Friday, 2 January 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in December 2008
Above average rainfall and temperatures across much of South Australia.

Summary

  • Rainfall in South Australia during December was above average across most of the state, chiefly due to a widespread rain event mid-month.
  • Several locations had record highest December rainfall.
  • Both maximum and minimum temperatures were generally above average.
  • Despite the above average temperatures, two locations had record coldest December overnight daily minimums.

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

Some locations in parts of the Western Agricultural district, Lower South East and parts of the Northwest Pastoral district, had record highest December rainfall. Locations included Marla, Penong, Nundroo, Owen, Greenock, Hamley Bridge and Coonawarra.

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall over the Pastoral districts, was above average to very much above average with isolated pockets of the highest on record. Rainfall totals in the range 20 to 100 mm were widely reported in the northwest, though totals were 20 to 50 mm in the Northeast and Far North Pastoral districts.

The highest total was 134.6 mm at Mintabie in the Northwest Pastoral district and also was the highest for the state.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals over the Agricultural Districts were above average to very much above average, with some December records, with rainfall totals of 50 mm widespread. Totals of 30 to 60 mm were recorded in the Mount Lofty Ranges, while the Riverland had totals of 30 to 70 mm.

Some sites had their highest total December rainfall on record.

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

Temperature

Maximum and minimum temperatures were generally above average, with the agricultural areas in the southeast closer to average than the west and north of the state. Despite the generally warmer than average conditions Victor Harbor and Kadina both had new record lowest December daily overnight minimum temperatures on the 8th December, with 4.2 and 4.9°C respectively, breaking the previous records set in 2001.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts of the state were 1.5 to 2°C below average, with mean maximum temperatures ranging from 29.3°C at Gluepot in the North East district to 35.3°C at Moomba in the Far North district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for December was 42.5°C at Moomba on the 26th of the month.

Mean maximum temperatures over the agricultural districts of the state were generally 1 to 2°C below average, and ranged from 19.9°C at Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island to 29.9°C at Port Augusta Airport in the Western Agricultural district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for December in the agricultural areas was 40.4°C at Ceduna on the 21st December.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures over the Pastoral Districts were typically within 1°C of average, ranging from 13.8°C at Gluepot in the North East District to 22.0°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North District. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for December in the Pastoral districts was 7.4°C recorded at Gluepot in the North East district on the 15th.

Mean minimum temperatures across agricultural areas this month were generally within 1°C of average, and ranged from 10.3°C at Mt Barker and Naracoorte to 17.1°C at Port Augusta Airport. The lowest recorded daily minimum temperature for December was 0.6°C recorded at Keith (Munkora) on the 8th.

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		 42.5°C at Moomba Airport on the 26th
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 35.3°C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 19.6°C at Cape Willoughby
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 14.9°C at Mount Gambier Aero on the 13th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 0.6°C at Keith (Munkora) on the 8th
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 10.3°C at Mount Barker
10.3°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 22.0°C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 27.9°C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 26th
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 134.6 mm at Mintabie
Highest wind gust
 113 km/h at Coober Pedy Airport on the 5th

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Records

Record highest total December rainfall
Total rainfall
for December 2008 (mm) 		Previous highest
for December		 Years of
record		 Average for
December
Greenock 100.4 93.0 in 1929 128 27.0
Hamley Bridge 83.0 77.4 in 1937 125 23.6
Penong 98.2 83.6 in 1966 113 16.3
Kalangadoo 128.0 107.1 in 1937 94 37.8
Owen 73.0 72.0 in 1992 85 20.9
Nundroo 81.6 67.3 in 1950 77 17.2
Mount Gambier Aero 113.4 109.0 in 1986 67 38.1


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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 December 2008
Maximum temperatures
for December
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for December
(°C)		 Rainfall
for December
(millimetres)
Mean for
December
2008		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
December
2008		 Mean for
December
2008		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
December
2008		 Total for
December
2008		 Average
for
December		 Rank of
December
2008		 Fraction of
December
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 32.5 −2.0 39.0 10th 19.0 −0.4 13.4 14th 33.6 18.9 high 178%
Coober Pedy Airport 32.1   38.0 25th 19.6   12.4 14th 67.2
Ernabella 31.5   39.3 3rd 19.7   12.3 13th 96.6
Marla Police Station 33.9 −1.2 42.2 3rd 21.2 +1.2 14.5 15th 128.2 39.6 very high 324%
Nonning 29.4 −1.9 35.4 21st 14.6 −0.3 9.4 15th 84.6 18.6 very high 455%
Roxby Downs 32.1   39.0 9th 18.7   13.1 15th 23.4
Tarcoola Aero 32.2   38.9 21st 17.0   11.9 15th 32.4
Woomera Aerodrome 30.8 −1.5 37.3 9th 17.5 −0.1 11.4 14th 58.0 14.3 very high 406%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 31.2 −1.5 38.4 22nd 18.1 +0.3 13.5 14th 68.4 24.6 high 278%
Leigh Creek Airport 31.4 −1.6 38.6 26th 18.2 −0.4 10.8 15th 47.2 24.5 high 193%
Marree Aero 33.6   40.5 10th 20.3   13.3 15th 49.2
Marree Comparison 33.9 −2.1 40.6 22nd 20.4 +0.9 13.4 15th 53.4 16.4 very high 326%
Moomba Airport 35.3   42.5 26th 22.0   15.6 15th 5.8
Oodnadatta Airport 34.4 −1.9 41.0 22nd 21.9 +0.7 14.6 14th 58.8 17.2 very high 342%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 26.6 −0.6 40.4 21st 15.0 +1.0 7.4 8th 58.8 20.8 high 283%
Cleve 26.0 −0.7 35.5 21st 13.8 −0.2 9.0 1st 42.2 25.9 high 163%
Cleve Aerodrome 26.3   36.4 21st 13.2   8.0 8th 38.2 23.7 high 161%
Coulta 23.2   36.8 21st 14.0   8.5 15th 33.8
Cummins Aero 25.6   37.9 21st 12.9   5.5 2nd 30.4
Elliston 24.2 −0.2 37.0 21st 14.8 +0.3 9.2 15th 58.6 16.6 very high 353%
Kimba 28.1 −1.2 35.0 21st 13.3 −0.6 6.8 2nd 45.4 20.1 very high 226%
Kyancutta 29.0 −1.8 37.9 21st 13.2 +0.3 6.3 2nd 47.2 21.1 high 224%
Minnipa DPI 27.9   37.3 21st 14.1   7.6 2nd 57.8
Neptune Island 20.2 −0.2 23.2 21st 15.2 +0.4 11.7 14th 21.2 17.3 high 123%
North Shields 23.7   38.0 21st 13.8   8.4 1st 30.8
Nullarbor 25.9 −0.7 37.7 20th 14.7 +0.6 9.0 8th 54.6 14.8 very high 369%
Port Augusta Aero 29.9   37.4 9th 17.1   11.8 15th 65.6
Streaky Bay 25.9 −1.4 34.6 20th 13.7 −1.2 8.1 8th 44.0 14.6 very high 301%
Whyalla Aero 25.9 −2.3 35.6 21st 15.1 −0.7 8.9 8th 58.0 22.2 high 261%
Wudinna Aero 28.5   37.9 21st 13.6   6.7 2nd 61.6
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 29.4 −2.4 36.4 26th 16.0 +0.3 9.3 15th 44.3 21.8 high 203%
Yongala 26.5 −2.1 33.0 26th 11.8 +0.3 4.8 2nd 46.7 24.1 very high 194%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 29.3   37.0 26th 13.8   7.4 15th 38.3
Yunta Airstrip 29.4   35.9 22nd 14.3   7.6 15th 22.8
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 25.0   32.1 26th 11.8   4.6 2nd 88.8
Port Pirie Aerodrome 27.7   34.5 9th 15.0   8.5 8th 83.4
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 28.0 −2.0 34.5 25th 16.4 +0.1 11.5 8th 116.1 22.8 very high 509%
Snowtown 28.2   35.3 26th 12.1   3.9 8th 52.4
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 22.7   29.3 21st 14.3   7.9 15th 25.6
Kadina AWS 26.9   34.6 21st 12.4   4.9 8th 29.2
Maitland 25.1 −1.2 33.6 26th 13.8 +0.2 9.6 19th 51.1 23.7 very high 216%
Minlaton Aero 25.2   35.1 21st 13.1   6.0 8th 21.4
Stenhouse Bay 21.8   34.6 21st 14.8   10.0 8th 13.0
Warooka 24.3 −1.1 33.0 26th 13.5 −0.1 8.8 1st 18.2 17.4 average 105%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 19.9   26.7 21st 13.1   7.6 8th 28.8
Cape Willoughby 19.6 −1.0 27.9 21st 14.3 0.0 9.9 1st 37.8 22.8 high 166%
Kingscote Aero 24.2   33.1 21st 11.2   3.3 8th 25.8
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 25.5 −1.5 34.5 21st 15.4 −0.1 9.4 8th 37.2 28.3 high 131%
Adelaide Airport 24.4 −1.3 33.9 21st 15.3 +0.9 7.7 8th 28.8 24.1 average 120%
Edinburgh RAAF 25.7 −2.1 34.7 21st 14.9 +0.1 7.6 8th 48.2 22.5 very high 214%
Parafield Airport 26.1 −1.6 35.3 21st 14.6 −0.3 8.5 8th 39.6 24.4 high 162%
Roseworthy AWS 26.4   36.0 26th 12.5   3.7 8th 51.0
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 24.3   32.7 26th 12.0   6.1 2nd 69.6
Rosedale 26.1 −2.1 34.8 26th 12.9 −0.6 4.6 8th 56.7 23.3 very high 243%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 22.4   29.0 20th 13.8   8.6 8th 25.4
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 21.7   31.8 21st 11.8   6.9 8th 40.8
Mount Barker 23.9 −1.2 32.4 26th 10.3 −0.1 2.7 8th 35.6 34.5 average 103%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 22.6   32.0 26th 11.1   5.9 8th 34.8
Noarlunga 23.6   33.1 21st 14.8   9.3 8th 31.6
Parawa 20.1   31.2 21st 11.7   6.7 8th 62.0
Victor Harbor 22.6   34.2 21st 12.6   4.2 8th 42.0
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 28.1 −1.5 36.7 26th 12.7 −0.2 6.6 2nd 30.4 20.9 high 145%
Renmark Aero 28.9   37.3 26th 13.9   8.1 2nd 33.2
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 24.9 −2.0 33.1 26th 12.0 −0.2 6.3 8th 66.6 25.6 very high 260%
Meningie 23.5 −0.9 33.1 21st 13.5 +0.6 6.1 8th 24.2 23.3 average 104%
Murray Bridge 26.2   35.2 21st 12.5   8.0 3rd 31.2
Murray Bridge Comparison 26.8 −0.7 36.4 26th 12.9 −0.3 5.3 8th 39.2 23.2 high 169%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 24.4   34.9 21st 12.5   5.8 8th 26.2
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 26.4   36.9 26th 12.1   6.3 8th 74.0 23.5 very high 315%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 24.7 −2.9 34.5 26th 12.1 +0.2 4.0 8th 47.1 26.2 high 180%
Keith 25.4   35.4 21st 10.7   0.6 8th 47.0
Lameroo 26.3   36.7 26th 12.0   4.4 8th 62.4
Lameroo Comparison 26.0 −2.9 36.5 26th 12.5 +0.4 6.8 8th 52.6 24.3 very high 216%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 20.7   30.7 21st 12.7   8.7 10th 113.2
Coonawarra 22.3 −2.4 30.5 21st 10.4 +0.4 3.5 8th 94.2 36.8 very high 256%
Mount Gambier Aero 20.4 −2.5 30.2 21st 10.6 +0.7 5.9 4th 113.4 38.1 highest 298%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 23.8   32.4 26th 10.3   3.1 8th 90.0
Padthaway South 23.1   32.0 26th 10.9   3.4 8th 93.2
Robe Airfield 20.4   32.0 21st 12.4   7.7 20th 95.2
Robe Comparison 19.9 −1.3 29.0 21st 13.1 +0.4 9.4 4th 89.2 28.1 very high 317%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Friday 2 January 2009. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages 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 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, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average 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