Friday, 30 March 2001

MEDIA RELEASE - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Wet start to autumn in Adelaide

Adelaide's rainfall for March 2001 was 49.0 millimetres recorded on 10 days - 23mm above the estimated normal of 26mm on five days. Last year, 35.6mm was recorded in March on four days. This has been the wettest March since 1999 when 58.8mm of rain fell in Adelaide. March rainfall for the past three years has been above average. The total rainfall for the first three months of 2001 has been 79.0mm, while 83.6mm was recorded over the same period last year.

The mean maximum temperature for March was 25.5 degrees Celsius (calculated to 3pm, 30 March 2001) - 0.6 degrees below the normal March mean maximum of 26.1. The mean March maximum last year was 26.3 degrees. This has been the coolest March since 1999 when the average was 24.4 degrees. Adelaide (Kent Town) had its second coldest March daily maximum on the 21st, when the temperature reached only 15.8 degrees. The lowest daily March maximum recorded at Kent Town was 15.6 on 31 March 1999. The mean minimum temperature for March was 14.6 degrees, 0.6 degrees below the normal March mean minimum of 15.2. This was the coldest March minimum since 1997 when the average was 13.1 degrees. Last March, the mean minimum was 16.0 degrees.

Please Note: this information is provided on the last working day of the month. Finalised figures cannot be provided until the first working day of the following month, when a more complete release will be issued.

Ends

Further information:
Richard Szkup, tel: (08) 8366 2691