Friday, 1 March 2002
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE
Adelaide's mean summer maximum the lowest on record
Rainfall and temperatures in Adelaide were significantly less than normal for February this year and for summer 2001-02.
Temperatures: The mean maximum temperature for February was 26.4 degrees, 2.9 degrees less than normal. It was the lowest February mean maximum since 1969 when 25.8 degrees was recorded. The mean minimum temperature for February was 15.0 degrees, 2.1 degrees less than normal. It was the lowest February mean since 1954 when 13.5 degrees was recorded.
The mean maximum temperature for summer was 25.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees less than normal. It was the coolest summer mean maximum on record. Last summer the mean was 31.2 degrees, 5.6 degrees more. The previous coolest summer was 1948-49 with a mean of 25.7 degrees.
The mean minimum temperature for summer was 14.4 degrees, 2.1 degrees less than normal, making it the coolest summer mean minimum since 1939-40 with a mean of 14.3 degrees. Last summer the average minimum was 18.8 degrees, 4.4 degrees more than than this summer.
Of note is that during summer 2001-02:
* temperatures in Adelaide did not exceed 40 degrees. Last summer there were five days. On average there are two days.
* there were only three days when the temperature reached or exceeded 37.8 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Last summer there were 16 days. On average there are six days.
* there were only six days when the temperature reached or exceeded 35 degrees. Last summer there were 29 days. On average there are 14 days.
Rainfall: No rainfall was recorded in Adelaide in February compared with the estimated norm of 22mm over four days. Last year, 10.4mm was recorded over four days. It was the driest February since 1991, which also recorded no rainfall. Adelaide's summer rainfall was 34.8mm over 15 days, 36.2mm less than the estimated norm of 72mm over 14 days. It was the driest summer since 1991-92 when 17.0mm of rain fell.
Temperatures below average across South Australia
Temperatures throughout South Australia were below average in February, while rainfall in southern parts was mostly less than normal. Many stations across the State also experienced their coolest summer on record.
Rainfall across the State
Pastoral districts: Above to very-much-above-average rainfall was reported in the northern interior of South Australia in February. Below-average rainfall was reported in south-east parts of the Northwest district, southern parts of the Far North district, and western parts of the North East district. Elsewhere, rainfall was average.
Falls of more than 100 millimetres were reported in much of the northern interior of the State, extending north and north-west of Oodnadatta. Oodnadatta recorded 143mm and Pukatja (Ernabella) recorded the most February rainfall, 159mm. Totals of 50-100mm where confined to the remaining northern parts of the State. Totals of less than 10mm were reported in an area south-east of Commonwealth Hill Station to Port Augusta and Lake Torrens, and from Marree to Erudina and then south to Gluepot Station. Most stations in the area reported no rainfall. Totals of 10-50mm were scattered over the remainder of the Pastoral Districts.
Agricultural Districts: Average rainfall was reported in the far west of the Western Agricultural district and isolated pockets of the Riverland, Murray Mallee and the Lower Southeast. Elsewhere, rainfall was generally below average with isolated pockets of very-much-below-average falls on the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, Kangaroo Island and the Upper Southeast.
Totals of more than 10mm were confined to Mount Gambier (14mm), Penola (12mm) and Cape Northumberland (13mm) in the Lower Southeast. Most totals were less than 5mm, with many places throughout the Agricultural districts recording no rain. The highest total in the Agricultural districts was 14mm at Mount Gambier in the Lower Southeast.
Temperatures across the State
Mean maximum and minimum temperatures throughout the State were below average in February. Some stations set both mean maximum and mean minimum records.
Mean maximum temperatures were mostly 2-3 degrees Celsius less than normal in both the Pastoral and Agricultural districts, with some sites up to 5 degrees less than normal. In the Pastoral districts, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 31 degrees at Woomera to 35 degrees at Marree. In the Agricultural districts, mean maxima ranged from 21.0 degrees at Robe in the Lower Southeast to 31.7 degrees at Hawker in the Flinders Ranges. The highest maximum for the month was 43.2 degrees at Marree in the Far North district on 15 February.
Mean minimum temperatures were mostly 2-4 degrees less than normal in the Pastoral and Agricultural districts. In the Pastoral districts, mean minimum temperatures ranged from 14.4 degrees at Nonning to 21.2 degrees at Moomba. In the Agricultural districts, mean minima ranged from 10.3 degrees at Coonawarra to 15.8 degrees at Whyalla airport in the Western Agricultural district. The lowest minimum for the month was 3.0 degrees at Coonawarra in the Lower Southeast district on 11 February.
Some stations throughout the State recorded their lowest February mean maximum and minimum temperatures on record. Record low February mean maximum temperatures were recorded at Oodnadatta airport (32.6 degrees) and Robe (21.0 degrees). Record low February mean minimum temperatures were reported at Renmark (14.6 degrees) and Edinburgh airport (13.8 degrees).
Many stations across the State experienced an abnormally cool summer, with several centres recording their coolest summer mean maxima on record. These included Ceduna, Woomera, Kyancutta, Port Pirie, Maitland and Warooka, which coincidentally had a record warm summer last year. Generally, daily temperatures were about 5 degress less than that of last summer.
Significant weather
Severe winds: Short-lived, severe wind squalls were reported on parts of the West Coast and Eyre Peninsula during the pre-dawn hours of 15 February. A wind gust to 95 km/h was recorded at Minnipa (West Coast) at 2:45am, and four holiday shacks were badly damaged at Port Neill (Lower Eyre Peninsula) at about 4:30am. The damage at Port Neill occurred coincident with high-based convective clouds near a wind change, and was most likely caused by an intense downburst or a tornado.
Severe thunderstorms: A severe thunderstorm with a wind gust to 91 km/h occurred at Padthaway (Upper South East) on 15 February. On the 21st, a severe thunderstorm affected Cordillo Downs (Northeast Pastoral district). Wind squalls associated with the gust front blew off a section of a house roof. About 28mm of rain was then recorded in 30 minutes.
Ends
Further information:
Richard Szkup, tel: (08) 8366 2691.
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