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Friday, 1 December 2006 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - SA REGIONAL OFFICE Extremely Dry Spring in South AustraliaRainfall in South Australia during Spring was significantly below average, while maximum temperatures were above normal.Spring Rainfall Spring rainfall totals over South Australia were mostly very much below average with many centres recording lowest totals on record. The Pastoral Districts reported totals that were average to below average. Rainfall totals over 100 mm were confined to higher parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges District. Totals between 50mm and 100mm were confined to the remainder of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Lower Southeast, County Light and much of the Adelaide Plains districts. Totals mostly between 30 and 50mm were reported from the Flats and Lower Basin, Murray Mallee and the Lower North districts. Rainfall totals around the 30 mm mark were isolated to the Upper Southeast district. However, totals between 20 to 30mm were mostly reported from the Western Agricultural, Upper North, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island districts. The Riverland reported totals below 20mm. The highest rainfall for spring was 104mm at Mount Lofty. The average spring rainfall for Mount Lofty is 295mm. Spring Temperatures Maximum Mean maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts of the state were 2 to 3 °C warmer than normal. Mean maximum temperatures ranged from 26.7°C at Yunta in the north east district, to 33.9°C at Marla, in the Northwest. The highest recorded maximum temperature for November was 47.3°C at Oodnadatta on the 29 th November. Mean maximum temperatures over the agricultural districts of the state were mostly 1.5 to 3 °C above normal. Mean maximum temperatures ranged from 18.2°C at Robe, in the Lower South East district, to 27°C at Wudinna in the Western Agricultural district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for November was 45.6°C at Ceduna on the 29th November. Minimum Mean minimum temperatures over the pastoral districts were above average and typically 1 to 1.5 °C above average. Mean minimum temperatures ranged from 8.5°C at Gluepot in the North east district to 16.9°C at Oodnadatta in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for Spring 2006 was –1.5°C recorded at Yunta on 11 th September. The warmest recorded minimum temperature was 32.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on 30 November. Over the agricultural districts, mean minimum temperatures were also close to average in the lower South East and were up to 1.5 C above average over inland Eyre Peninsula. Mean minimum temperatures ranged from 6.4°C at Keith in the Upper South East to 12.9°C at Port Pirie in the lower North. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for Spring 2006 was -3.3 °C at Keith on 21 October. The warmest recorded minimum temperature was 28.3 °C at Whyalla on 21 November. Adelaide's Spring Weather Rainfall This Spring 50.2mm is recorded at Kent Town. This has been the driest Spring since 1982 when 44.6 mm was reported. The average spring rainfall is 145.1mm. The driest Spring on record was in 1896 when only 33.9mm was reported. Temperatures The mean maximum temperature for Spring 2006 is 24.1°C, which is 2.3°C above the normal of 21.8 °C. This is the hottest spring since 1914 and the third hottest spring in 149 years. The mean minimum temperature for Spring 2006 is 11.8°C, which is 0.1°C above the normal of 11.7 °C. Evaporation The total evaporation for spring 2006 is a record at 467.5 mm. The previous highest was in 1982 when 445.6mm was recorded. South Australian Weather Summary issued 1 December 2006: For further information please contact Bruce Brooks on (08) 8366 2698.
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