The hot day that wasn't

By ERWIN CHLANDA

BOM, the Bureau of Metereology, is usually admirably close to reality in its forecasts.

Today is an exception.

At 3.33pm it was 16.5 degrees off the mark – see photo.

The “Max” of 38 degrees has been published all day.

We’ve contacted BOM and they are looking into it.

UPDATE provided by BOM:

The forecast for Alice Springs for today was 38°C.
The preliminary maximum temperature recorded to about 4:30pm ACST was 26°C at 10.30am ACST. This is a preliminary recording as the maximum temperature will be confirmed at 9am tomorrow morning. There is a small chance of a "late maximum" (a maximum occurring after 3pm).
The reason for the discrepancy between the forecast and actual maximum temperature is a thick cloud band which slowly moved over Alice Springs during Saturday. This cloud band arrived not long before the preliminary maximum was recorded at 10.30am ACST. The cloud band limited the amount of heating from the sun.
The cloud band is now (as of 4.30pm ACST) close to clearing Alice Springs, and so the temperature may rise a little before the sun gets low enough in the sky to stop adding more heat into the atmosphere than is being radiated out.

ED: The temperature according to BOM at 7.35pm was 23 degrees.