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Wednesday, 1 February 2006
MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL OFFICE January 2006, wet in the west and hot in the east of South AustraliaRainfall was average to above average over South Australia while temperatures were well above normal.January rainfall Pastoral Districts:Rainfall over the Pastoral Districts during January was generally average to above average but with several isolated pockets of below average rainfall throughout.Rainfall totals over 25mm were confined to isolated pockets in the North West and Far North Pastoral District. Most readings throughout were between 10 and 25mm, with several centres recording no rainfall. The highest rainfall total for January in the Pastoral Districts was 54mm and was recorded at Pukatja, in the North West Pastoral District. Agricultural Districts: Rainfall totals over the Agricultural Districts were average to above average in most districts with much of the Western Agricultural District recording totals that were above to very much above average. Below average totals were reported from isolated pockets in the Upper North and Upper Murray Valley Districts. Rainfall totals between 25 and 50mm were reported from the Western Agricultural, Kangaroo Island, Mount Lofty Ranges, Flats and Lower Basin, and Upper and Lower Southeast Districts. The Riverland District reported totals below 10mm. Remaining districts recorded totals between 10 and 25mm. Several centres throughout the Agricultural Districts recorded totals that were very much above average; this was due to localised thunderstorm activity. The highest January rainfall recorded in the Agricultural Districts was 122mm at Nullarbor, in the Western Agricultural District. This was also the highest January rainfall total on record for Nullarbor. Nullarbor also recorded its highest daily January rainfall when 82mm was recorded to 9am on the 1st of January 2006. The previous highest daily total was 43.2mm recorded on the 30th January 1942.
January temperatures Maximum: Mean maximum temperatures ranged from 2°C below normal in the far west of the State to 5°C above normal over much of the northeast.Mean maximum temperatures across the Pastoral Districts ranged from 36.4°C at Yunta Airport, in the Northeast Pastoral district, to 42.6°C at Marree, in the Far North district. Marree, in the Far North district, recorded the highest maximum with 46.7°C on the 1st. Mean maximum temperatures across the Agricultural Districts ranged from 22.9°C at Neptune Island to 38.3°C at Hawker, in the Upper North district. Ceduna, in the Western Agricultural District, recorded the highest maximum across the agricultural areas with 47.4°C on the 21st. Minimum: Mean minimum temperatures were between 1°C above normal near the coast to 6°C above normal throughout much of the interiors of the state. Mean minimum temperatures across the state ranged from 12.8°C at Coonawarra, in the Lower Southeast district, to 28.3°C at Moomba, in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature across the state was 5.7°C at Coonawarra, in the Lower Southeast district, on the 14th. Several centres reported record high daily minimum temperatures for January. Cleve, which had a minimum of 33.3°C on January 22, exceeded its previous record by 2.5°C.
Significant January weather Severe Winds:On the 1st, a dust devil caused damage to three houses at Roseworthy. Winds gusted to 91km/h at Edithburgh on the 22nd in a strong and gusty northerly airstream ahead of a front.Thunderstorms:A thunderstorm on the 17th resulted in very heavy rain and damaging winds at Arkaroola Village, which reported 50mm of rain to 3pm, most of which occurred in about half an hour, and resulted in flooding to roof cavities. Wind damage included two roofs, an aerial blown over, and trees uprooted. Mt Gambier experienced a severe thunderstorm on the 19th with wind damage to two houses and trees blown down. On the 22nd a thunderstorm near Ernabella produced a severe wind gust to 102 km/h. Wind damage to power lines and numerous trees uprooted were the result of a thunderstorm near Waikerie on the 26th. Yongala reported flooding that was the result of a thunderstorm on the 29th with 33mm in about 15 minutes. Also on this day Booborowie reported 39mm in less than an hour. Significant Fire Weather Days:A prolonged period of very hot temperatures and a front resulted in a number of significant fire weather days. On the 21st, extreme fire weather was observed in 9 districts, while on the 22nd extreme fire weather was observed in 14 districts. Extreme fire danger was observed in 11 districts on the 26th.
January weather in Adelaide Rainfall: Adelaide’s rainfall for January 2006 was 22.4 mm, recorded on 8 days. This is 3.2 mm above the normal of 19.2 mm on 4 days. Last year, 37.0 mm was recorded in January on 7 days.Temperatures: The mean maximum temperature for January 2006 was 32.1°C, which is 3.2°C above the normal January mean maximum of 28.9°C. The mean January maximum last year was 29.1°C. This January was the warmest since 2001 and the 6th warmest in Adelaide since reliable records began in 1887. The mean minimum temperature for January 2006 was 19.9°C, which is 3.0°C above the normal January mean minimum of 16.9°C. Last January, the mean minimum was 16.8°C.
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