South Australian Coastal Weather Station Details
About coastal observations | SA coastal observations | Map of SA coastal stations
When using wind data, it is important to remember most coastal stations are located on land so wind speeds may be unrepresentative of the actual wind conditions further out to sea. The reasons for this include:
- the decrease in wind speed over the land due to the generally rougher land surface.
- the effects of local topography, especially funnelling near and around headlands.
- the effects of inshore sea and land breezes.
Some stations are a good distance away from the coast but have been included as they provide some helpful information in areas where there are no other weather stations.
Note: Values for the distance in kilometres from the coast have been rounded up to one decimal place. Values of less than 0.2 km (200 metres) are identified as 'on the coast'.
| Station name | Station Height (Metres above sea level) | Kilometres from coast | Site of anemometer |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAR WEST COAST | |||
| Nullarbor | 1 m | 5 km | Observation site surrounded by low mallee trees, 5 km north of coastline. |
| Eucla | 7 m | 14 km | Only small shrubs and bushes as part of "treeless plain"- 14 km north of coastline. |
| WEST COAST | |||
| Ceduna | 12 m | 2.5 km | Airport. 2 km east of town. |
| Thevenard | sea level? | over water | Beacon 17 Yalata Channel. |
| Streaky Bay | 13 m | 0.2 km | In township, 300 m to south of jetty. |
| Elliston | 4 m | 0.5 km | In built up part of town, 300 m east of main town beach. |
| Coles Point | 28 m | 1.5 km | Open, gently undulating paddocks 1.5 km east of coast. |
| SOUTH CENTRAL AND GULF | |||
| Port Lincoln Airport | 8 m | 2.5 km | Airport, 2.5 km west of coast, 14 km north of Port Lincoln township. |
| Neptune Island | 32 m | 0.5 km | Very well exposed on top of the rounded island. Given height of island the observation tends to read higher than winds at standard 10 m. Winds approximately 20% higher in general. |
| Whyalla | 6.5 m | 4 km | Airport, 4 km to NW of coast. |
| Port Augusta | 14 m | 4.2 km | Airport, 4.2 km west of the top of Spencer Gulf. |
| Port Pirie | 4 m | 3 km | Just north of township in car park of Zinifex smelter within 300 m of Port Pirie Creek, about 3 km to Port Pirie Bay. |
| Warburto Point | 1 m | On the coast | On tidal coastal flats. |
| Minlaton Airport | 32 m | 4.5 km | Airport, 4.5 km to east of coast. |
| Stenhouse Bay | 42 m | 0.4 km | On top of ridge about 0.4 km NW of coastline. |
| Cape Borda Lighthouse | |||
| Cape Borda | 158 m | 0.7 km | On NW facing cliff top, 0.7 km east of coastline. |
| Kingscote Airport | 7 m | 6 km | Airport, 6 km west of coastline. |
| Cape Willoughby | 55 m | On the coast | Cliff top southwest of backstairs Passage. Reported winds from NW and SE are thought to be up to 50% stronger than at surface. |
| Edithburgh | 6 m | 1.5 km | Open paddocks, 1.5 km WNW of coastline |
| Outer Harbor (Black Pole) | 10 m | Over water | about 1.5 km over sea to west of Saint Kilda |
| Adelaide Airport | 6 m | 3 km | Airport, 3 km east of coastline |
| Noarlunga | 55 m | 0.9 km | On ridge top, 65 m from houses, approximately 900 m to east of coastline. |
| Victor Harbor | 8 m | 1.5 km | In recreational area with scattered eucalypts, 1.5 km to north of coastline. |
| Hindmarsh Island | 11 m | On the coast | Open area just south of the Barrage on Hindmarsh Island 100 m to east of Goolwa Channel. |
| SOUTH EAST COAST | |||
| Cape Jaffa | 17 m | 3 km | On rolling open paddocks, 3 km NE of coastline, 4 km SE of jetty. |
| Robe | |||
| Robe Airport | 3 m | 3 km | Airport, 3 km SSE of coastline, 6 km SE of PO. |