Monday, 1 June 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in May 2009
Cool, variable rain.

Summary

  • Below average rainfall over most of the agricultural districts.
  • Cooler than average maximum temperatures over most of the state.

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

Rainfall during May over the northern areas of South Australia was average to above average whilst in the southern half of the state the rainfall was mostly below average.

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall in the pastoral districts was mostly average to above average except in the Northeast district where the rainfall was below average. Totals ranged between 10 and 25 millimetres over the western pastoral areas whilst the eastern areas recorded rainfall of less than 10 millimetres. Isolated areas near Tarcoola received between 25 and 35 millimetres of rainfall.

The highest total was 43.2 mm at Ernabella (Pukatja) in the far north of the state in the Musgrave Ranges.

Agricultural Districts

Over the agricultural districts rainfall totals were mainly below average or lower, but some areas of Yorke Peninsula, the Adelaide Plains and the Mount Lofty Ranges received average rainfall. The areas with rainfall in the very much below average range was mainly confined to the western Eyre Peninsula coastal areas, northern parts of the Murray Valley and inland areas of the southeast of the state. Several places in the Mount Lofty ranges recorded rainfall totals of over 100 mm during May.

The highest total was 126.0 mm at Woodhouse, near Piccadilly in the Mount Lofty Ranges, which is also the highest rainfall total in the state.

Some sites had their lowest total May rainfall on record.

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

Temperature

The average temperatures recorded throughout most of the state was within 0.5°C of the long-term average; however the overall mean temperature for the state was 0.3°C below the normal for May.

Maximum

The mean maximum temperature over the majority of the state was below the May long-term average, with some areas in the eastern border areas slightly above. The mean maximum temperature graded from between 2 and 3 degrees below the normal in the far north-western areas of the state, near Ernabella (Pukatja), to just above the normal toward the south-eastern parts of the state.

In the pastoral districts of the state the mean maximum temperatures ranged from 18.1°C at Yunta in the North East district to 22.9°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the pastoral districts for May was 28.0°C at Moomba Airport on the 5th of the month. Marla Police Station recorded a maximum temperature of 10.4°C on the 30th which is the new lowest May maximum temperature at that location.

In the agricultural districts the mean maximum temperature ranged from 11.3°C at Mount Lofty to 20.8°C at Port Augusta Aerodrome in the Western Agricultural district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for May in the agricultural areas was 26.0°C at Nullarbor on the 22nd closely followed by Port Augusta Aerodrome with 25.5°C.

Minimum

Over the western half of the state the mean minimum temperature was mostly 1°C below the long-term average with some locations being up to 1.5°C below. Places in the eastern half of the state recorded mean minimum temperatures mainly within 1°C above the long-term average with small areas marginally below the long-tern average. Kangaroo Island was above average.

In the pastoral districts of the state the mean minimum temperatures ranged from 6.2°C at Yunta Airstrip in the North East district to 10.7°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for May in the pastoral districts was minus 0.1°C at Gluepot Reserve in the North East district on the 30th, with the highest being 16.8°C at Leigh Creek Airport.

The mean minimum temperatures in the agricultural regions this month ranged from 6.2°C at Yongala in the Upper North district to 14.4°C at Neptune Island, followed by 13.3°C at both Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island and Stenhouse Bay on the southern end of Yorke Peninsula. The lowest recorded daily minimum temperature for May was minus 0.7°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 30th.

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		 28.0°C at Moomba Airport on the 5th
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 22.9°C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 13.9°C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 8.4°C at Ernabella (Pukatja) on the 30th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 −0.7°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 30th
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 6.2°C at Yongala
6.2°C at Yunta Airstrip
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 14.4°C at Neptune Island
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 17.5°C at Port Pirie Aerodrome on the 23rd
17.5°C at Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison on the 23rd
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 126.0 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse)
Highest wind gust
 83 km/h at Cleve Aerodrome on the 23rd

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Records

Record lowest total May rainfall
Total rainfall
for May 2009 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for May		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Blanchetown Lock 1 1.6 1.8 in 2005 42 25.3
Port Kenny 1.8 5.0 in 1998 42 36.1


Record lowest May maximum temperature
Lowest maximum temperature
in May 2009 (°C)		 Previous lowest
for May		 Years of
record		 Average for
May
Marla Police Station 10.4 on the 30th 11.5 on the 22nd in 1990 23 23.3


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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 May 2009
Maximum temperatures
for May
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for May
(°C)		 Rainfall
for May
(millimetres)
Mean for
May
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
May
2009		 Mean for
May
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
May
2009		 Total for
May
2009		 Average
for
May		 Rank of
May
2009		 Fraction of
May
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 21.4 −1.0 25.4 1st 10.7 +0.7 6.8 30th 11.2 15.8 average 71%
Coober Pedy Airport 20.3   27.0 23rd 9.5   4.0 31st 9.4
Ernabella 18.9   26.8 23rd 7.6   1.8 11th 43.2
Nonning 19.3 −0.9 22.9 22nd 8.5 +1.6 5.6 31st 19.3 23.7 average 81%
Roxby Downs 21.0   24.9 1st 8.6   4.1 10th 18.6
Tarcoola Aero 20.7   25.0 1st 8.3   1.8 31st 29.4
Woomera Aerodrome 20.1 −0.5 24.4 1st 9.7 +0.3 6.1 30th 24.0 18.7 high 128%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 19.2 −1.1 24.0 24th 7.6 +0.4 3.5 14th 10.1 17.5 average 58%
Leigh Creek Airport 20.5 −0.6 24.2 24th 9.3 +0.5 4.5 28th 4.2 15.2 average 28%
Marree Aero 22.0   25.9 24th 10.0   5.2 28th 5.6
Marree Comparison 22.8 −0.4 26.4 24th 10.0 +1.1 5.5 28th 5.7 13.5 average 42%
Moomba Airport 22.9   28.0 5th 10.7   7.1 14th 4.4
Oodnadatta Airport 21.9 −1.3 27.3 23rd 9.1 −0.7 5.8 27th 17.8 12.6 high 141%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 19.9 −1.0 24.6 23rd 7.2 −1.4 −0.5 31st 13.8 32.3 low 43%
Cleve 18.3 −0.6 23.3 22nd 10.0 0.0 6.3 27th 17.4 40.4 low 43%
Cleve Aerodrome 18.4   24.2 22nd 9.5   6.0 26th 12.6 37.5 low 34%
Coulta 18.8   23.5 23rd 9.5   5.0 27th 10.2
Cummins Aero 19.0   23.7 22nd 8.0   2.9 27th 25.2
Elliston 19.4 −0.1 24.1 22nd 9.7 −0.6 4.0 26th 16.2 52.2 very low 31%
Kimba 18.4 −1.0 22.0 22nd 9.0 +0.7 5.8 29th 23.4 35.2 average 66%
Kyancutta 20.3 −0.8 24.9 22nd 6.5 −0.8 0.5 30th 22.2 32.1 average 69%
Minnipa DPI 18.9   22.7 22nd 8.9   5.8 30th 33.2
Neptune Island 18.1 +0.4 20.6 23rd 14.4 +0.7 12.1 29th 23.2 54.8 very low 42%
North Shields 18.7   24.3 23rd 10.8   7.0 27th 21.4
Nullarbor 20.1 −1.5 26.0 22nd 8.1 −0.9 3.8 31st 6.2 29.7 very low 21%
Port Augusta Aero 20.8   25.5 22nd 9.9   5.4 20th 18.6
Streaky Bay 19.8 −0.2 23.0 21st 10.0 −0.8 2.0 30th 15.4 45.7 low 34%
Whyalla Aero 19.1 −1.6 25.1 22nd 9.4 +0.6 5.4 13th 15.8 22.2 low 71%
Wudinna Aero 19.7   23.9 22nd 6.4   0.8 30th 21.0
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 19.2 −0.9 24.0 23rd 7.8 +0.6 3.0 30th 12.2 30.6 average 40%
Yongala 16.3 −0.8 21.0 22nd 6.2 +1.7 −0.4 29th 13.2 34.9 low 38%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 19.8   24.6 24th 6.9   −0.1 30th 4.7
Yunta Airstrip 18.1   22.8 24th 6.2   1.2 5th 9.2
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 16.3   20.6 22nd 7.4   2.2 27th 26.4
Port Pirie Aerodrome 20.5   25.1 21st 8.8   4.5 29th 34.4
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 20.5 +0.2 25.0 21st 10.7 +0.1 6.0 29th 24.2 38.0 average 64%
Snowtown 19.0   24.5 22nd 7.1   2.8 30th 16.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 17.8   21.0 21st 11.9   7.7 3rd 31.8
Kadina AWS 19.3   24.0 21st 7.9   2.8 29th 31.0
Maitland 17.6 −0.5 22.8 22nd 10.2 +0.4 5.8 29th 49.2 60.3 average 82%
Minlaton Aero 18.8   23.8 22nd 9.3   5.4 29th 35.6
Stenhouse Bay 18.2   22.4 22nd 13.3   9.9 25th 36.8
Warooka 18.4 −0.2 22.4 21st 11.0 +0.6 7.2 29th 38.4 54.4 average 71%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 16.8   19.4 22nd 11.3   8.0 29th 29.2
Cape Willoughby 16.8 −0.2 20.0 23rd 13.3 +0.8 10.6 26th 36.6 61.6 low 59%
Kingscote Aero 18.5   21.0 15th 8.2   3.2 31st 26.0
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 18.1 −0.9 22.8 21st 10.5 +0.4 5.2 30th 63.0 59.9 average 105%
Adelaide Airport 18.1 −0.4 22.9 21st 10.2 +0.7 4.1 30th 50.2 54.1 average 93%
Edinburgh RAAF 18.1 −1.0 22.2 21st 9.4 +0.3 2.8 30th 35.2 43.1 average 82%
Parafield Airport 18.4 −0.5 22.5 21st 9.2 −0.2 2.9 30th 41.0 47.6 average 86%
Roseworthy AWS 18.7   23.8 22nd 8.5   2.5 30th 25.2
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 16.3   19.6 21st 7.8   1.7 29th 25.8
Rosedale 17.9 −0.7 21.3 22nd 8.0 −0.3 1.5 30th 30.4 52.8 low 58%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 17.4   23.6 23rd 10.5   6.4 30th 51.6
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 15.0   20.6 23rd 9.6   5.2 30th 66.4
Mount Barker 16.5 0.0 20.5 22nd 7.3 +0.7 3.0 3rd 58.3 87.8 average 66%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 13.9   17.2 21st 8.6   3.8 30th 57.4
Noarlunga 17.6   22.6 22nd 11.2   6.4 29th 53.6
Parawa 14.5   18.7 22nd 10.1   6.2 30th 55.6
Victor Harbor 17.8   23.7 23rd 9.6   4.3 31st 53.2
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 19.5 0.0 24.0 24th 7.8 +1.5 3.2 13th 3.6 22.6 very low 16%
Renmark Aero 19.5   24.2 24th 7.9   1.8 30th 7.6
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 16.3 −0.6 19.6 24th 8.3 +0.7 3.7 30th 11.0 45.1 low 24%
Meningie 17.9 −0.3 22.6 21st 9.7 +0.9 4.5 29th 53.5 54.4 average 98%
Murray Bridge 17.8   22.3 22nd 8.5   4.4 19th 25.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 19.1 −0.5 23.6 21st 8.8 +0.8 5.1 3rd 29.2 34.9 average 84%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 17.3   23.3 23rd 9.3   3.9 29th 48.4
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 18.7   23.5 24th 7.9   3.2 30th 12.6 35.3 low 36%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 17.8 −0.6 22.8 21st 7.3 −0.5 0.5 29th 14.6 52.5 very low 28%
Keith 18.0   23.0 21st 6.8   0.0 30th 12.4
Lameroo 18.0   23.1 24th 7.7   3.9 29th 23.4
Lameroo Comparison 18.1 −0.5 23.1 24th 8.2 +1.3 3.9 29th 20.2 39.9 low 51%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 17.1   20.8 22nd 9.9   5.4 30th 61.2
Coonawarra 17.3 +0.1 21.9 21st 6.7 0.0 1.5 6th 14.0 51.5 low 27%
Mount Gambier Aero 16.5 +0.4 20.6 21st 8.2 +0.9 3.9 30th 27.8 71.1 low 39%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 17.5   21.9 21st 6.4   −0.7 30th 11.2
Padthaway South 17.4   22.3 21st 6.9   0.0 30th 15.0
Robe Airfield 17.4   22.5 23rd 8.4   2.8 2nd 60.6
Robe Comparison 16.9 +0.5 20.1 21st 10.6 +0.4 5.6 2nd 64.8 73.2 average 89%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Monday 1 June 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