There were warnings of a scorcher - and predictions of historic highs - last week, and Friday didn't disappoint.
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The mercury was tipped to peak at 40 degrees, but the Bureau of Meterology says the barometer didn't quite nudge that figure in town.
While the official top temp in Wauchope was 39 degrees, areas further west, including Bellangry, reported 41 degrees.
It was 43 degrees on the barometer at Kindee Valley Farm around 3.30pm and one Blackbutt Estate, Wauchope resident recorded 41.7 degrees at lunch.
On the worst possible day, Wauchope Public School endured a blackout, left without airconditioning and fans and forced to invite parents to collect children early.
Wauchope Olympic Pool was a popular place to be, as was Rocks Ferry Reserve.
Kids crowded the pool after school, keen to escape the heat and splash around in the water.
Weatherzone meteorologist Tristan Meyers said "November does see a few days with heat like this, but this particular air mass was hot and intense".
"Last year, Mount Seaview topped out at 43 degrees and prior to that the mercury hit 37 degrees on November 1."
Mr Meyers said it was difficult to say whether the warm run could be the start of a warmer than normal summer.
"It's hard to link a single weather event to a general outlook, but these conditions go back to El Nino and hotter than normal maximum temperatures are expected," he said.