ICE COLD: Brigitta McGuire of Molong Gelato kept people cool at the farmers’ markets.
Finding it hard to remember a time when it was this hot?
That is not surprising because you would have to cast your mind back to 2004.
In January 2004 Orange had three consecutive days where the maximum temperature was over 35 degrees.
On January 2 it was 35.4, on January 3 it was 35.5 and on January 4 it was 35.6.
However the numbers were just beaten in February of that year when on the 14th we had 35.9, the 15th we had 38.3 and the 16th was 35.2.
Friday the mercury hit 34.4 and only just knocked this heatwave out of the running for a record for Orange but it can safely be said it has not been this hot in eight years.
The highest recorded temperature in Orange for January was 36.7 degrees on Saturday the temperature reached 36.5.
Bit it might be time to breathe a sigh of relief with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a cooler spell around the corner.
Bureau spokesperson David Barlow said the reason we experienced the heatwave was due to the late arrival of the monsoon season in the north of the hemisphere.
“That usually cools things down,” he said.
“It has been very late this year, it normally brings some relief because of the heavy rains.”
Mr Barlow said the cool change should keep the average temperature for this week at 27.
