in force in the big waves.
At Sussex Inlet yesterday morning, two fishermen had to be rescued when their boat capsized in the swell.
Inspector Bill Carter of Nowra police said the Sussex Inlet pair, aged 81 and 78, was thrown into the water and clung to their boat for a short time.
``They were picked up by a boat following them and taken to the Sussex Inlet Coastal Patrol base.
``Their overturned vessel was recovered by the patrol and police," he said.
The 81-year-old man was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital and later airlifted to Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital with a fractured neck.
He was in a serious but stable condition last night.
Mr Treloar said Illawarra temperatures would remain in the 30s this weekend.
They would drop to the mid 20s during next week.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury