SNOW IN SYDNEY!

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 27

SNOW IN SYDNEY!

A FALL IN 1836

ANTARCTIC WEATHER

In an old record, "Notes of Observation" made by Mr. James Dunlop, who was Astronomer Koyal of New South Wales nearly a century ago, appears the following:— "June 27, 1830. Raining at 3, 6, 9 p.m.; very heavy rain in the night; 7 a.m. of June 28, snowing heavily, snow lying one inch thick, snow now all melted; temperature outside 32deg at 7 and 9 a.m.; 44 at noon." Tho Sydney "Monitor" of June 29, 183G, records tho same occurrence thus: •' Sydney was visited by a fall of snow yesterday morning; we believe- snow has never been seen in Sydnoy before.'' NEVER AT BUENOS AIRES. The fact of snow having fallen in Sydnoy on tho dato mentioned (writes T.S.C. in tho "Sydney Morning Herald") has been noted in various meteorological journals, and in "Harmsworth," in an article entitled "Snow," appears tho following: — "In the Southern Hemisphere snow has been known to fall in Sydney in latitude 34deg. At Buenos Aires—latitude 34.36 —snow has never been seen. Although the annual fall in tho United States in Maino is eight feet, and soven feet in New York, in Siorra Novada it ranges from ten to 30ft. In tho British Islands'a heavy fall of snow is comparatively uncommon, a fall of ono foot being au exceptional occurrence. The snow line, or tho limit, of perpetual snow, is determined by a temperature which, in the warmest part of the year, is 32deg, or only above this figure for a short period." It was the latter temperature which was reached in Sydney on the date mentioned by Astronomer Dunlop. Sir Douglas Mawson is reported to have stated, in regard to Antarctic weather, that sufficient importance- was not apparently given by our meteorologists to tho influence of the vast masses of surface waters which came from tho Antarctic, and ho thought that if a closer study of Antarctic conditions was made and more detailed information obtainod, i.t would bo practicable to trace many,of tho vagaries of tho Australian climato to factors preexisting in Antarctic regions. Possibly it was tho existence of these extreme conditions in our Antarctic weather in Juno, 1836, which was responsible for the exceptionally low temperature at this particular period. FALL NOTED BY WILKES. In Wilkes 'a '' Narrative of the UniteVl States Exploring Expedition," which was hero in 1839, ho says: "Snow has boen known to fall in Sydney, but so rarely that we were told some of the inhabitants were doubtful as to its nature." Some interesting facts in regard to snow wore related to mo by Mr.. Mares, our Meteorologist. Mr. Mares said that the temperature round about Sydney is seldom lower than 40dcg., except in the early morning, and our conditions generally were not sufficient to sustain the snow as snow. Ho considers tho 1836 fall as quite unique and partaking of the nature of a cyclonic snowstorm. Wo have records of trifling falls' of snow having been observed from time to time. • From Sydney, snow was seen on the distant mountains in 1876. In 1889 a few flakes fell in York Street, and in 1905 a similar tiny fall was noticed on tho Equitable Building, near the General Post Office. On August 9,1919, snow fell at Strathfield, and the local schoolchildren wero allowed out to view tho unusual phenomenon, which, however,'was not of long duration. In regard to tho particular fall in 1830, an aged Sydney resident made a statemont that she was born just prior to tho occurrence, and her mother had informed hor that tho event caused a great deal of excitement among the early settlers, causing reminders of the Homeland, and that father called mothor to look out of the window to see the unusual sight of the snow falling on the roofs near by.