45.1˚C here today

[Nelskwdds]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

That's a scary sight. There's nothing more devastating than wildfires. All the best to you guys for safety & resolve for those affected.

[Greenman]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

The local fire authorities recently imposed a fire ban that was left in place for 2 weeks. I spoke with them about the WFO and they said it would be ok to use it with the usual sensible precautions.

This ban was over the whole region and as we did not have extreme heat or wind at the time I used mine a couple of times but my place is irrigated and not vulnerable. We have had days of 40 C since without a fire ban and with the wind involved I would not have lit the oven regardless.

All about using a little good sense sometimes.

I hope you folk in the south make it through the hot, dry and fire prone days you are having at the moment safe and well.

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

the view across the Gulf from Whyalla last night

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Well it didn't break the record of 46˚C but managed another 44.3˚C.
Went for a quick dip to cool off and will go again before bed time.
About using our ovens, there is a TOTAL fire ban on at present as some of our members are located in the outer metro areas or in the hills that surround Adelaide.
Mick mentioned about the Country Fire Service (the CFS) and when I asked about using my oven one Christmas when there was area fire bans, nobody could give me a definitive answer, not even when they contacted Head Office. I dare say since then, many other questions have been asked hence wood fired ovens are now listed. Previously they were deemed as cooking devices and did not come under the banned regulations but lets face it, if it's too hot and a fire ban is imposed for safety sake, then who the heck would want to light theirs? I wanted to cook the Christmas turkey in mine, but settled for the electric range.Definitely not me. Hot again tomorrow with a mild change coming in late on Saturday.

Neill

Did you read the code of practice? Not too bad. Based on consultation from the pizza oven industry. Wonder who the heck that is?
If the oven has a spark arrestor and there are no combustibles, like grass and trees for 4 metres around, then you are pretty much good to go on a fire danger day, but not a fire ban day.
(Like you say, who the hell wants to light an oven on a fire ban day anyway?)

After reading it, I went and looked at my oven. It just about complies, with a code that was written after I built the oven - so not so bad.

The code specifies a spark arrestor on the flue. I haven't finished researching it yet, but they refer to an Australian Standard for spark arrestors on internal combustion engines! I'll use stainless steel mesh, less than 3.2 mm, a number that came up somewhere.

The other thing I don't have is something that stops sparks coming out the front. I reckon I'll fit stainless steel mesh to the opening in the blast door I normally use to exclude the wind. I reckon that'd make it compliant.
Sorta like a fire screen.
The code is all about making the oven a "properly constructed fireplace".

Decking timber, firewood stored under the oven, properly maintained framing, etc, don't count in the requirement for cleared combustibles around the oven.

And its only above and in the forward direction. My lawn passes behind the oven and that's OK if I read the code properly.
All in all, the CFS code of practice for pizza ovens really just lists of things that the average Aussie bloke living in a bush fire region would do anyway.

[nissanneill]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Well it didn't break the record of 46˚C but managed another 44.3˚C.
Went for a quick dip to cool off and will go again before bed time.
About using our ovens, there is a TOTAL fire ban on at present as some of our members are located in the outer metro areas or in the hills that surround Adelaide.
Mick mentioned about the Country Fire Service (the CFS) and when I asked about using my oven one Christmas when there was area fire bans, nobody could give me a definitive answer, not even when they contacted Head Office. I dare say since then, many other questions have been asked hence wood fired ovens are now listed. Previously they were deemed as cooking devices and did not come under the banned regulations but lets face it, if it's too hot and a fire ban is imposed for safety sake, then who the heck would want to light theirs? I wanted to cook the Christmas turkey in mine, but settled for the electric range.Definitely not me. Hot again tomorrow with a mild change coming in late on Saturday.

Neill

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Wow,
That's hot. Just out of curiosity, do you guys use your ovens in that heat?

No mate. Lighting my oven today would result in an invitation to explain myself to the judge.
Actually I rang the Country Fire Service last year to ask the rules for ovens, since the CFS website only mentioned BBQs.
At the time they told me it was OK on the day in question to use it.
My mate informs me that pizza ovens are now specifically mentioned, so perhaps country South Oz memebrs can blame me for bringing ovens to their attention.
Two hours since I took the last picture, the bushfire looks like this, the CFS is advising people the fire is out of control and to activate their survival plans. I just rang the transport contractor's manager, and he's up in the hills getting his horses out.
The CFS says leave now if you can. Getting ugly.

[Nelskwdds]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Wow,
That's hot. Just out of curiosity, do you guys use your ovens in that heat? I'm in South Texas & it doesn't get quite that oppressive heat-wise, but at our normal 37C in the summer, I don't find it so enjoyable to stand in front of a 900F oven. We LOVE this time of this year here though, 21C or 70F & sunshine everyday this week!

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Just went out to one of the stockpiles for a look.
This fire is at bangor, about 43km away by road, 15km/9miles in a straight line.
As we watched, the fire front doubled in width in a couple of minutes.
It's been going a couple of days now, they've closed the road, and there appears to be two water bombers operating. Dunno how much good they do, as they come over to land and fill up it looks to me like they are only crop dusting planes.

[nissanneill]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Just spoke to son in law who is currently over on York Peninsular and it was only 29˚C there and 41˚C here.
Also just had a coffee with a workmate who's son loads planes for Virgin in Adelaide and was 55˚C on the tarmac yesterday.
Looks like I might have to plunge into the pool to cool off, haven't been in yet but might have to break the ice!
A little tooooo hotttt for working, done one air conditioner on the roof this morning but need to finish another job this afternoon, a little cooler tomorrow.

Neill

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

I don't like this weather at all, but in truth a 44 degree day (what's that, about 110F?) isn't so unusual here.
I remember setting off to Whyalla in my mates Torana in 1983 for enrolment day at the institute of technology. We took his car because it had air conditioning. With a forecast temperature of 43, I'll never forget the disappointment as he hit the button, only to hear the drive belt snap and fall off! We had to stop on the way home and lift the bonnet and wait for the fuel to stop boiling in the fuel filter.
Adelaide is usually 2 degrees or so cooler than Port Pirie.
So today, when they are forecast to get 46 degrees, they aren't used to it and they are truly going to suffer.
There has been an explosion in grid connected solar panels, meaning there are tens of thousands of mini power stations out there. Hopefully this diversification of inputs to the grid will take enough load off the power stations and supply won't fail. If it does fail, people will certainly die.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

You guys ovens are already preheated and those who are building an oven now, gotta be tough.

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Those were the days - a raspberry and a packet of chips brought out to the car by your old man because you didn't take the kids into the front bar during the 6 o'clock swill in the early 60's.

At 3:44 pm today it was 43.5 degrees at the weather station on the smelter boundary. I reckon a couple of degrees hotter at the airport 6 km inland.
And a bushfire at Bangor up in the hills. Reckon they were water bombing it when I left work.

[cobblerdave]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Gudday
Didn't have to goggle it .... It came across the local news on the way home from work. Adelaide of course is due 46C tomorrow. Adelaide's record is 46.1C in 1946, so you might break the record.
Recon that's a reason to try a red cordial...probably will not taste the same as it did when you were 10.
On a side note. I spent a bit of my teenage years in a little country town in the north west NSW. The pool was the focal point of the town for a kid in the summer holidays ( 6 weeks over Xmas for our northern friends)
If the temp hit 100F it was closed... Till 6 pm. Pool normally closed at 9 pm. Those missing hours were added to the 9 pm close. A kid could swim till 3 pm in the morning if it was really hot, turned the kids into night owls .... Without Internet either.
Regards dave

[nissanneill]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

Hi Mick,
Port Pirie would be getting close to these temps eh?

It's OK if you are safely tucked up in an airconditioned pub for the duration, but guys who drink alcohol while they are actually out inthe sun suffer greatly.

I can remember as a child, that I used to thoroughly enjoy a raspberry or lemon cordial, but nowadays, it is only rubbish and just as expensive as beer.
Today it only got just over 44˚C which doesn't really feel much different to 38˚C. Tomorrow however will tell the tale as 46˚C is predicted, luckily I am working indoors but that doesn't help much when painting.

Neill

[wotavidone]

Re: 45.1˚C here today

You do get used to it but it is still uncomfortable.
As far as the coopers is concerned, there are a few bottles in the fridge, but I don't drink, so it is iced water or cordial. Iced coffee also goes down a treat.

Neill

Smart move, matey.
Lots of Aussie fail to recognise that consuming alcohol in this weather can actually kill you. It's OK if you are safely tucked up in an airconditioned pub for the duration, but guys who drink alcohol while they are actually out inthe sun suffer greatly.

That would be Farmers Union Iced Coffee, I expect?