The extreme temperatures had Yorke Peninsula grappling with extreme bushfire conditions, then wild, wintry weather.

Federal Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, even linked Aust­ralia’s irregular weather patterns with the effects of global warming.

The record November temperatures were due to a stationary high pressure system that sat over the Tasman Sea for weeks, directing hot, dry continental winds across the state.

Kadina had the hottest November on Yorke Peninsula, recording 10 days over the old 100 degrees Fahrenheit, five days in a row of temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius and the highest maximum, on Novem­ber 19, of 44.6 degrees.

Maitland experienced six days over the old 100 mark, eight days over 35 degrees and recorded 41.9 degrees on November 19.

Compared with Kadina and Maitland, Edithburgh experienced a milder November but did have a very hot day on November 19, recording 41 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperatures for Edith­burgh, Kadina and Maitland were between 5 and 6.5 degrees above the recorded average and overnight minimums between 1.9 and 5.5 degrees above the November average.

More recently, rainfall interrupted harvest for many farmers and Edithburgh, Kadina and Maitland all registered above average rainfall for November.

Edithburgh was 1.6 mm above average, receiving 19.6 mm; Kadina 14.9 mm above average with 37.4 mm; and Maitland 17.6 mm above average receiving 45.8 mm.

Heatwave effect

The heatwave seemed to have some effect on tourism and hospitality on Yorke Peninsula with hoteliers saying heat tends to keep people at home.

Hotels were once a sanctuary against the heat but, with most homes being air-conditioned, people are more inclined to stay home out of the heat; they do venture out for a meal but they don’t tend to hang around.

Tourist information centre, Harvest Corner at Minlaton, did notice an increase in tourists seeking sanctuary in their air-conditioned building but, apart from requests for shady caravan parks, they did not notice an appreciable increase in tourist numbers.