On the first of September, 1972 the first public indication of metric conversion appeared in Australia: Weather forecasts used degrees Celsius to describe temperature without any conversion to Fahrenheit.

Fifty years ago today, the way we describe weather changed overnight when the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) switched from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

The change was part of Australia's conversion to the metric system, overseen by the Metric Conversion Board.

And while the overall shift was a mammoth task, the transition was considered fairly seamless.

Retired meteorologist Mike Bergin, who was training with BOM at the time, said one of the biggest discussion points was whether or not to phase out Fahrenheit.

From The Sydney Morning Herald on August 3, 1972

It is not surprising that many people are concerned about the difficulties of converting to the metric system of measurement. The same fears were held about the changeover to decimal currency.

For a while most people still evaluated prices in the old pounds, shillings and pence currency. But who does that now? Indeed, everyone would admit that the decimal system is much simpler and easier for calculation.

There is no question, therefore, that the conversion to the metric system of measurement will prove an advantage and a convenience. The concern is not in adapting to the new system, but in discarding old and valued traditions.

Follow Celsius by sensation (August 10)

The main problem expected with the change to Celsius as a measurement of temperature is you, the average person.

Suddenly, you are expected to think in degrees Celsius — not Fahrenheit or anything else.

Celsius can be equated with sensation, rather than using complex arithmetic to convert from Fahrenheit.

Memorising the following terms for each range of temperature may help give a much easier conversion.

THE FLAMING FORTIES — 35 deg C to 45 deg C (95 deg F to 113 deg F) and upwards represents heatwave conditions.

THE THIRSTY THIRTIES — 25 deg C to 35 deg C (77 deg F to 95 deg F) is typical of the warm to hot conditions in summer.

THE TEMPERATE TWENTIES — 15 deg C to 25 deg C (59 deg F to 77 deg F) is usually appreciated as being cool to warm.

THE TINGLING TENS—5 deg C to 15 deg C (41 deg F to 59 deg F) is the range experienced on colder winter days in southern Australia.

THE FROSTY FIVES — -5 deg G to 5 deg C (23 deg F to 41 deg F) represents very cold conditions commonly met in the highlands, or on frosty nights.

The highest temperature recorded in Australia is 53 C (27 F) at Cloncurry in Queensland, and the lowest is -22 deg C (-8 F) at Charlotte Pass in the southern alps of New South Wales.

The world’s highest is 58 deg C (136 deg F) at Tripoli in Africa, and the lowest is -88 deg C (-127 F) at Vostok, a Russian station in the Antarctic.