Let's talk about the weather

I don't know that Melburnians are more fixated on the weather than folk elsewhere but our weather is part of our daily conversation, often beginning with the words 'It's too...". Could be too hot, cold, wet, humid, windy and so forth. I recall remarking on someone's blog that their northern hemisphere season seemed to change very abruptly. I spoke too soon, as exactly that has happened here.

On the 11th September we had our first 20 (70) degree day with a jump of 5 degrees. Two days later we cracked 25 (80). By the 23rd, we had dropped back to 12 (54) degrees.

Yesterday was 35 (just short of 100) and today is forecast to be 35 before a cool change. What happened to spring? Of course this is nothing to do with global warming.

Our heat comes when a strong north wind blows the heat down from inland Australia, and at this time of year also rye grass pollen which drives people with hayfever crazy.

Here's a photo, taken a few weeks ago, to brighten things up. The tree closest to the lens is a London plane tree with new leaves appearing. Further is an elm which has just burst into seed, or elm hops as I call them. The hops are now nearly all brown and dry and are flying around in the wind like confetti. They even get caught in updraughts and end up on our balcony, gathering in corners. These couple of very hot days will probably see them all gone and the new elm leaves will appear, faced with searing winds and scorching hot sun. Deciduous European trees really do it tough in Australia.

I'll just end with this, we could do with a bit of rain though.