Tuesday, 30 September 2008 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in September 2008
Very Dry Throughout.

Summary

  • Many locations either recorded their lowest September rainfall on record or very close to their lowest.
  • Average temperatures were mostly above the long-term average.

An archive of previous monthly 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

Pastoral Districts

September rainfall was, on the whole, below average in the pastoral areas with isolated location reporting near average totals.

The majority of rainfall recording locations received less than 5 mm with some recording no rain at all for the month. Kalamurina in the northeast of the state recorded the highest rainfall total of 12.8 mm. The long-term average rainfall over the pastoral districts for September is between 15 and 20 mm.

Agricultural Districts

September rainfall over the entire agricultural districts was below to very much below average with the Western Agricultural, Kangaroo Island, Upper and Lower North districts having September totals in the lowest 10 percent of their records.

Totals were typically 25 to 50 mm in the Lower Southeast and Mt Lofty Ranges decreasing to 5 to 25 mm in western and northern parts.

The highest total was recorded at Lobethal in the Mount Lofty Ranges, receiving 78 mm for the month.

Some sites had their lowest total September rainfall on record.

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

Temperature

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures for September graded from about 1°C above average in the Lower Southeast to 3°C above average in the northern half of the state.

In the pastoral districts the mean maximum temperatures ranged from 22.4°C at Yunta to 28.1°C at Moomba.

Over the agricultural districts the mean maximum temperatures ranged from 13.0°C at Mount Lofty in the Mount Lofty Ranges to 24.5°C at Port Augusta Aerodrome in the Western Agricultural district.

The highest maximum temperature recorded during September in the agricultural districts was 38.7°C at Tarcoola on the 27th, the coldest being 6.1°C Mount Lofty on the 15th.

On the 27th, several locations recorded their highest daily September maximum temperature including Cleve, Eudunda, Meningie, Maitland and Loxton, to name a few.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures for September graded from 1.5°C below average in the southern parts of the state up to 2.5°C above average in the north.

In the pastoral districts the mean minima ranged from 5.7°C at Yunta in the Northeast Pastoral district to 12.9°C at Oodnadatta in the Far North district.

Over the agricultural districts the mean monthly minimum temperatures ranged from 3.5°C at Yongala in the Upper North to 11.8°C at Neptune Island.

The lowest minimum temperature recorded during September was −3.5°C at Mount Crawford in the Mount Lofty Ranges on the 8th, while the warmest overnight minimum occurred at Oodnadatta in the Far North district on the 22nd with 23.7°C.

Some sites had their highest September temperature on record.

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

Further information

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

Extremes

Hottest day
Highest temperature		 38.7 °C at Tarcoola on the 27th
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 28.1°C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 15.0°C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 8.8°C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on the 15th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 −3.5°C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on the 8th
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 3.5°C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 12.9°C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 23.7°C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 22nd
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 78.0 mm at Lobethal
Highest wind gust
 117 km/h at Neptune Island on the 15th

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Records

Record lowest total September rainfall
Total rainfall
for September 2008 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for September		 Years of
record		 Normal for
September
Marree Comparison 0.0 = 0.0 in 2007 124 10.1
Corny Point 8.0 = 8.0 in 1994 118 43.2
Arno Bay 4.0 5.0 in 1981 102 33.4
Cummins 6.0 7.4 in 2006 95 42.8
Peebinga 2.6 3.0 in 1982 57 31.5
Adelaide Airport 11.6 13.1 in 1962 54 45.9
Flinders Chase (Rocky River) 14.2 23.6 in 2006 49 68.7
Burra Community School 11.5 12.0 in 2006 48 47.9
Williamstown (South Para Reservoir) 27.6 28.6 in 1994 41 78.5
Adelaide (Kent Town) 16.0 = 16.0 in 1987 32 60.2
Loxton Research Centre 5.6 6.8 in 2007 25 25.7


Record highest September temperature
Highest temperature
in September 2008 (°C) 		Previous highest
for September		 Years of
record		 Normal for
September
Parafield Airport 35.0 on the 27th 34.3 on the 26th in 1987 52 18.4
Yongala 32.8 on the 27th 31.7 on the 30th in 1961 52 17.7
Cleve 35.9 on the 27th 34.6 on the 30th in 1961 51 19.1
Eudunda 31.1 on the 27th 30.8 on the 26th in 1987 44 16.6
Meningie 30.7 on the 27th 30.0 on the 28th in 1999 43 17.6
Kimba 35.5 on the 27th 34.7 on the 27th in 1983 41 19.7
Nonning 36.8 on the 27th 35.6 on the 24th in 1990 39 20.9
Edinburgh RAAF 34.9 on the 27th 34.4 on the 26th in 1987 36 18.3
Maitland 33.8 on the 27th 32.2 on the 30th in 1961 28 17.2
Loxton Research Centre 35.4 on the 27th 35.3 on the 22nd in 2003 25 19.8


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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 September 2008
Maximum temperatures
for September
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for September
(°C)		 Rainfall
for September
(millimetres)
Mean for
September
2008		 Diff
from
normal		 Highest for
September
2008		 Mean for
September
2008		 Diff
from
normal		 Lowest for
September
2008		 Total for
September
2008		 Normal
for
September		 Rank of
September
2008		 Fraction of
September
normal
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 26.1 +2.2 37.0 27th 10.3 +0.2 5.2 17th 1.0 12.8 low 8%
Coober Pedy Airport 25.8   38.3 27th 10.8   5.2 23rd 1.0
Ernabella 25.3   33.4 21st 10.6   4.1 1st 0
Marla Police Station 26.9 +1.2 38.0 27th 11.2 +0.9 5.0 1st 0 9.0 very low 0%
Nonning 23.3 +2.4 36.8 27th 7.0 +0.3 −0.5 1st 2.9 24.5 very low 12%
Roxby Downs 25.2   37.1 27th 8.8   2.1 16th 0
Tarcoola Aero 25.7   38.7 27th 9.4   2.2 23rd 4.0
Woomera Aerodrome 24.4 +2.3 37.2 27th 10.1 +0.9 4.4 1st 0.2 15.0 very low 1%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 25.1 +2.9 35.3 27th 10.0 +1.1 3.0 1st 0.6 15.4 low 4%
Marree Aero 27.0   37.1 27th 10.9   4.6 1st 0.2
Marree Comparison 27.6 +2.4 37.4 27th 10.8 +1.3 5.0 1st 0 10.1 lowest 0%
Moomba Airport 28.1   36.3 12th 12.6   6.2 17th 3.0
Oodnadatta Airport 27.6 +1.5 38.3 27th 12.9 +1.7 6.7 1st 0.4 9.0 low 4%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 23.6 +2.6 36.3 26th 7.4 −0.3 −0.3 4th 3.8 27.8 very low 14%
Cleve 21.6 +2.5 35.9 27th 8.9 +0.5 3.6 16th 15.8 42.1 low 38%
Cleve Aerodrome 21.4   36.3 27th 8.1   3.4 4th 13.0 35.7 low 36%
Coulta 18.9   26.5 13th 8.2   3.9 3rd 14.2
Cummins Aero 20.4   31.0 27th 4.9   −0.9 24th 9.6
Elliston 20.8 +2.0 27.2 26th 9.0 −0.2 2.4 6th 11.1 39.3 very low 28%
Kimba 22.2 +2.5 35.5 27th 6.9 +0.1 2.5 16th 7.0 36.5 very low 19%
Kyancutta 23.7 +2.2 36.9 27th 5.1 −1.1 −0.6 3rd 5.7 31.3 very low 18%
Minnipa DPI 21.9   33.1 26th 8.1   3.1 16th 6.2
Neptune Island 16.8 +1.0 22.0 13th 11.8 +0.5 8.2 15th 25.8 44.8 low 58%
North Shields 19.5   30.0 26th 7.6   3.1 30th 11.4
Nullarbor 23.3 +1.8 36.1 26th 7.2 −0.4 2.1 1st 4.2 17.4 low 24%
Port Augusta Aero 24.5   38.2 27th 8.7   2.6 17th 1.8
Streaky Bay 21.8 +1.9 33.8 26th 9.9 +0.2 5.6 3rd 11.9 35.3 low 34%
Whyalla Aero 23.0 +2.4 38.0 27th 7.1 −0.7 1.6 17th 1.8 27.5 very low 7%
Wudinna Aero 23.5   36.8 27th 6.5   0.0 3rd 7.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 23.0 +2.1 34.2 27th 7.4 +0.9 1.5 16th 4.1 27.7 low 15%
Yongala 19.9 +2.3 32.8 27th 3.5 −0.5 −1.4 24th 8.0 38.2 very low 21%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 23.2   36.0 27th 5.8   0.4 4th 12.7
Yunta Airstrip 22.4   34.3 27th 5.7   −0.3 1st 2.2
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 18.4   31.4 27th 5.2   0.1 24th 14.0
Port Pirie Aerodrome 22.8   35.9 27th 7.0   1.9 17th 7.0
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 23.1 +2.0 34.0 27th 10.7 +1.0 2.4 24th 8.6 35.4 very low 24%
Snowtown 22.1   35.4 27th 4.1   −0.9 30th 12.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 19.3   34.5 27th 6.9   2.0 24th 11.0
Kadina AWS 21.5   34.3 27th 5.1   −0.7 24th 10.4
Maitland 19.9 +2.7 33.8 27th 8.6 +0.6 5.2 24th 27.7 51.0 low 54%
Minlaton Aero 19.6   33.0 27th 7.1   2.3 9th 32.4
Stenhouse Bay 18.5   27.4 13th 10.1   4.5 17th 27.8
Warooka 19.0 +1.6 28.8 27th 8.5 +0.1 4.5 4th 16.3 45.6 very low 36%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 16.3   20.9 26th 9.4   5.1 9th 12.6
Cape Willoughby 16.1 +0.7 22.4 26th 10.8 +0.7 7.3 23rd 18.6 56.1 very low 33%
Kingscote Aero 18.5   26.2 27th 5.4   −0.4 30th 28.4
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 20.3 +2.0 33.7 27th 9.6 +0.2 5.4 5th 16.0 61.7 lowest 24%
Adelaide Airport 19.7 +2.0 33.4 27th 8.4 −0.3 2.8 5th 11.6 45.9 lowest 25%
Edinburgh RAAF 20.3 +2.0 34.9 27th 7.0 −0.8 2.1 5th 21.6 47.4 low 46%
Parafield Airport 20.7 +2.3 35.0 27th 7.6 −0.5 1.3 5th 23.6 43.7 low 54%
Roseworthy AWS 20.5   34.4 27th 5.4   0.5 16th 25.8
County Light (district 23B)
Rosedale 19.7 +1.8 32.5 27th 5.7 −0.8 1.0 16th 34.1 53.2 low 64%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 19.1   32.0 27th 8.6   4.3 9th 23.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 16.9   29.7 27th 7.7   3.9 30th 30.0
Mount Barker 18.5 +2.2 30.0 27th 5.6 −0.1 −0.2 9th 38.6 85.1 low 45%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 15.6   29.1 27th 5.2   −3.5 8th 40.0
Noarlunga 19.0   31.5 27th 10.1   6.8 24th 18.0
Parawa 15.0   25.3 27th 7.6   3.6 17th 37.2
Victor Harbor 18.7   30.9 27th 7.1   0.6 9th 29.5
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 22.2 +2.4 35.4 27th 5.2 −0.9 −0.2 9th 5.6 25.7 lowest 22%
Renmark Aero 22.7   36.0 27th 5.5   −0.7 17th 2.6
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 18.4 +1.8 31.1 27th 6.3 +0.1 2.0 16th 16.6 48.3 low 34%
Meningie 19.1 +1.4 30.7 27th 7.4 −0.7 1.8 16th 21.6 47.9 low 45%
Murray Bridge 20.9   35.2 27th 4.8   −0.2 6th 14.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 21.7 +2.4 34.6 27th 6.3 −0.8 0.6 9th 21.4 36.2 low 59%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 18.7   31.3 27th 6.2   2.1 9th 25.0
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 20.9   34.1 27th 5.7   −0.4 9th 13.6 35.0 low 39%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 19.4 +1.2 32.1 27th 6.2 −0.7 0.5 4th 21.8 50.9 low 43%
Keith 19.8       4.1   −1.1 4th 21.6
Lameroo 20.7   34.4 27th 4.4   0.0 9th 8.2
Lameroo Comparison 21.4 +2.3 34.3 27th 6.0 +0.1 1.5 30th 9.2 41.8 very low 22%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 16.1   22.5 27th 7.9   2.3 4th 35.4
Coonawarra 17.4 +1.3 25.1 27th 5.2 −1.0 −1.9 9th 50.2 64.3 low 78%
Mount Gambier Aero 16.2 +0.6 22.9 13th 5.6 −0.5 −0.4 9th 51.4 72.3 low 71%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 17.3   25.7 27th 5.2   −2.0 9th 42.6
Padthaway South 18.1   28.1 27th 6.4   −0.6 9th 24.6
Robe Airfield 16.8   24.2 13th 7.2   −1.4 9th 37.4
Robe Comparison 16.1 +0.6 22.9 27th 8.9 −0.3 2.0 6th 38.2 59.0 low 65%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Tuesday 30 September 2008. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Normals are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 20 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average ("normal") rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, normal in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Further information

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