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Monday, 2 May 2005
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE Exceptionally warm April throughout SAApril temperatures were well above average across South Australia, with many stations recording mean monthly maximum temperatures between 4 and 5 degrees C above the long term average. The mean monthly minimum temperatures at most sites were also above average. Record daily maximum temperatures were also reported at many long-term sites, including Oodnadatta with 42.1°C, the highest April temperature recorded in South Australia. Adelaide, with a mean monthly maximum temperature of 26.1C, and 3.6C above the normal April mean maximum, recorded its 2nd warmest April in its 119 year temperature record. The warm conditions in South Australia were consistent with those experienced across Australia. See separate media release for a national perspective at www.bom.gov.au. Rainfall for South Australia was mostly average to below average.April temperatures Maximum: April mean maximum temperatures were well above normal across the State. The Pastoral districts recorded mean temperatures up to 5.4°C above the long term average while the Agricultural districts recorded mean temperatures up to 5.0°C above normal.In the Pastoral districts, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 29.2°C at Arkaroola, in the Far North to 33.6°C at Marree, also in the Far North district. In the Agricultural districts, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 20.4°C at Robe, in the Lower Southeast, to 29.7°C at Kyancutta, in the Western Agricultural district. The highest maximum recorded during April was 42.1°C on the 2nd at Oodnadatta Airport, in the Far North district. Many centres recorded their highest April mean monthly maximum temperature on record (Table 1 below) and also their highest daily April maximum on record (Table 2 below). Minimum: April mean minimum temperatures were well above normal over most of the State. Coastal parts of western Eyre Peninsula, southern parts of Yorke Peninsula and much of Kangaroo Island districts and most of the Upper Southeast district, as well as an isolated pocket around Renmark, in the Murray Mallee and the Upper Murray Valley districts, recorded mean April minimum temperatures that were mostly within 1°C of normal. In the Pastoral districts, mean minimum temperatures ranged from 12.1°C at Nonning on northern Eyre Peninsula, to 19.3°C at Moomba Airport, in the Far North district. In the Agricultural districts, mean minimum temperatures ranged from 8.6°C at Kingscote Airport, on Kangaroo Island and also Coonawarra, in the Lower Southeast, to 15.8°C on Neptune Island. The lowest minimum recorded during April was 0.0°C on the 15th at Coonawarra, in the Lower Southeast district. Several centres recorded their highest April mean monthly minimum temperature on record (Table 3 below) and also their highest daily April minimum on record (Table 4 below). April rainfall Pastoral Districts:Rainfall was average to below average over the Pastoral districts during April 2005. There was an isolated pocket of very much below average rainfall east of and including Marree, in the Far North district.Rainfall totals over 10mm were confined to southern parts of the Northeast Pastoral district. Elsewhere totals were generally between 3 to 9mm, with several centres recording no rain. The highest reported rainfall was 12mm recorded at Paratoo, in the Northeast district. Agricultural Districts: In the Agricultural Districts rainfall was generally below average with areas of very much below average rainfall over the western half of Kangaroo Island and the southern Mount Lofty Ranges extending through the south of the Lower Murray Valley to Kingston in the Lower Southeast district, as well as isolated pockets on the southern tips of Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas. Rainfall totals in excess of 25 mm were confined to the Lower Southeast district. Totals below 10 mm were reported from most of the Western Agricultural and Upper North districts, much of the Adelaide Plains district and parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges district. The remaining districts recorded totals mainly in the range 10 to 25 mm though there were many stations scattered throughout where amounts were less than 10mm . The highest reported rainfall was 33mm at Mount Gambier Airport, in the Lower Southeast district.
Significant April weather Severe winds: On the 2nd a squall line developed ahead of a front and resulted in severe wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h at several locations in the West Coast, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Upper South East, Riverland, Murraylands and Adelaide Metropolitan forecast districts. Gale force westerly winds, up to 65 km/h were recorded at Pt Lincoln airport for an hour and a half. On the same day a number of trees were blown over on a property north of Clare.Fire weather: The 2nd was also a day of extreme fire weather with 11 districts recording extreme conditions. Extreme fire weather conditions were observed in 10 districts on the 9th. On the 28th 8 districts experienced extreme fire weather conditions and a number of fires caused concern for the CFS, particularly on Kangaroo Island.
April weather in Adelaide Rainfall: Adelaide’s rainfall for April 2005 was 3.2 mm, recorded on 4 days. This is 35.5 mm below the normal of 38.7 mm on 8 days. This has been the driest April since 1993 when 1.4mm was recorded. Last year 18.8 mm was recorded in April on 6 days.The total rainfall for the first four months of 2005 was 62.2 mm. Last year 58.0 mm was recorded over the same period. Average rainfall for the first four months of the year is 97.9 mm. Temperatures: The mean maximum temperature for April 2005 was 26.1°C, which is 3.6°C above the normal April mean maximum of 22.5°C. This has been the warmest April since 1923 when the mean maximum was 26.9°C and the second warmest April on record. The mean maximum for April last year was 24.0°C. The mean minimum temperature for April 2005 was 14.4°C, which is 2.1°C above the normal April mean minimum of 12.3°C. This has been the warmest April since 1980 when the mean minimum was also 14.4°C. The mean minimum for April last year was 13.3°C.
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