This year’s final month of spring was full of surprises. We had nine days with temperatures above 30ºC. This was Maleny’s hottest November since 1997 when we had 15 days above 30ºC. On Sunday 17th we had the highest November temperature ever officially recorded at Maleny with 38ºC at 2.30pm, and a heat stress factor of 44ºC. This triggered a warning to be issued advising those at risk of a possible danger from heat exhaustion or heatstroke. November’s rainfall was the fifth month in succession with below average rainfall with only 39 mm, representing 24 mm below average. The source of rain was from thunderstorms and a few maritime showers. We missed out on the rainbands that brought relief to the drought areas out west. On the 30th smoke from the Noosa bush fires was trapped by a temperature inversion, reducing visibility and providing a potential irritant to asthma sufferers.
