You’re hearing it more and more: “Summers aren’t what they used to be.” It’s certainly been a catchcry in some states. Sydney’s summers have been tending towards the tropical in recent years, and there’s been a similar trend even further south in Victoria.
As a lifetime Melburnian, I have really noticed a change this summer. The number of days I’ve taken the dog out for a walk and came home ‘dog tired’ (pardon the pun) has been noticeable. Such days have been not unusual in past summers, but they have been on days in which the temperature has nudged or even exceeded 40°C.
But Melbourne’s maximum temperature so far this January has been 33.4°C, nowhere near the 40 mark. But while temperatures have been low, relatively speaking, humidity has been high.
It’s the humidity that seems to be getting to me. I find myself feeling lethargic and listless after even short walks. Of course it could be that I’m just getting old. But research shows that higher humidity combined with heat can affect people of all ages in a similar way.
I may simply have to get used to Melbourne summers being like this. We’ve experienced such seasons as this before, but this now appears to be a normal January pattern. With the seven-day forecast indicating no very hot days, January is set to pass without reaching 40°C in Melbourne.
That’s not exactly common but nor is it rare. What is rare, though, is that it will be the fourth consecutive Melbourne January without a 40-degree day. Melbourne has not had such a four-year run in more than a century.
So I’m calling on my northern friends, those for whom warm and humid days in January have been a lifetime affair. Do you have any tips or tricks that I can take on board in my new ‘tropical paradise’? Or do I just need to start taking the dog for shorter walks?
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