Thursday, 9 January 2020 - Annual Climate Summary for Greater Adelaide - Product code IDCKGC53L0

Greater Adelaide in 2019: drier than average

Rainfall in 2019 was below average to very much below average across Adelaide and the Hills. A hot end to the year ensured that daytime temperatures were warmer than average, while night-time temperatures were near-average or warmer than average.

Very dry start to the year

• Rainfall in Adelaide and the Hills was well below average
• A very dry start to the year meant that the January to April period was the driest on record
• The wettest day was 12 June, when several sites in the Hills recorded more than 60 mm, with the highest daily total 67.4 mm at Piccadilly (Mount Lofty Botanic Garden)
• Greater Adelaide's wettest site was at Uraidla, with 827.0 mm for the year
• Rainfall totals for the year ranged from 62% of average at Parafield Airport to 88% of average at Kuitpo Forest Reserve
• Several sites had their lowest total rainfall for at least 20 years

Many warm days, some cool nights

• January was one of Adelaide's warmest months on record and included the city's hottest day on record on 24 January, with 47.7 °C at Kent Town and Parafield Airport, and 46.6 °C at West Terrace / ngayirdapira
• On 24 January, many sites had their highest temperature on record
• Further information about the heatwaves that affected large areas of the country at the start of 2019 can be found in the Special Climate Statement Widespread heatwaves during December 2018 and January 2019
• In December, a severe to extreme heatwave around Adelaide included the city's hottest December day on record
• Daytime temperatures for January to April were very much above average
• From May onwards, mean maximum temperatures were closer to average, though most months were still warmer than average
• Mean maximum temperatures for the year ranged from 0.6 °C above average at Noarlunga to 2.5 °C above average at Mount Lofty
• Night-time temperatures were generally close to average
• Mean minimum temperatures for the year were within 1 °C of average in all suburbs and the Hills
• Mean minimum temperatures ranged from 0.1 °C below average at Parafield Airport to 0.8 °C above average at Adelaide Airport
• A cold snap in June saw Noarlunga have its lowest temperature on record and the coldest temperature recorded in Greater Adelaide was -1.8 °C at Parafield Airport on 24 June
• On 20 December, two sites had their warmest night on record

Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira)

• Total rainfall for Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) was 358.0 mm, which is 68% of the long-term average of 527.1 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) was 23.0 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average of 21.8 °C. The warmest day was 46.6 °C on 24 January, and the coolest day was on 24 June when the temperature reached 11.7 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) was 12.6 °C, which is 0.6 °C above the long-term average of 12.0 °C. The coldest morning was 1.8 °C on 23 June, and the warmest morning was on 20 December when the minimum temperature was 33.6 °C

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top