The 'Black Friday' Heatwave of January 1939.
"An extreme heatwave occurred in south-eastern Australia, January 1939. It was long lasting with very high temperatures. On 9 January the temperature at Kyancutta (South Australia) reached 49.3 °C, the highest temperature recorded in South Australia at that time.
Many temperature records were made during this heatwave, some of which have held until the recent 2009 heatwave; Adelaide, 46.1 °C, on 12 January, Melbourne, 45.6°C on 13 January, Sydney, 45.3°C on 14 January with Manly and Richmond both reaching over 47 °C. In northern New South Wales some places reached 48 °C on 15 January. Menindee and Wilcannia in western New South Wales reached 49.7 °C and 50.0c respectively.
High temperatures were experienced inland in 1939; at Mildura the temperature exceeded 37.8 °C on each of the first 14 days of January, and at the peak of the heatwave, averaged 45.6°C from 7-14 January. It is estimated that more than 400 deaths in Victoria were caused by excessive heat.
The strong northerly winds in 1939 over this period followed a very dry six months providing the right conditions for extreme bushfire, see the related entry for the 13 January 1939, Black Friday bushfire.
The Victorian bushfires of 13 January 1939, known as Black Friday, were the culmination of several years' drought in the state, following by high temperatures and strong winds. These conditions fanned several fires – some of which had been burning since early December – into a massive fire front. Fire swept over the mountain country in north-east Victoria, and along the coast in the south-west.
Smoke covered Victoria; approximately 75 per cent of the state affected by the fires to some extent. Despite the number of fires burning and the severe conditions, some bushmen and graziers lit additional fires in an attempt to protect themselves – only for these fires to get out of control and spread.
On 8 January, two people had died in the Toolangi State Forest. By Monday 9 January, fires were burning in Dromana, Arthurs Seat, Frankston, Dandenong Ranges, Cockatoo, Noojee, Moe, Yallourn, Bairnsdale, Harrietville, Mt Bogong, Orbost, Woodend and Mt Macedon.
By 10 January, almost all the forests in the Great Dividing Range were on fire. There was a large outbreak around the town of Erica, north-east of Moe, and at Powelltown between Yarra Junction and Noojee.
By 13 January – Black Friday – the temperature reached 44.7 degrees Celsius in Melbourne, and 47.2 degrees Celsius in Mildura with very low humidity levels. Narbethong, Noojee, Woods Point, Nayook West and Hill End were completely destroyed by the fires on this day.
The fires claimed 36 lives in Victoria on Black Friday; the total number of deaths across January was 71. Approximately 1300 buildings were lost – more than 700 homes, 69 sawmills, many businesses, farms and other buildings.
The south-east of South Australia, southern New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania also experienced fires in January 1939.
A Royal Commission for the Black Friday bushfires played a significant role in increasing bushfire awareness and prevention throughout Australia."
Jan 1939 Max temps in south eastern Australia:
The pool of the hottest air centered over Murray River Valley region of Northern Victoria and adjacent Riverina and Central Western Districs of NSW. The severity and duration of the heatwave was mitigated somewhat by a series of weak cool changes along the southern coastline, and the far south eastern coastline in Gippsland, Victoria barely saw temps above average.
Jan '39 in Kyancutta, Agelaide and Mount Gambier:
You can clearly see the variable max temps on the southern coastline...Cape Otway Lighthouse and Melbourne, then in Gippsland at Sale and Orbost
The Jan '39 heatwave was extreme and of long duration along the Murray Yalley and the Riverina:
Mildura, Kerang, Deniliquin
Further east at Rutherglen and Wagga Wagga. The all time max temp set at Rutherglen still stands as of 2023.
Both Sydney and Canberra also set some impressive max temp records during Jan '39
Central Western NSW extremes Jan '39:
Bathurst, Forbes and Dubbo
North Western NSW at Cobar, Bourke and Gunnedah
The heatwave penetrated the north east of NSW and didn't quite make into south east QLD
Figures for Inverell ( NSW )and Goondiwindi ( QLD )
