Monday, 5 January 2009 - Annual Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in 2008
16th consecutive year of above average temperatures, while rainfall was below average, with some locations having the driest year on record.

Summary

• In 2008 the mean temperature was 0.54°C above average across South Australia, the 16th consecutive year that above average temperatures have occurred.
• 2008 began with a January heatwave event, with the first half of March seeing a prolonged heatwave event which led to many records, including Adelaide recording the longest run of days above 35°C for any Australian capital city, of 15 consecutive days.
• Rainfall was below average, with rainfall across the state about 75% of the average for the year.
• After low summer rainfall, the year progressed close to average through until spring when well below average rainfall affected crop yields in the agricultural areas.
• The below average rainfall for 2008 continues the long-term rainfall deficits which have been in place across the South Australian agricultural districts over the last 11 years.

An archive of previous annual summaries for South Australia is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.

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Rainfall

2008 began with below average rainfall in January and February, with South Australia missing out on the substantial rain events occurring in north-eastern Australia in response to La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall through autumn and into winter was, for the most part, near or above average across much of South Australia, raising hopes of good crop yields in agricultural areas. Spring rainfall was very much below average, in response to cool waters in the Indian Ocean to the northeast of Australia, reducing crop yields, with rainfall returning to average towards the end of the year.

Across the whole of South Australia, rainfall in 2008 was about 75% of the average, with agricultural areas generally seeing rainfall totals for the year in the driest 30% of years, and pastoral areas closer to average. Yankalilla and Yorketown had their driest year on record.

The growing season broke for most locations in the agricultural areas by mid May, with near average rainfall through until the end of winter. Very much below average rainfall to finish the season in September and October left growing season rainfall as a whole for many locations, in the driest 20 to 30% in the record.

Adelaide's annual rainfall was 402.4 mm in 135 days, 147.8mm below the normal of 550.2 mm. This is the 5th lowest annual rainfall recorded at Kent Town, and the 23rd driest for Adelaide when the earlier records from West Terrace are included. The record lowest rainfall of 257.8 mm was set in 1967. The combined Adelaide rainfall record dates back 169 years to 1839.

The wettest overall station across South Australia, was Piccadilly (Woodhouse) with 988.8mm, followed by 963.7mm at Uraidla, both in the Mount Lofty Ranges district, with the driest overall was 60.2mm at Curnamona, in the Northeast district, followed by 72.2mm at Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome), in the Northwest district.

The wettest single day 100.6mm at the Nangwarry Forestry SA Depot, in the Lower Southeast district, on 13th December, followed by 83.2mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse), in the Mount Lofty Ranges district, on 17th May.

Some sites had their lowest total rainfall on record.

See a map of total rainfall. See a map of rainfall deciles.

Temperature

The mean temperature for South Australia for 2008 was 0.54°C above the 1961-1990 mean of 19.45°C. This makes 2008 the equal 13th warmest year for South Australia since state wide records began in 1910, and it is the 16th consecutive year that state-wide mean annual temperature have been above average.

While the year began in the middle of a heatwave event, the first half of March 2008 saw an exceptionally prolonged heatwave event across southern Australia, which broke many records in South Australia.

Adelaide experienced 15 consecutive days with maximum temperatures greater than 35°C, and 13 consecutive days of 37.8°C (100°F) or above, breaking the previous records of 8 and 7 days respectively. These are both records for any Australian capital city.

Other South Australian locations that saw record heatwave conditions were Ceduna, Kyancutta, Elliston, Snowtown, and Nuriootpa.

The Special Climate statement for the event can be viewed here:

(http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs15b.pdf )

Over the South Australian agricultural areas the mean annual maximum temperature was 0.37°C above the 1961-1990 average. The past 10 years have all been above the average.

Adelaide had an annual mean temperature of 17.6°C, 0.5°C above the normal of 17.1°C, and the coolest year since 2005. The hottest year on record was in 2007, which averaged 18.4°C.

Maximum

The annual maximum temperature across the state for 2008 was 0.74°C above the average of 26.7°C. This is the 11th warmest since 1910. The last seven years contain the four highest annual maximum temperatures: 2002 was 27.9°C, 2005 was 28.1°C, 2006 was 27.8°C and 2007 at 28.0°C.

Over the agricultural areas the average maximum temperature was 0.53°C above average, while generally over the pastoral districts it was around 0.23°C above average.

Adelaide's annual maximum temperature for 2008 was 22.8°C, which is 0.5°C above the long-term average. The highest is 23.6°C in 1914.

Oodnadatta Airport recorded the warmest average annual maximum temperature in the state with 29.1°C. The coolest annual average maximum was 17.7°C at Parawa.

The hottest day was 45.4°C at the Port Augusta Aerodrome on 10th January followed by 44.5°C at Marree on the 2nd January and at Wudinna Aerodrome on the 10th January.

Across the state, the coldest day was on the 7th July when Mount Crawford reported 6.2°C, Parawa 8.3°C, on the same day, and Eudunda with 8.4°C on the 10th August.

Minimum

The annual minimum temperature across the state for 2008 was 0.34°C above the average of 12.20°C. The highest annual minimum temperature was in 1973 when it was 0.92°C above average.

Over the agricultural areas the average minimum temperature was 0.21°C above average, while in the pastoral areas it was approximately 0.20°C above average.

Adelaide had an annual mean minimum temperature of 12.4°C, which is 0.2°C above the long-term average for Adelaide (Kent Town).

The coldest night was -5.8°C at Yunta on the 24th July, followed by -5.2°C at Ernabella on the 25th July and -4.5°C at the Nonning on the 25th July. Averaged over the year the coolest minimum temperature was 7.5°C at Keith (Munkora). The warmest minimum temperatures annually were 14.8°C at Oodnadatta Airport.

The warmest night was on the 11th January when the minimum was 31.0°C at Arkaroola, followed by 30.2°C at both Moomba, on the 11th January, and Adelaide (Kent Town) on the 14th March.

See a map of mean maximum temperatures. See a map of maximum temperature anomalies.

Some sites had their warmest night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

See a map of mean minimum temperatures. See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

Significant Weather

Tornado

A tornado was observed and photographed near Spalding, about 180kms north of Adelaide, during the afternoon of 2nd November. No damage reported.

Severe Winds

An intense low on April 2nd produced widespread gusts in excess of 100 km/h across the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and the South East districts.

A small, but intense low pressure system tracked east from Bight waters, along the south coast of Kangaroo Island during the evening and night on 13th July. Severe north to northwest winds on the northeast flank of this low affected Kangaroo Island and southern Yorke Peninsula, with gusts of 90-93 km/h reported at Cape Borda and Edithburgh. However, the strongest observed winds occurred at Cape Willoughby at the eastern end of Kangaroo Island, where northerly winds were sustained at 90-95 km/h for about two hours, with gusts to 110-120 km/h. Remarkably, damage was minimal.

A low pressure system south of the Bight, deepened to below 980 hPa and tracked steadily eastwards along about 45°S during 15th September.

Numerous severe squalls accompanying showers and thunderstorms occurred over a large area, roughly southeast of Elliston to Cleve to Port Pirie to Yunta, from Sunday night, 14th September to late Monday afternoon, 15th September 2008. In the Adelaide region, the highest recorded wind gusts were 106 km/h at Mount Crawford and 98 km/h at Edinburgh Airport.

The SES received about 280 calls for assistance, most involving fallen trees or roof damage. More than 23,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages. A man suffered head injuries after a tree fell on his car at about 10:30am on 15th September, while he was driving between Blyth and Clare in the Mid North.

Squally northerly winds affected parts of the Northeast Pastoral district ahead of a strong spring-time front which traversed northern SA on 22nd September, with winds briefly gale force at Marree and gusts up to 100 km/h recorded at Moomba. A two to four hour burst of 60-70 km/h southwest winds and blowing dust followed the front, with sustained gale force winds recorded at Coober Pedy (Northwest Pastoral) and Marree (Northeast Pastoral).

Gale force north to northwest winds, with gusts to 100 km/h affected several locations on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and in the Mid North ahead of a strong spring-time cold front on 1st October.

Wind gusts in excess of 105 km/h were observed on the 18th and 27th of November in the Far North district which were associated with either thunderstorm activity or duststorms.

Fire Weather

Many fire bans were issued throughout the state during the prolonged heat wave period during early March and on 3 occasions during January.

Further information

South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au

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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	45.4 °C at Port Augusta Aero on 10 Jan
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	29.1 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	17.7 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	6.2 °C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on 7 Jul
Coldest night Lowest temperature	-5.8 °C at Yunta Airstrip on 24 Jul
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	7.5 °C at Keith (Munkora)
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	14.8 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	31.0 °C at Arkaroola on 11 Jan
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	988.8 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse)
Highest wind gust	137 km/h at Cape Willoughby on 2 Apr

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Records

Record lowest total annual rainfall
	Total rainfall for 2008 (mm)	Previous annual lowest		Years of record	Annual average
Yorketown	233.8	279.0	in 1914	127	419.3
Yankalilla	352.8	361.4	in 1982	116	575.3

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Record highest annual daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in 2008 (°C)		Previous annual highest		Years of record	Annual average
Loxton Research Centre	28.2	on 11 Jan	26.3	on 7 Jan 1999	25	8.9

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Summaries

In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for 2008
	Maximum temperatures (°C)				Minimum temperatures (°C)				Rainfall (millimetres)
	Mean for 2008	Diff from average	Highest for 2008		Mean for 2008	Diff from average	Lowest for 2008		Total for 2008	Average annual total	Rank of 2008	Fraction of annual average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka	27.4	-0.1	43.5	10 Jan	13.5	-0.1	-0.7	25 Jul	94.3	193.1	very low	49%
Coober Pedy Airport	27.3		43.6	10 Jan	13.9		1.1	24 Jul	108.2
Nonning	25.1	+0.3	43.0	1 Jan	10.3	+0.2	-4.5	25 Jul	197.3	246.1	average	80%
Roxby Downs	27.1		43.5	10 Jan	12.4		-3.3	25 Jul	72.2
Tarcoola Aero	27.4		44.2	1 Jan	11.4		-3.1	7 Aug	102.0
Woomera Aerodrome	26.1	+0.4	43.3	10 Jan	12.9	+0.2	0.7	25 Jul	163.0	184.1	average	89%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport	26.6	+0.4	42.9	1 Jan	12.7	0.0	-1.2	8 Aug	138.8	211.5	low	66%
Marree Aero	28.5		44.5	2 Jan	13.7		0.5	8 Aug	135.4
Marree Comparison	29.0	+0.3	44.5	2 Jan	13.9	+0.7	0.6	25 Jul	155.8	161.2	average	97%
Oodnadatta Airport	29.1	+0.1	44.2	30 Jan	14.8	+0.2	-1.1	24 Jul	150.2	175.2	average	86%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO	24.4	+1.0	43.9	10 Jan	10.8	+0.4	-1.4	28 Jul	205.8	296.4	low	69%
Cleve	22.6	+0.6	42.5	10 Jan	11.8	+0.5	2.8	24 Jul	306.2	398.1	low	77%
Cleve Aerodrome	22.7		42.7	10 Jan	11.4		1.9	24 Aug	256.8	356.0	low	72%
Coulta	21.6		38.7	8 Mar	11.3		1.3	25 Jul	325.8
Cummins Aero	22.9		42.0	9 Mar	9.8		-1.0	28 Jul	339.2
Elliston	22.3	+1.0	39.7	19 Feb	12.0	+0.3	1.0	23 Jul	361.8	425.4	low	85%
Kimba	23.7	+0.2	42.2	10 Jan	10.5	+0.2	-0.8	25 Jul	255.0	344.2	low	74%
Kyancutta	25.5	+0.4	44.3	10 Jan	9.1	-0.1	-2.5	23 Aug	233.5	312.7	low	75%
Minnipa DPI	24.3		43.2	10 Jan	11.3		0.4	22 Aug	227.4
Neptune Island	18.8	+0.3	34.6	13 Mar	14.0	+0.4	7.1	21 Aug	389.4	446.5	average	87%
North Shields	21.3		42.4	9 Mar	11.3		3.1	30 Sep	379.6
Nullarbor	24.0		42.7	9 Mar	10.8		0.2	7 Aug	186.8	247.5	average	75%
Port Augusta Aero	26.1		45.4	10 Jan	12.3		-2.4	25 Jul	164.4
Streaky Bay	23.6	+0.6	42.0	10 Jan	12.7	+0.5	2.9	26 Aug	299.8	377.8	low	79%
Whyalla Aero	23.8		43.5	5 Jan	11.3		-1.8	24 Jul	186.6	265.5	low	70%
Wudinna Aero	25.1		44.5	10 Jan	10.2		-1.7	23 Aug	254.2
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker	24.9	-0.3	42.6	10 Jan	10.8	+0.2	-2.1	28 Jul	220.3	310.1	low	71%
Yongala	22.2	+0.4	41.0	10 Jan	7.7	+0.4	-4.0	25 Jul	261.0	364.8	low	72%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve	24.9		43.2	1 Jan	9.0		-5.0	22 Aug	186.6
Yunta Airstrip	24.2		41.3	1 Jan	8.8		-5.8	24 Jul	133.4
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School	21.3		40.5	10 Jan	8.8		-2.2	28 Jul	468.8
Port Pirie Aerodrome	24.6		42.8	10 Jan	11.1		-2.7	28 Jul	321.9
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison	24.9	+0.4	43.0	10 Jan	13.4	+0.7	1.0	28 Jul	371.7	344.6	average	108%
Snowtown	24.0		42.6	10 Jan	8.7		-2.3	24 Jul	288.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh	20.5		41.1	13 Mar	11.6		0.4	24 Jul	255.0
Kadina AWS	23.6		42.3	10 Jan	9.3		-2.8	28 Jul	245.8
Maitland	22.1	+0.6	41.1	10 Jan	11.7	+0.6	2.1	28 Jul	386.1	500.8	low	77%
Minlaton Aero	22.4		41.2	10 Jan	10.8		-0.3	28 Jul	252.6
Stenhouse Bay	20.4		41.3	10 Jan	12.9		3.4	24 Jul	406.4
Warooka	21.4	+0.2	39.4	10 Jan	11.7	+0.3	2.8	24 Jul	303.5	446.4	very low	68%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Willoughby	18.2	+0.2	37.3	10 Jan	13.0	+0.2	6.0	9 Aug	420.0	539.9	low	78%
Kingscote Aero	21.3		41.1	10 Jan	8.8		-0.6	28 Aug	374.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide	22.8	+0.5	42.1	10 Jan	12.4	+0.2	0.7	28 Jul	402.4	550.2	low	73%
Adelaide Airport	22.0	+0.6	40.8	10 Jan	11.7	+0.4	-0.1	24 Jul	289.6	442.8	very low	65%
Edinburgh RAAF	23.0	+0.5	42.0	10 Jan	11.2	+0.1	-1.2	24 Jul	333.2	427.2	low	78%
Parafield Airport	23.3	+1.0	41.7	10 Jan	11.0	-0.2	-1.9	28 Jul	328.6	453.1	very low	73%
County Light (district 23B)
Rosedale	22.9	+0.4	43.3	10 Jan	9.8	-0.2	-2.5	28 Jul	421.7	468.0	average	90%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Kuitpo Forest Reserve	19.2		38.1	10 Jan	10.1		1.5	24 Jul	623.4
Mount Barker	21.2	+1.3	40.5	8 Mar	8.0	0.0	-1.9	24 Jul	584.4	763.3	low	77%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower	18.8		38.9	10 Jan	8.8		-3.5	8 Sep	557.0
Noarlunga	21.4		41.3	10 Jan	12.5		2.4	28 Jul	327.8
Parawa	17.7		37.6	10 Jan	10.2		2.6	24 Jul	795.0
Victor Harbor	20.3		41.2	10 Jan	10.1		-0.3	24 Jul	530.8
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre	24.2	+0.4	42.8	1 Jan	8.8	0.0	-2.5	24 Jul	199.7	262.4	low	76%
Renmark Aero	24.6		44.1	10 Jan	9.4		-4.2	24 Jul	212.8
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda	21.5	+0.5	41.5	1 Jan	9.4	+0.3	0.6	22 Aug	400.2	446.4	average	90%
Meningie	21.1	+0.4	41.1	10 Jan	10.4	+0.2	1.7	24 Jul	394.4	466.0	low	85%
Murray Bridge	23.1		44.1	10 Jan	8.9		-4.2	24 Jul	201.8
Murray Bridge Comparison	23.8	+1.0	44.0	10 Jan	9.7	-0.1	-1.6	24 Jul	269.8	347.0	low	78%
Strathalbyn Racecourse	21.5		41.7	10 Jan	9.9		0.7	24 Jul	372.8
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda	23.3		42.8	10 Jan	9.0		-1.4	24 Jul	289.3	338.4	average	85%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith	22.3	+0.1	42.7	10 Jan	9.1	0.0	-1.2	28 Jul	339.3	461.8	very low	73%
Keith	22.6		43.1	10 Jan	7.5		-2.8	22 Oct	313.8
Lameroo	23.0		43.6	1 Jan	8.6		-1.1	22 Aug	244.8
Lameroo Comparison	23.3	+0.4	43.2	1 Jan	9.4	+0.7	-0.1	22 Aug	224.6	384.3	very low	58%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa	19.2		39.4	10 Jan	10.2		1.5	16 Jun	588.8
Coonawarra	20.6	+0.4	40.8	10 Jan	7.8	-0.1	-1.9	23 Jul	539.9	572.2	average	94%
Mount Gambier Aero	19.3	+0.4	41.3	17 Mar	8.6	+0.5	-0.4	28 Jul	626.0	706.4	low	89%
Naracoorte Aerodrome	21.5		43.0	10 Jan	7.8		-2.9	28 Jul	369.2
Padthaway South	21.4		41.4	10 Jan	8.3		-1.7	23 Jul	406.6
Robe Airfield	19.3		37.7	10 Jan	9.2		-1.4	9 Sep	574.2
Robe Comparison	18.3	+0.2	34.1	10 Jan	11.2	+0.3	2.0	6 Sep	559.8	631.9	low	89%

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Notes

Further information

South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au

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