Monday, 1 March 2004
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE
Record heat over SA
February temperatures were above average over South Australia with many centres breaking long standing daily temperature
records for the month.
February temperatures
Maximum: Mean maximum temperatures were more than 2°C above normal over much of the interiors of the state and within
1°C of normal over coastal parts of the far west of the state, parts of Eyre and Yorke peninsulas, southern parts of the
Central, Lower Murray Valley and the Lower Southeast districts.
In the Pastoral districts, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 40.3°C at Marree, in the Far North district, to 34.8°C at
Pukatja, in the Northwest Pastoral district. In the Agricultural districts, mean maxima ranged from 22.4°C at Neptune Island
to 36.6°C at Hawker, in the Flinders Ranges.
Many centres in South Australia broke long standing temperature records for February. The highest temperature recorded was
was 47.9°C at Marree on 16 February, and is the highest temperature recorded in South Australia for February, although it
does equal the temperature recorded at Tarcoola on 17 Febraury 1992.
Minimum: Mean minimum temperatures were more than 2°C above normal over the interiors of the state and near normal
along the coasts. In the Pastoral districts, mean minimum temperatures ranged from 18.8°C at Nonning to 25.6°C at
Oodnadatta, both in the Northwest district while in the Agricultural districts, mean minima ranged from 11.2°C at
Mount Gambier and Coonawarra, in the Lower South East, to 20.5°C at Hawker, in the Flinders Ranges.
The lowest minimum recorded during the month was 5.0°C at Coonawarra on the 4th in the Lower Southeast district.
February rainfall
Pastoral Districts: Near average rainfall was reported from most of the Pastoral districts, with an area of very much
above average totals being reported from Marla extending north to the border.
Rainfall totals were generally 10mm and less throughout, with the highest total of 46mm recorded at Pukatja in the
North West Pastoral district.
Agricultural Districts: Average rainfall was reported from much of the Agricultural districts. However, there were
large pockets of below average rainfall over the northeast of the Western Agricultural district and extending into western
parts of the Upper North district. A large band of below average rainfall extended from the eastern Spencer Gulf, near
Kadina on the Yorke Peninsula, eastwards into northern parts of County Light, central Mount Lofty Ranges and northern
parts of the Lower Murray Valley district. The eastern border region of the Upper Murray Valley, Murray Mallee, Upper
Southeast and northern parts of the Lower Southeast districts recorded totals that were also below average. Isolated
small pockets of below average rainfall were also reported from southern parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges and Lower
Murray Valley districts. Coastal parts of the Lower Southeast district recorded above average rainfall totals.
Rainfall totals were generally less than 10mm over much of the Agricultural districts. Totals above 10mm were reported
from parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Lower Southeast district.
Mount Gambier, in the Lower Southeast district, reported the highest rainfall total for February of 36mm.
Significant February weather
Thunderstorms: On the afternoon of the 12th, a thunderstorm with severe winds overturned caravans and blew roofs
off shacks at an opal mining camp at Lambina, 70 km northeast of Marla, in the Northwest Pastoral district. One sheet of
iron was found embedded in a tree.
On the afternoon of the 17th, a thunderstorm at Coober Pedy in the Northwest Pastoral district, produced a southeasterly
wind squall with a gust to 91km/h. No rain was recorded and there was no damage.
Severe winds: Overnight on the 10th, strong and squally east to southeast downslope winds brought down numerous
tree branches and caused scattered power outages across the eastern suburbs of Adelaide. No severe winds were recorded,
but squalls in excess of 90 km/h may have occurred in localised areas.
February weather in Adelaide
Rainfall: Adelaide’s rainfall for February 2004 was 5.2 mm, recorded on 2 days. This is 8.9mm below the normal of
14.1 mm on 4 days. Last year, 63.0 mm was recorded in February on 5 days. This has been the driest February since 2002
when no rain was recorded.
Adelaide’s rainfall for summer 2003/04 was 49.2 mm, 12.6 mm below the normal summer rainfall of 61.6 mm. Rainfall for
last summer was 95.0 mm.
Temperatures: The mean maximum temperature for February 2004 was 32.2°C, which is 2.8°C above the normal February
mean maximum of 29.4°C. The mean February maximum last year was 29.2°C. This has been the warmest February since 2000
when the mean maximum was 32.3°C.
The mean maximum temperature for summer was 29.0°C, which is 0.7°C above the average of 28.3°C. Last summer the mean
maximum temperature was 29.5°C.
The mean minimum temperature for February 2004 was 17.8°C, which is 0.6°C above the normal February mean minimum of
17.2°C. Last February, the mean minimum was 17.4°C.
The mean minimum temperature for summer was 16.5°C, which is equal to the average of 16.5°C. Last summer the mean
minimum temperature was 17.2°C.
Ends
Further information:
Richard Szkup, tel: (08) 8366 2691, e-mail: climate.sa@bom.gov.au
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