Thursday, 3 September 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in August 2009
Record warmest average temperature for August.

Summary

  • South Australia experienced its warmest August since 1950, 3.1°C above the average.
  • Many locations throughout the state recorded their warmest nights on record, mainly in the northern areas.
  • Rainfall totals for the year to date are near average across most of the agricultural areas, but eastern and northern areas of the state are still tending below average. This pattern is also the case for the April to end of August rainfall totals, as representing the growing season rainfall to date.

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

Rainfall totals were mostly average in the southern areas tending to below average in parts, through the north-eastern areas of the state.

Rainfall totals were predominantly less than 10 mm, however on the southern fringes of the pastoral districts higher totals were experienced, with Nonning's total of 26.8 mm being the highest.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals were generally average across the southern agricultural areas, with most of the Western Agricultural, Murray Mallee and Mid North districts receiving below average.

Over the northern parts of the agricultural districts rainfall totals were between 10 and 25 mm gradually increasing to more than 100 mm in the southern and higher elevated parts of the state. The highest total being 164.8 mm at the Lenswood Research Station, in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Across the longer term, rainfall for the growing season to date is generally average or above average across most of the agricultural districts, apart from the some areas of the Murray Mallee district. A few locations on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula are tracking in the wettest 15% of growing seasons on record, to the end of August.

The year to date rainfall is generally near average across most agricultural districts apart from in the east, while the remainder of the state is generally below average to the end of August.

Longer term rainfall deficiencies continue across 2 to 10 year rainfall averages for the South Australian agricultural areas and the Murray Darling Basin, which has seen below average rainfall continue through this year (See http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/rain_maps.cgi ).

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

Temperature

Looking at the August records since 1950, state-wide the monthly mean August temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) was 2.0°C above the average for the South Australian agricultural areas. For South Australia as a whole the monthly mean August 2009 temperature was the highest on record with 3.1°C above average.

Maximum

The mean maximum temperatures for August graded from 1°C above average in the Lower Southeast district to more than 4°C above average in the north of the state. Oodnadatta and Loxton recorded their highest average maximum temperatures for August.

In the Pastoral districts mean maximum temperatures ranged from 19.2°C at Yunta to 26.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport. Mean maximum temperatures over the Agricultural districts ranged from 11.9°C at Mount Lofty in the Mount Lofty Ranges to 22.1°C at Nullarbor.

The highest maximum recorded during August was 35.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 15th of August. The lowest was 7.5°C at Mount Lofty on the 24th of August.

Minimum

Similar to the maximum temperatures, the mean minimum temperatures for August were between about 1°C above average in the southern parts of the state and as high as 4°C above in the north. Many locations throughout the state, mainly in the northern areas, recorded their highest average minimum temperature for August with many others very close to being a record.

Mean minimum temperatures in the pastoral areas ranged from 5.5°C at Nonning to 10.9°C at Moomba Airport. Over the agricultural districts mean monthly minimum temperatures ranged from 3.8°C at Yongala to 12.1°C on Neptune Island.

The lowest minimum temperature recorded during August was −3.4°C at Yunta in the North East Pastoral district on the 8th. Moomba Airport recorded the warmest overnight temperature with 21.5°C on the 29th of August.

Some sites had their highest August temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest August mean daily maximum temperature on record.

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

Some sites had their warmest August night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Some sites had their highest August mean daily minimum temperature on record.

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		 35.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 15th
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 26.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 11.9°C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 7.5°C at Mount Lofty on the 24th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 −3.4°C at Yunta Airstrip on the 8th
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 3.8°C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 12.1°C at Neptune Island
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 21.5°C at Moomba Airport on the 29th
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 164.8 mm at Lenswood Research Centre
Highest wind gust
 113 km/h at Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) on the 2nd

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Records

Record highest August temperature
Highest temperature
in August 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for August		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Hawker 30.0 on the 15th = 30.0 on the 30th in 2007 36 17.7


Record highest August mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for August 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for August		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Loxton Research Centre 20.2 19.9 in 2007 25 17.4


Record highest August daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in August 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for August		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Neptune Island 15.7 on the 15th 15.6 on the 28th in 2005 48 11.1
Whyalla Aero 15.9 on the 21st = 15.9 on the 16th in 2001 25 5.9


Record highest August mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for August 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for August		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Robe Comparison 10.2 = 10.2 in 1949 123 8.5
Streaky Bay 10.5 = 10.5 in 1991 82 8.7
Woomera Aerodrome 8.7 8.6 in 1982 60 6.7
Oodnadatta Airport 10.8 9.7 in 1973 59 7.4
Elliston 9.8 9.7 in 1991 47 8.2
Andamooka 9.0 8.8 in 1998 39 7.2
Hawker 6.7 5.9 in 1999 35 4.2
Maitland 8.8 8.3 in 2006 29 7.0
Leigh Creek Airport 7.9 7.6 in 1999 25 6.1
Loxton Research Centre 6.0 5.9 in 1984 25 4.2



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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 August 2009
Maximum temperatures
for August
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for August
(°C)		 Rainfall
for August
(millimetres)
Mean for
August
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
August
2009		 Mean for
August
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
August
2009		 Total for
August
2009		 Average
for
August		 Rank of
August
2009		 Fraction of
August
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 23.0 +2.5 31.5 15th 9.0 +1.8 3.7 2nd 7.8 12.8 average 61%
Coober Pedy Airport 24.0   33.2 15th 10.2   5.0 17th 2.6
Ernabella 25.1   31.9 28th 8.6   0.3 2nd 1.8
Nonning 20.5 +2.3 29.0 15th 5.5 +1.0 0.0 27th 26.8 24.9 average 108%
Roxby Downs 22.6   30.9 15th 8.2   0.8 8th 8.4
Tarcoola Aero 23.3   33.5 15th 7.8   1.8 17th 7.4
Woomera Aerodrome 21.7 +2.9 30.3 15th 8.7 +1.9 4.2 30th 5.4 13.6 average 40%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 22.1 +3.2 29.1 15th 6.6 +2.0 0.5 9th 4.9 14.3 average 34%
Leigh Creek Airport 21.3 +2.3 29.5 15th 7.9 +1.9 2.9 1st 11.0 15.4 average 71%
Marree Aero 24.0   33.1 15th 8.6   3.2 3rd 5.4
Marree Comparison 24.6 +3.2 33.2 15th 8.8 +2.5 3.6 3rd 6.4 9.1 average 70%
Moomba Airport 25.9   34.6 22nd 10.9   3.2 9th 0
Oodnadatta Airport 26.3 +4.3 35.3 15th 10.8 +3.4 3.0 31st 0.2 7.9 low 3%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 21.1 +2.5 31.2 20th 7.5 +1.4 1.7 13th 17.2 34.8 low 49%
Cleve 18.9 +2.3 27.6 15th 9.0 +1.6 5.0 8th 36.2 47.9 average 76%
Cleve Aerodrome 18.7   27.1 15th 8.7   3.5 8th 29.4 44.0 average 67%
Coulta 16.9   23.1 14th 9.2   4.6 8th 53.6
Cummins Aero 17.7   23.7 15th 6.0   0.0 8th 43.8
Elliston 18.7 +1.6 24.6 14th 9.8 +1.6 4.7 8th 34.9 59.2 low 59%
Kimba 18.7 +1.8 28.0 15th 6.7 +1.3 3.0 2nd 30.8 42.0 average 73%
Kyancutta 20.1 +1.5 28.6 15th 6.3 +1.4 −0.2 8th 22.0 39.2 low 56%
Minnipa DPI 19.0   26.8 15th 7.4   3.7 27th 20.6
Neptune Island 16.5 +1.2 21.1 15th 12.1 +1.1 8.5 25th 61.0 63.0 average 97%
North Shields 18.0   24.3 15th 7.8   3.2 8th 50.4
Nullarbor 22.0 +2.5 30.8 20th 7.4 +1.7 3.9 31st 14.4 24.5 average 59%
Port Augusta Aero 21.8   31.6 15th 7.5   1.5 2nd 13.4
Streaky Bay 19.8 +2.3 25.6 16th 10.5 +1.7 6.5 8th 29.9 50.2 low 60%
Whyalla Aero 21.1 +2.8 31.3 15th 7.3 +1.4 0.3 8th 18.2 21.3 average 85%
Wudinna Aero 19.8   28.1 15th 6.6   1.1 7th 23.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 19.7 +2.0 30.0 15th 6.7 +2.5 1.3 3rd 24.7 32.2 average 77%
Yongala 16.2 +1.8 25.8 15th 3.8 +1.3 −2.5 8th 19.8 43.5 low 46%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 20.7   30.2 15th 6.2   −2.9 8th 12.9
Yunta Airstrip 19.2   27.1 15th 5.9   −3.4 8th 13.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 15.5   23.6 15th 5.5   0.2 8th 34.4
Port Pirie Aerodrome 19.9   27.6 15th 6.8   −0.5 8th 32.2
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 20.2 +2.1 27.0 15th 9.6 +1.4 1.0 27th 32.7 34.9 average 94%
Snowtown 18.0   25.4 15th 5.2   −1.6 8th 33.2
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 16.7   23.9 15th 7.0   1.4 8th 48.0
Kadina AWS 18.7   26.5 15th 5.8   −1.3 8th 18.8
Maitland 17.2 +1.9 25.2 15th 8.8 +1.8 5.1 3rd 37.2 60.9 low 61%
Minlaton Aero 17.5   24.5 15th 8.1   3.1 3rd 34.4
Stenhouse Bay 17.2   23.3 15th 9.6   4.3 8th 68.6
Warooka 16.7 +1.1 20.4 28th 8.8 +1.1 5.0 3rd 42.2 59.2 low 71%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 15.1   19.4 15th 10.4   6.9 3rd 77.2
Cape Willoughby 15.7 +1.3 20.6 15th 10.3 +0.8 6.6 25th 76.2 73.5 average 104%
Kingscote Aero 17.2   22.3 15th 6.6   −0.9 8th 58.8
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 18.2 +1.6 26.7 15th 9.4 +1.3 3.3 8th 55.8 67.1 average 86%
Adelaide Airport 17.8 +1.9 26.6 15th 8.7 +1.2 2.6 8th 32.2 49.5 low 65%
Edinburgh RAAF 17.7 +1.3 26.1 15th 7.3 +0.8 1.2 8th 29.0 49.4 average 59%
Parafield Airport 18.0 +1.8 26.2 15th 7.6 +0.9 0.8 8th 47.4 53.6 average 88%
Roseworthy AWS 17.9   27.4 15th 6.5   1.3 3rd 44.6
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 16.0   24.8 15th 6.2   −0.3 8th 49.6
Rosedale 17.4 +1.6 25.5 15th 5.9 +0.3 1.2 8th 47.7 57.2 average 83%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 17.5   27.7 15th 8.8   2.9 8th 46.8
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 14.7   23.4 15th 8.0   3.6 8th 73.8
Mount Barker 16.1 +1.9 24.4 15th 6.4 +1.5 −0.5 8th 111.4 102.0 average 109%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 13.2   22.0 15th 7.2   4.4 8th 89.2
Noarlunga 17.0   24.7 15th 9.8   4.8 8th 47.2
Parawa 13.6   20.2 15th 8.1   5.0 8th 95.2
Victor Harbor 17.4   26.4 15th 7.4   0.2 8th 87.6
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 20.2 +2.8 29.4 15th 6.0 +1.8 −2.9 8th 15.0 27.3 average 55%
Renmark Aero 20.4   30.0 15th 6.1   −3.3 8th 14.4
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 16.0 +1.6 25.1 15th 6.9 +1.6 1.0 8th 48.8 55.6 average 88%
Meningie 17.6 +1.5 23.0 15th 8.3 +1.2 2.4 8th 45.6 56.4 average 81%
Murray Bridge 18.7   28.6 15th 4.6   −2.8 8th 34.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 19.6 +2.1 29.0 15th 6.5 +0.6 −0.5 8th 33.6 36.8 average 91%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 17.5   26.0 15th 7.7   1.9 8th 67.4
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 19.1   29.8 15th 5.8   −1.0 8th 24.8 37.9 low 65%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 17.4 +1.3 26.2 15th 7.3 +1.4 1.5 8th 58.4 57.9 average 101%
Keith 16.8   25.5 15th 5.8   0.6 8th 64.0
Lameroo 17.8   27.0 15th 5.2   −0.6 8th 32.8
Lameroo Comparison 18.5 +2.1 28.2 15th 6.3 +1.5 1.1 8th 32.6 43.9 average 74%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 15.3   20.1 15th 9.1   4.8 9th 68.6
Coonawarra 15.8 +1.0 23.0 15th 6.8 +1.6 2.4 9th 87.8 78.9 average 111%
Mount Gambier Aero 15.2 +1.1 21.7 15th 7.2 +1.8 4.2 22nd 137.2 94.0 high 146%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 15.9   22.9 15th 6.8   2.9 11th 88.6
Padthaway South 16.1   20.4 6th 7.2   1.5 8th 70.6
Robe Airfield 15.9   22.7 15th 8.5   1.8 12th 84.4
Robe Comparison 15.3 +1.0 19.3 15th 10.2 +1.7 4.7 12th 84.6 85.3 average 99%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Thursday 3 September 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