MEDIA RELEASE

1 December 1999

November 1999 weather summary for South Australia

Rainfall was average to above average over most of the state. Temperatures: Maximum temperatures were below normal over most of the state. Minimum temperatures were near normal over the settled areas and below normal over much of the pastoral districts.

Rainfall

Rainfall for selected stations is presented in Table 1; Table 1A shows spring rainfall for selected stations. The Figure 1 map shows the distribution of rain.

Pastoral districts
November rainfall was average to above average. Rainfall in excess of 50mm was recorded only at Yunta, in the North-East Pastoral District, with 56mm. Totals between 25 and 50mm were confined to much of the remainder of this district and isolated pockets of the North-West Pastoral District. Most of the Far North received totals between 10 and 25mm.
For spring, rainfall was average to above average over most of the pastoral districts. An area of below average rainfall occurred east of Oodnadatta.

Settled areas
Rainfall for November was average to above average over most of the settled areas. Isolated pockets of very much above average rainfall were reported from the border area of the Western Agricultural District, Northern Mt Lofty Ranges and the north-east border of the Murray Mallee District. Monthly totals of more than 50mm were confined to the higher parts of the Mt Lofty Ranges and isolated sites across the settled areas. Generally, the settled areas received rainfalls between 25 and 50mm; Much of the Western Agricultural District received totals below 25mm. The highest total in the settled areas was recorded at Millicent, in the South-East, with 76mm.
For spring, average to above average totals were reported for the settled areas. Rainfall totals very much above average were reported from the far west coast area of the Western Agricultural District.

Temperature

Temperature statistics for all stations are presented in Table 2.

Maximum
Mean maximum temperatures for November were below normal over most of South Australia. In the pastoral districts, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 31.2 degrees Celsius at Marree in the Far North to 26.1 degrees at Nonning in the south. In the settled areas, mean maxima ranged from 26.4 degrees at Wudinna, in the Western Agricultural District, down to 17.3 degrees at Parawa, on the southern Mt Lofty Ranges. The highest maximum recorded during the month was 39 degrees at Moomba on the 15th.

Minimum
Mean minimum temperatures for November were below normal over the northern interiors of South Australia. In the pastoral districts, mean minimum temperatures ranged from 17.2 degrees at Oodnadatta and Moomba in the Far North, down to 11 degrees at Arkaroola, also in the Far North. In the settled areas, mean minima ranged from 7.9 degrees at Coonawarra in the South-East, to 14.5 degrees at Port Pirie in the northern Spencer Gulf region. The lowest November minimum was 1 degree recorded at Yongala on the 1st.

Significant weather

On the 1st, a Dust Devil caused minor wind damage to some property in the western suburbs of Adelaide.
On the 7th, thunderstorms caused power cuts across the state, no significant damage was reported.
On the 29th, a thunderstorm with severe rainfall was reported from Melton, on Yorke Peninsula.
On the 30th, 34mm of rain fell in 30 to 40 minutes at Cordillo Downs, in the Far North. At Colomba, in the Mid North, 71mm in 40 minutes fell during a thunderstorm which also produced severe wind gusts.

Adelaide's weather

Rainfall
Adelaide rainfall for November was 39.2mm on seven days, and is 6.2mm above the estimated normal of 33mm on eight days. Last year, Adelaide's November rainfall was slightly below average, with the total being 30.4mm on seven days. The total for the first 11 months of 1999 was 594 mm compared with the normal 557mm. Last year, 535.2mm fell in the first 11 months of the year.
Adelaide's rainfall for spring was 194mm, which is well above the average of 141mm. Last year Adelaide received 152.2mm.

Temperatures
The mean maximum temperature for November was 22.9 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees below the normal November mean maximum of 24.6 degrees. The mean November 1998 maximum was 24.3 degrees.
The mean minimum temperature for November was 12.7 degrees, which is 1 degree below the normal November mean minimum of 13.7 degrees. The mean November 1998 minimum was 13.2 degrees.
The mean maximum temperature forspring was 22 degrees, which is 0.3 degrees above the normal spring mean maximum of 21.7 degrees. The mean maximum for last spring was 21.8 degrees.
The mean minimum temperature for spring was 12.1 degrees, which is 1 degree above the normal spring mean minimum of 11.1 degrees. The mean minimum for last spring was 11.6 degrees.

Ends

Further information: Kevin Burrows, tel: (08) 8366 2691.