Monday, 1 February 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in January 2010

Average rainfall but a warm month.

  • Near average rainfall across most of the state.
  • The second week of the month saw a heatwave event around the state.
  • Temperatures for the month as a whole ended up 1 to 3 °C above average, but with no records broken.

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

The state saw near average rainfall this month across most areas. The far north-eastern pastoral regions tended below average, while the far west of the state, and the western coast of Eyre Peninsula tended above average. Coffin Bay on the lower Eyre Peninsula recorded its highest January rainfall since the station opened in 1984, with 38.8mm, exceeding the previous record of 37.0mm in January 2000.

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall over the pastoral districts was mostly 5 to 10mm with some locations such as Nonning, Yardea and Ernabella recording totals in excess of 20mm for the month. Some locations in the far northeast recorded no rainfall at all, including Moomba, and subsequently were very much below average for the month. Rainfall in the far west of the state tended above average. The highest total was 69.4mm at Yunta (Paratoo) in the Northeast Pastoral district, which was also the highest for the state.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfalls over the agricultural districts were generally near average and totalling 10 to 20 mm, with some locations in the Mount Lofty Ranges seeing totals of 20 to 30mm. Rainfall on the western coasts of Eyre Peninsula, lower Yorke Peninsula, and the western end of Kangaroo Island tended to be above average for January.

See a map of rainfall deciles.

Temperature

Maximum and minimum temperatures were, on the whole, above average for the month. The exception was the lower southeast districts which had slightly colder than average overnight minimum temperatures for January.

The second week of the months saw a widespread heatwave event across south-eastern Australia with temperatures 6 to 10 degrees above average across the agricultural areas of South Australia.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts of the state were 0.5 to 1.5 °C above average, with mean maximum temperatures ranging from 34.1°C at both Ernabella in the Northwest Pastoral district and Yunta in the North East district to 39.7°C at Marree in the Far North district. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the pastoral districts for January was 45.5°C at Marree on the 27th of the month.

Mean maximum temperatures over the agricultural districts of the state were mostly 1 to 3 °C above average. Mt Barker in the Mount Lofty Ranges was +3.1 °C above the average. The mean monthly maximum temperatures ranged from 22.8°C at Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island to 35.4°C at Port Augusta Airport in the Western Agricultural district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for January in the agricultural areas was 45.8°C at both Keith and Murray Bridge on the 11th January, as part of the heatwave event.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures over the pastoral districts were generally between 0.5 and 1.5°C above the long-term average, ranging from 15.6°C at Gluepot in the North East district to 25.0°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for January in the pastoral districts was 7.6°C at Gluepot in the North East district on the 19th.

Across the agricultural areas the mean minimum temperatures this month were generally within 0.5 to 1°C above average, tending slightly below average in the lower south-east of the state. Overnight minimum temperatures recorded for the month as a whole ranged from 9.9°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome in the Lower Southeast district to 19.7°C at Port Augusta Aerodrome. The lowest recorded daily minimum temperature for January was 3.8°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 24th.

Some sites had their warmest January night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
Some sites had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature for at least 25 years.

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 in January 2010
Hottest day 45.8 °C at Keith (Munkora) on the 11th
45.8 °C at Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) on the 11th
Warmest days on average 39.7 °C at Marree Comparison
Coolest days on average 22.8 °C at Cape Willoughby
22.8 °C at Robe Comparison
Coldest day 17.5 °C at Cape Borda on the 18th
Coldest night 3.8 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 24th
Coolest nights on average 9.9 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average 25.0 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 32.0 °C at Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison on the 11th
Wettest overall 69.4 mm at Yunta (Paratoo)
Highest wind gust 124 km/h at Ernabella (Pukatja) on the 28th

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest January daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in January 2010 (°C) 		Previous highest
for January		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Neptune Island 23.3 on the 11th 22.3 on the 22nd in 2006 48 16.1
Warooka 28.4 on the 11th = 28.4 on the 22nd in 2006 45 15.3


Highest January mean daily minimum temperature for at least 25 years
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for January 2010 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for January		 Years since
higher		 Average for
January
Cape Willoughby 17.0 17.4 in 1981 29 15.7


Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for January 2010
Maximum temperatures
for January
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for January
(°C)		 Rainfall
for January
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
January
2010		 Mean for
January
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
January
2010		 Total for
January
2010		 Average
for
January		 Rank of
January
2010		 Fraction of
January
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 38.0 +1.6 43.3 27th 22.7 +1.6 15.7 3rd 2.2 18.4 low 12%
Coober Pedy Airport 36.7   43.4 27th 22.3   15.4 13th 6.2
Ernabella (Pukatja) 34.1   41.5 27th 20.3   13.6 19th 21.8
Marla Police Station 36.1 -1.0 43.8 28th 22.0 +0.2 16.2 19th 5.8 14.6 average 40%
Nonning 34.5 +1.3 42.0 9th 17.6 +1.1 10.5 14th 22.0 15.8 high 139%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 37.3   43.0 27th 21.5   14.6 19th 5.0
Tarcoola Aero 36.9   42.7 26th 20.1   11.9 3rd 5.0
Woomera Aerodrome 36.1 +1.7 42.8 11th 20.8 +1.4 14.2 19th 4.2 15.0 average 28%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 35.3 +1.1 41.9 22nd 21.2 +1.2 14.0 4th 3.2 33.1 low 10%
Leigh Creek Airport 37.2 +1.9 42.4 22nd 21.4 +0.8 13.7 18th 7.0 21.4 average 33%
Marree Aero 39.1   44.2 27th 22.7   15.6 19th 0.8
Marree Comparison 39.7 +1.9 45.5 27th 22.4 +1.1 15.6 19th 0.5 17.3 low 3%
Moomba Airport 38.3   44.1 26th 25.0   17.8 20th 0
Oodnadatta Airport 38.4 +0.7 44.3 27th 23.5 +0.6 17.3 19th 18.8 23.7 average 79%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 30.9 +2.4 43.4 21st 16.9 +1.8 8.2 4th 24.6 11.7 high 210%
Cleve 29.5 +1.2 42.0 10th 17.0 +1.5 11.9 17th 8.2 15.6 average 53%
Cleve Aerodrome 29.8   43.0 10th 16.2   11.6 19th 6.8 15.6 average 44%
Cummins Aero 31.0   43.6 9th 15.4   8.0 19th 26.6
Elliston 27.5 +1.8 40.1 9th 17.0 +1.4 9.7 19th 28.7 10.1 v high 284%
Kimba 32.7 +1.3 42.2 9th 16.4 +0.7 11.0 19th 16.0 16.8 average 95%
Kyancutta 34.7 +1.8 44.7 9th 14.8 +0.5 8.1 19th 8.8 13.9 average 63%
Neptune Island 23.4 +1.5 32.5 10th 17.3 +1.2 14.9 19th 17.4 13.0 high 134%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 26.7   43.6 10th 16.1   10.7 19th 32.4
Nullarbor 30.1 +2.3 43.3 8th 17.1 +1.6 10.1 19th 34.8 11.1 high 314%
Port Augusta Aero 35.4   44.5 11th 19.7   12.4 19th 10.0
Streaky Bay 31.0 +1.8 41.8 8th 17.4 +1.4 11.1 19th 8.8 10.7 average 82%
Whyalla Aero 30.5 +0.5 42.9 9th 18.2 +0.7 12.3 4th 17.8 16.6 high 107%
Wudinna Aero 34.7   44.9 9th 15.4   6.9 3rd 13.0
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 35.4 +1.3 41.0 11th 18.5 +0.6 10.5 19th 7.2 19.9 average 36%
Yongala 32.9 +2.2 40.3 10th 13.9 +0.6 6.5 3rd 11.0 22.3 average 49%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 34.7   43.9 10th 15.6   7.6 19th 27.8
Yunta Airstrip 34.1   41.7 22nd 16.4   9.0 19th 44.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 31.3   40.3 9th 14.5   5.6 19th 12.8
Port Pirie Aerodrome 33.7   43.3 9th 17.1   9.4 19th 14.1
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 33.6 +1.7 43.0 9th 19.4 +1.8 12.0 19th 15.8 18.5 average 85%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 33.5   43.0 10th 13.6   5.4 19th 23.4
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 26.1   42.4 11th 17.1   12.7 20th 15.0
Kadina AWS 32.8   44.0 9th 14.7   6.7 19th 16.6
Maitland 30.5 +1.4 41.8 10th 17.0 +1.4 11.2 19th 22.8 17.5 high 130%
Minlaton Aero 30.4   42.8 11th 15.5   9.0 19th 16.2
Stenhouse Bay 25.5   41.4 11th 17.1   12.5 19th 20.8
Warooka 28.2 +1.0 41.6 10th 16.5 +1.2 11.8 19th 16.2 14.5 high 112%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 24.9   37.7 9th 15.0   10.6 4th 21.0
Cape Willoughby 22.8 +1.3 37.4 11th 17.0 +1.3 14.5 18th 15.0 18.6 average 81%
Kingscote Aero 27.6   42.4 10th 12.4   5.8 4th 10.0
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 31.4 +2.3 42.8 11th 18.1 +1.1 11.2 19th 9.2 19.1 average 50%
Adelaide Airport 29.6 +1.6 41.0 10th 16.8 +0.9 10.7 19th 10.0 17.6 average 57%
Edinburgh RAAF 31.6 +1.8 44.5 11th 16.8 +0.4 9.6 19th 18.8 20.7 average 91%
Parafield Airport 31.5 +2.0 42.4 10th 16.3 0.0 9.1 19th 3.8 20.9 low 18%
Roseworthy AWS 32.8   45.1 11th 14.6   6.6 19th 12.2
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 31.5   42.1 11th 13.9   5.6 19th 9.2
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 32.6 +2.2 44.1 11th 14.8 -0.3 5.5 19th 9.3 18.4 average 51%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 26.0   40.8 11th 15.8   10.4 7th 24.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 27.0   38.5 10th 14.7   10.5 19th 15.0
Mount Barker 30.2 +3.1 41.0 11th 12.4 +0.6 6.5 19th 16.4 25.9 average 63%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 29.1   40.4 11th 14.4   7.9 19th 19.2
Noarlunga 29.1   40.3 10th 17.3   12.5 18th 10.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 24.3   38.8 10th 14.4   10.8 5th 29.2
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 25.4   42.0 10th 14.7   9.2 7th 32.2
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 33.9 +2.3 44.3 10th 14.5 0.0 8.3 19th 8.2 15.9 average 52%
Renmark Aero 34.8   44.9 22nd 16.1   10.4 19th 12.0
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 31.9 +2.8 41.6 9th 14.8 +1.0 7.4 19th 8.0 21.8 average 37%
Meningie 27.3 +1.4 42.1 10th 14.2 +0.3 9.7 7th 23.6 18.3 high 129%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 31.4   45.8 11th 14.1   10.2 14th 12.4
Murray Bridge Comparison 31.8 +2.8 45.5 10th 15.2 +0.7 11.2 4th 15.0 16.4 average 91%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 28.9   43.1 11th 14.4   9.2 4th 10.2
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 32.2   44.5 11th 14.5   9.2 19th 14.2 17.4 average 82%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 30.8 +1.0 44.0 10th 13.2 +0.1 7.6 19th 15.6 18.6 average 84%
Keith (Munkora) 31.3   45.8 11th 11.2   4.5 24th 13.8
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 32.6   44.5 11th 13.5   6.8 19th 17.4
Lameroo Comparison 32.5 +1.6 43.7 11th 14.3 +1.0 7.1 5th 12.8 19.2 average 67%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 24.2   39.5 10th 13.1   8.4 28th 14.0
Coonawarra 28.2 +1.2 41.6 11th 10.6 -0.8 4.3 24th 16.2 26.0 average 62%
Mount Gambier Aero 25.9 +0.7 42.5 11th 10.9 -0.2 5.2 24th 13.4 26.1 average 51%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 29.7   43.0 11th 9.9   3.8 24th 16.8
Padthaway South 29.5   42.9 10th 11.2   6.6 6th 13.8
Robe Airfield 24.1   38.9 10th 11.6   5.1 4th 14.4
Robe Comparison 22.8 +0.3 34.9 10th 13.7 +0.1 9.2 24th 11.4 20.1 average 57%

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in South Australia using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Monday 1 February 2010. 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