Monday, 2 March 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in February 2009
High Temperatures and Continuing Dry.

Summary

  • Zero February rainfall experienced in many locations.
  • Widespread heat wave conditions started the month.
  • Highest ever February maximum temperatures at several places.

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.

Jump to:  Extremes  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Rainfall

Much of South Australia's rainfall was either below average or very much below average with southern parts of the Northwest pastoral district receiving near average rainfall. Quite a few places did not receive any rainfall during the month of February thus equalling their lowest on record. Very few places received more than 10 mm.

Pastoral Districts

Only the southern parts of the Northwest pastoral district received near average rainfall for February whilst the rainfall over the remainder of the pastoral districts was in the below to very much below average range. Rainfall totals were mostly less than 2 mm with large areas receiving no rainfall.

The highest total was 8.0 mm at Commonwealth Hill in the Northwest pastoral district.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall over the agricultural districts was mostly very much below average with the majority of places recording less than 1 mm of rainfall. Several locations, spread throughout the agricultural areas, equalled their lowest recorded rainfall for February, 0 mm. The majority of rainfall amounts were less than 2 mm with only a small number of places with between 5 and 10 mm, which mostly resulted from infrequent thunderstorms.

The highest total was 27.2 mm at Marrabel in the County Light district which is also the highest rainfall total in the state.

Some sites had their lowest total February rainfall on record.

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

Temperature

Maximum and minimum temperatures were mostly up to 2°C above average with some areas nearing 3°C above average for February. The first week of the month commenced with the continuation of the heatwave that started late in January after which the temperatures became mostly warm to hot.

As many as 12 places, including Woomera (46.2°C), Mount Barker (41.9°C), Loxton (47.1°C) and others, recorded their highest daily maximum temperature for February.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts of the state were near normal in the far northeastern corner of the state up to 3°C above average over most of the Northwest pastoral district, with mean maximum temperatures ranging from 33.5°C at Yunta in the North East district to 39.2°C at Marree in the Far North district. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the pastoral districts for February was 47.5°C at the Gluepot Reserve on the 7th of the month.

Mean maximum temperatures over the agricultural districts of the state were mostly between 1.5 and 3.0°C above the month's long-term average, and ranged from 22.7°C at Neptune Island to 35.0°C at Hawker in the Upper North district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for February in the agricultural areas was 48.2°C at Renmark on the 7th February closely followed by Port Augusta with 48.1°C.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures over the pastoral districts were typically between 1 and 2°C above the long-term average, ranging from 15.0°C at the Gluepot Reserve in the North East district to 24.3°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for February in the pastoral districts was 7.0°C at the Gluepot Reserve in the North East district on the 25th, with the highest being 33.7°C at Roxby Downs.

Across the agricultural areas the mean minimum temperatures this month were generally between 1 and 2°C above the long-term average, and ranged from 11.6°C at Naracoorte in the Lower Southeast district to 19.8°C at Port Augusta. The lowest recorded daily minimum temperature for February was 1.9°C at Naracoorte on the 25th.

Some sites had their highest February temperature on record.

Some sites had their coldest February day (lowest maximum 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		 48.2°C at Renmark Aero on the 7th
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 39.2°C at Marree Comparison
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 22.7°C at Neptune Island
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 16.9°C at Cape Willoughby on the 11th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 1.9°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 25th
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 11.6°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 24.3°C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 33.7°C at Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) on the 7th
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 27.2 mm at Marrabel
Highest wind gust
 91 km/h at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on the 7th

Jump to:  Extremes  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Records

Record lowest total February rainfall
Total rainfall
for February 2009 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for February		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 0.0 = 0.0 in 2002 133 17.7
Streaky Bay 0.0 = 0.0 in 2002 132 13.6
Cape Willoughby 0.0 = 0.0 in 1965 128 17.7
Hawker 0.0 = 0.0 in 1989 128 20.3
Marree Comparison 0.0 = 0.0 in 2007 124 20.5
Lyndoch 0.0 = 0.0 in 2008 123 18.9
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 0.0 = 0.0 in 2007 114 17.9
Tailem Bend 0.0 = 0.0 in 2008 102 19.9
Finniss 0.0 = 0.0 in 1933 96 21.3
Arkaroola 0.0 = 0.0 in 1991 72 34.5
Barmera 0.0 = 0.0 in 2002 70 18.1
Price 0.0 = 0.0 in 2008 65 19.7
Oodnadatta Airport 0.0 = 0.0 in 2007 61 31.3
Todmorden 0.0 = 0.0 in 2008 60 24.0
Woomera Aerodrome 0.0 = 0.0 in 2005 60 19.1
Mount Dare 0.0 = 0.0 in 2007 56 25.4
Neptune Island 0.0 = 0.0 in 2002 52 13.3
Andamooka 0.0 = 0.0 in 2008 44 22.1
Edinburgh RAAF 0.0 = 0.0 in 2007 37 15.7
Whyalla Aero 0.0 = 0.0 in 1989 31 24.3
Loxton Research Centre 0.0 = 0.0 in 1991 25 16.2


Record highest February temperature
Highest temperature
in February 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for February		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Woomera Aerodrome 46.2 on the 7th 45.6 on the 15th in 1981 60 33.6
Lameroo Comparison 46.4 on the 7th 46.2 on the 14th in 2004 53 30.5
Mount Barker 41.9 on the 6th 41.8 on the 7th in 1983 53 26.7
Yongala 44.0 on the 7th 43.2 on the 14th in 2004 53 30.0
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 45.5 on the 6th 45.2 on the 15th in 1981 51 31.8
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 46.3 on the 7th 45.6 on the 14th in 2004 48 30.4
Eudunda 43.9 on the 7th 43.5 on the 14th in 2004 45 28.9
Kimba 44.5 on the 6th 44.1 on the 20th in 1980 42 31.1
Nonning 45.5 on the 7th 44.9 on the 20th in 1980 39 32.8
Hawker 44.5 on the 7th 44.0 on the 20th in 2004 37 33.4
Leigh Creek Airport 45.4 on the 6th = 45.4 on the 20th in 2004 26 34.4
Loxton Research Centre 47.1 on the 7th 45.5 on the 14th in 2004 25 31.2


Record lowest February daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature
in February 2009 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for February		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Price 19.6 on the 11th 19.9 on the 6th in 2008 45 28.1


Jump to:  Extremes  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

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 February 2009
Maximum temperatures
for February
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for February
(°C)		 Rainfall
for February
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
February
2009		 Mean for
February
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
February
2009		 Total for
February
2009		 Average
for
February		 Rank of
February
2009		 Fraction of
February
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 37.3 +1.7 46.0 6th 21.8 +0.7 14.7 11th 0 22.1 lowest 0%
Coober Pedy Airport 36.8   45.0 6th 22.8   14.8 11th 0
Ernabella 35.9   42.1 6th 21.0   14.1 13th 0
Nonning 34.3 +1.4 45.5 7th 18.2 +1.4 13.0 12th 1.6 16.6 low 10%
Roxby Downs 37.1   46.5 6th 21.4   14.8 11th 0
Tarcoola Aero 36.9   47.4 7th 20.7   13.4 11th 1.2
Woomera Aerodrome 35.8 +2.2 46.2 7th 20.6 +1.3 13.6 11th 0 19.1 lowest 0%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 35.1 +1.9 43.4 7th 20.6 +1.4 12.4 11th 0 34.5 lowest 0%
Leigh Creek Airport 36.8 +2.4 45.4 6th 21.7 +1.4 14.1 11th 0 22.0 very low 0%
Marree Aero 38.8   46.9 7th 22.9   14.2 12th 0
Marree Comparison 39.2 +2.4 47.0 6th 23.0 +2.0 14.5 12th 0 20.5 lowest 0%
Moomba Airport 37.9   45.6 6th 24.3   16.6 13th 0
Oodnadatta Airport 38.7 +2.2 46.3 6th 23.5 +1.3 14.3 13th 0 31.3 lowest 0%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 30.9 +2.7 46.4 6th 15.9 +0.9 8.1 11th 2.0 12.9 low 16%
Cleve 28.6 +1.0 43.8 6th 17.6 +1.6 13.5 12th 3.6 21.9 low 16%
Cleve Aerodrome 29.3   44.6 6th 16.6   12.3 25th 2.0 17.1 low 12%
Coulta 28.7   40.1 26th 16.4   11.5 22nd 0
Cummins Aero 30.9   45.2 6th 16.5   9.7 23rd 0
Elliston 27.1 +1.5 40.0 26th 17.0 +1.2 11.6 13th 0.1 13.2 low 1%
Kimba 32.5 +1.4 44.5 6th 17.1 +1.1 12.0 12th 0.6 20.0 low 3%
Kyancutta 34.6 +2.3 46.7 6th 15.5 +1.2 9.1 12th 0.8 14.8 low 5%
Minnipa DPI 33.3   46.0 6th 16.5   10.7 13th 1.6
Neptune Island 22.7 +0.6 26.3 26th 17.3 +0.8 14.1 10th 0 13.3 lowest 0%
North Shields 26.4   36.2 18th 17.1   13.9 14th 0.6
Nullarbor 29.3 +1.5 43.3 26th 16.9 +1.0 10.8 13th 1.2 12.2 low 10%
Port Augusta Aero 34.8   48.1 7th 19.8   12.8 11th 0
Streaky Bay 31.8 +2.8 41.3 26th 17.4 +1.4 11.3 13th 0 13.6 lowest 0%
Whyalla Aero 30.8 +1.3 48.0 7th 18.1 +0.4 11.9 25th 0 24.3 lowest 0%
Wudinna Aero 34.1   46.9 6th 15.8   7.5 13th 0.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 35.0 +1.7 44.5 7th 18.9 +1.0 11.2 11th 0 20.3 lowest 0%
Yongala 32.5 +2.4 44.0 7th 14.5 +1.2 7.7 11th 5.2 19.9 average 26%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 33.9   47.5 7th 15.0   7.0 25th 0.6
Yunta Airstrip 33.5   45.3 7th 15.7   9.3 12th 0
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 31.0   43.6 7th 15.1   8.2 11th 0
Port Pirie Aerodrome 33.4   45.2 7th 17.0   8.9 11th 0
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 33.4 +1.7 45.5 6th 18.8 +1.0 11.0 11th 0 17.7 lowest 0%
Snowtown 33.5   46.0 7th 14.6   7.9 12th 0
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 25.2   32.5 17th 17.4   13.0 23rd 0
Kadina AWS 32.5   45.2 6th 15.7   9.4 24th 0
Maitland 30.4 +2.2 43.3 6th 17.1 +1.4 12.0 24th 1.0 20.1 low 5%
Minlaton Aero 29.8   44.0 6th 16.1   11.4 28th 0
Stenhouse Bay 25.2   36.1 26th 17.5   15.0 10th 0
Warooka 27.7 +0.6 39.8 6th 17.1 +1.2 13.6 24th 0.8 16.6 low 5%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 25.0   31.8 6th 15.2   10.8 24th 0
Kingscote Aero 27.1   35.7 18th 13.9   8.4 22nd 0
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 31.4 +2.1 43.9 6th 18.7 +1.7 12.5 12th 0.6 12.6 low 5%
Adelaide Airport 30.0 +1.9 43.1 6th 17.7 +1.7 12.0 12th 0.2 18.1 very low 1%
Edinburgh RAAF 31.4 +1.5 44.2 6th 18.0 +1.5 11.7 22nd 0 15.7 lowest 0%
Parafield Airport 32.1 +2.9 43.9 6th 17.3 +0.9 9.8 12th 0.4 17.4 low 2%
Roseworthy AWS 33.0   46.6 7th 15.9   6.5 11th 0
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 31.1   43.9 7th 14.7   7.2 11th 2.4
Rosedale 32.2 +1.7 46.3 7th 16.0 +0.5 7.4 11th 0 17.9 lowest 0%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 25.3   41.7 7th 16.1   7.9 25th 0
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 27.4   40.8 6th 14.8   9.4 12th 0.4
Mount Barker 30.9 +4.2 41.9 6th 12.7 +0.8 6.5 25th 1.4 25.2 low 6%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 28.7   40.9 7th 14.8   7.3 11th 0
Noarlunga 29.3   42.5 6th 17.7   12.9 12th 0
Parawa 24.2   38.8 6th 14.4   11.2 12th 1.2
Victor Harbor 25.6   40.4 7th 15.1   9.5 25th 0.4
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 33.1 +1.9 47.1 7th 14.9 +0.7 9.2 11th 0 16.2 lowest 0%
Renmark Aero 33.8   48.2 7th 15.7   9.9 11th 0.6
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 31.0 +2.1 43.9 7th 15.4 +1.2 7.6 11th 2.2 21.9 low 10%
Meningie 27.4 +1.1 41.2 6th 15.0 +1.2 7.4 25th 1.2 16.7 very low 7%
Murray Bridge 30.9   46.7 7th 14.0   7.0 25th 0.2
Murray Bridge Comparison 31.6 +2.4 46.0 7th 14.7 +0.2 0.0 12th 0.4 18.1 very low 2%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 28.2   44.3 6th 14.5   7.5 25th 0.4
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 31.9   46.1 7th 14.3   8.0 11th 0.3 19.0 very low 2%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 31.3 +1.5 44.4 7th 13.8 +0.7 6.2 24th 0.2 19.9 very low 1%
Keith 31.9   45.8 7th 12.6   2.6 24th 0.4
Lameroo 32.6   47.6 7th 14.2   7.0 11th 0.8
Lameroo Comparison 32.5 +2.0 46.4 7th 14.9 +1.4 8.0 11th 1.4 22.0 low 6%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 24.7   32.4 26th 13.8   7.2 25th 1.0
Coonawarra 29.1 +1.8 38.1 7th 11.9 +0.4 2.6 25th 0.2 17.3 very low 1%
Mount Gambier Aero 26.8 +1.8 35.1 4th 12.4 +0.8 6.1 25th 1.2 25.6 very low 5%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 30.5   43.3 7th 11.6   1.9 25th 0
Padthaway South 30.2   42.9 7th 12.4   4.0 24th 0
Robe Airfield 24.9   31.6 17th 12.6   5.5 25th 0.6
Robe Comparison 23.0 +0.5 29.6 26th 14.3 +0.6 8.6 25th 0.4 18.5 very low 2%

Jump to:  Extremes  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Monday 2 March 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