South Africa Sets Earth's Hottest October Temperature on Record: 119°F

[knocker]

 

Earth's hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of October occurred on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 in South Africa, when Vredendal hit a remarkable 48.4°C (119.1°F). According to weather records researcher Maximiliano Herrera, this is also the highest temperature ever observed at Vredendal and the third highest temperature in South African history. The new global October heat record was made possible by a "Berg wind"--a hot dry wind blowing down the Great Escarpment from the high central plateau to the coast. As the air descended it warmed via adiabatic compression, causing the record heat. These sorts of foehn winds are commonly responsible for all-time record temperatures; mainland Antarctica's all-time record high of 17.5°C (63.5°F), set on March 24, 2015, was due, in part, to a foehn wind (see wunderground weather historian Christopher C. Burt's blog post on this.)

According to Herrera, the previous world October heat record of 47.3°C was set at Campo Gallo, Argentina on 16 October 1936, and South Africa's highest reliable temperature for any month is 48.8°C (119.8°F), recorded at Vioosdrif in January 1993.

 

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=3171

[Interitus]

So close to the national record in the northern hemisphere equivalent of late April. The all-time record holder Vioolsdrif reached 46.9°C for comparison.

Might've expected Australia to have the highest October temperature but their record is by coincidence 46.9°C at Port Hedland back in 2002. Of course they don't have the same capacity for compressional warming.

[Mokidugway]

What the humidity with that I wonder ??.

[Ǝssex Ǝasterly]

What the humidity with that I wonder ??.

 

Whatever it is it'll sure save my money on heating bills! May even cook my breakfast in the sun! Sod the egg on toast, egg on concrete, oh wait, sand! sounds delicious!

[Interitus]

What the humidity with that I wonder ??.

 

Well don't know the actual dew point at Vioolsdrif for the 46.9°C but it was around 4°C before and afterwards which would give a relative humidity of 7.69%