DISTRICT residents sweltered through two of the area’s hottest February days in eight years last week.
A high pressure front that stayed over eastern Australia for the late part of the week and weekend pushed temperatures above 40 degrees for the first time since late January.
Kerang’s maximum temperature on Thursday was 44.6 degrees – the town’s hottest day since January 13, 2016, when a high of 45.0 degrees was recorded.
The hot weather continued into Friday, with the temperature reaching 44.8 degrees – Kerang’s hottest February day since February 7, 2009, when the mercury peaked at 46.9 degrees.
Local swimming pools provided solace from the heat, especially for Kerang Technical High School students who competed in the school’s swimming sports.
A third consecutive day of 40-plus degree temperatures on Saturday resulted in the cancellation of Loddon Valley Tennis Association and Northern District Lawn Tennis Association action, with Northern District Bowls Division Saturday pennant matches beginning earlier in the day to enable players to escape the heat.
The temperature peaked at 40.3 degrees following an overnight low of 25.5 degrees, making it the first time since late January and early February 2014 that three consecutive days of 40-plus degree temperatures were recorded.
A southerly cool change provided relief, with overnight showers and cloud cover helping the temperature drop considerably, with Sunday’s high of 24.7 degrees more than seven degrees below the long-term average for February.
