MEDIA RELEASE

2 February 1999

South Australian Climate Summary, January 1999

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SUMMARY
January 1999 rainfall was average to above average over much of the north-west pastoral areas and markedly below average over the north-east pastoral areas. Over the settled areas rainfall was average to above average with the exception of the Lower South-East which was significantly below average. Mean maximum and minimum temperatures were significantly above normal over most of the state.

RAINFALL
Pastoral Districts January rainfall was average to above average over much of the North-West district and parts of the North-East district. A large part of the Far North was below average.

Thunderstorm activity contributed to confirmed totals in excess of 20 millimetres which were confined to isolated centres of the North-West and North-East pastoral districts. Totals in the range 10 to 20mm were reported over the remaining parts of the North-West and western cental parts of the North-East district. The Far North generally recorded totals of less than 10mm.

The highest monthly total was 76mm at Yardea in the North-West Pastoral. This is the highest January total on record for Yardea.

Settled Areas
Rainfall totals over the settled areas varied widely. Rainfall totals were above average over northern and southern parts of the Eyre Peninsula and an isolated pocket in the central part of the Lower North.

Most of the Upper and Lower South-East received below to very much below average falls. There were also many isolated pockets of below average falls throughout the remaining districts.

Isolated rainfall totals in excess of 50mm were confined to Kyancutta in the Western Agricultural. Totals in the range 25 to 50mm were reported over much of the Western Agricultural, parts of the Lower North and isolated parts of the Flats and Lower Basin. Totals in the Upper North, Kangaroo Island, Central, Murray Mallee and Upper South-East districts were mainly in the range 10 to 25mm, while over the remainder of settled districts, Yorke Peninsula and the Lower South-East, totals were mostly below 10 mm.

The highest monthly total in the settled areas was 59mm recorded at Kyancutta in the Western Agricultural district.

Table 1, January 1999 rainfall for selected stations, and Figure 1, the map showing the distribution of monthly rainfall, are available by contacting Kevin Burrows on (08) 8366 2691.

TEMPERATURE
Mean maximum temperatures for January 1999 were significantly above normal over most of South Australia, with some centres being over 4 degrees Celsius above average. They were within 1deg. of normal along the South-East Coast and the eastern half of Kangaroo Island.

In the Pastoral Districts, mean maximum temperatures ranged from 41deg. at Moomba in the north-east to 34deg. at Port Augusta in the south.

In the settled areas, mean maxima ranged from 37deg. at Hawker in the Flinders Ranges to 21deg. at Cape Northumberland and Cape Willoughby.

The highest maximum recorded during the month was 46.4deg. at Marree on the 18th.

Mean minimum temperatures were significantly above normal over most of the state, with Marree being 4deg. above normal. The eastern end of Kangaroo Island and near the South-East Coast were within 1deg. of normal.

Mean minimum temperatures ranged from 26deg. at Moomba Airport in the north-east of the state to 12.1deg. at Struan in the south-east.

The lowest January minimum was 5.9deg. recorded at Struan on 4 January.

Temperature statistics for all stations are presented in Table 2, which is available by contacting Kevin Burrows on (08) 8366 2691.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER

Bushfires
More than 100 small fires were reported across the state on 2 January as temperatures soared to the high 30s.

Lightning started a minor fire in the Mt Lofty Ranges on 5 January.

Two towns, Hatherleigh and Rendelsham, in the Lower South-East were evacuated as a major bushfire threatened the area on 10 January. The fire burnt out more than 2500 hectares. One house, six outbuildings and many kilometres of fencing were destroyed.

A lightning strike on 27 January in the Ngarkat Conservation Park north of Bordertown started a fire which was still raging out of control at the end of the month. The fire quickly spread into the adjoining Big Desert Park in Victoria on 29 January.

Thunderstorms Thunderstorms were reported from across the interior of the state for much of January. Some minor damage was reported.

On 7 January heavy showers from thunderstorms were reported from the Gawler Ranges, on Eyre Peninsula, with a report of 25mm of rain falling between 5 and 6pm at Yardea. Yardea recorded its highest January rainfall on record with 76.0mm. The previous highest record of 65.1mm occurred in 1896.

Wind
A wind gust associated with thunderstorms at Port Augusta on 6 January reached 54 knots (100 kilometres an hour). No damage was reported.

A possible tornado with 12-15mm of rain and hail was reported at Kyancutta on 6 January.

Winds caused minor roof damage to two houses in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide on 21 January. Evidence suggests the event was a "dust or wind devil" caused by the interaction of the afternoon sea breeze with the opposing east to south-easterly gully winds.

Strong gully winds caused minor damage to property in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide, adjacent to the Mt Lofty Ranges on 25-26 January. Wind gusts were reported to be up to 35 knots, (65kmh), in some suburbs.

ADELAIDE'S WEATHER

Rainfall
A total of 11.4mm of rain was recorded in Adelaide on one day in January, which is 10.6mm below the estimated normal of 22mm on four days.

On six occasions since 1840 Adelaide has received no rain in January, the last time being in 1957.

A total of 6.0mm of rain on four days fell at Kent Town in January.

Temperatures
The mean maximum temperature for January 1999 was 31.2deg., which is 2.7deg. above the normal mean maximum of 28.5deg. This was the highest since 1981 when the mean maximum temperature was 32.1deg.

The average maximum temperature for the first week of January was 36.7deg. This was the hottest start to January since 1910 when the average maximum temperature for the first week was 37.7deg. The hottest ever mean maximum for the same period was 39.8deg. and occurred in 1908. The mean January maximum was 29.1deg.

The mean minimum temperature for January was 18.4deg., 1.8deg. above the normal January mean minimum of 16.6deg. This was the highest since 1982 when the mean minimum temperature was 19.4deg. The mean January 1998 minimum was 17.2deg.

Ends

For further information contact: Kevin Burrows, (08) 8366 2691.