Monday, 2 August 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in July 2010

Dry with cold nights in the southeast. Wet with cool days in the north and west.

  • Below average rainfall across the southeast.
  • Above average rainfall in the north and west.
  • Minimum temperatures up to 2°C below average in the southeast.
  • Cooler than average days in the Pastoral districts.

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Pastoral Districts

July rainfall totals were generally average to above average in the Pastoral districts. Totals were typically within 10 to 30mm, apart from Moomba Airport and Marree Comparison with 60mm and 52.6mm respectively.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals were generally below average across the Agricultural districts, apart from some areas where totals were close to average, and the west which had above average rainfall.

Rainfall totals ranged from about 25 to 50mm in the Western Agricultural District and Yorke Peninsula, tending to 20 to 40mm in the Upper and Lower North districts, the Murray Valley, Murray Mallee and Upper Southeast District. Totals ranged from 30 to 50mm across the Adelaide Plains and County Light districts, increasing to about 40 to 90mm in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and Lower Southeast.

Winter rainfall totals have been below average across most of the southeast this winter so far. Winter totals have been close to average elsewhere, apart from the northeast corner and the far west coast where winter rainfall has been above average.

This year so far, rainfall totals have been above average across the northeast of South Australia. Across most of the Agricultural districts, rainfall this year to date has been close to average, with pockets of below average, and pockets of above average rainfall.

See a map of rainfall deciles.

 

Temperature

State-wide the monthly mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for July was close to average (0.2°C below the long-term average of 11.6°C for South Australia).

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures were up to 1°C below average in the Pastoral districts, and ranged from 14.5°C at Yunta Airstrip to 18.8°C at Marree Comparison. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the Pastoral districts for July was 27.0°C at Marla Police Station on the 29th. The lowest was 10.6°C at Nonning on the 18th.

Mean maximum temperatures over the Agricultural districts were generally within 1°C of the long-term mean for July. The Western Agricultural District tended cooler than average, with maximums at Nullarbor 1.4°C below its long-term mean for July. Mean maximum temperatures ranged from 9.6°C at Mount Lofty to 16.9°C at Nullarbor and Port Augusta Aero. The highest maximum recorded during July was 23.1°C at Nullarbor on the 17th of July. The lowest was 7.0°C at Mount Lofty on the 1st of July.

Mean maximum temperatures have been average to below average this winter so far, apart from Kangaroo Island where maximum temperatures have been warmer than average.

This year to date, mean maximum temperatures have been above average across the south and west of the state and average to below average in the northeast.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures were predominantly below average across South Australia in July. Minimum temperatures were up to 1 °C below average across the south, increasing up to 2 °C below average in parts of the southeast. Minimums were generally within 1 °C of the long-term mean elsewhere.

Mean minimum temperatures in the Pastoral districts ranged from 1.7°C at Gluepot Reserve to 7.1°C at Moomba Airport. The lowest minimum temperature recorded during July in the Pastorals was -3.7°C at Ernabella (Pukatja) in the Northwest Pastoral district on the 2nd. Moomba Airport recorded the warmest overnight temperature with 16.8°C on the 30th of July.

Over the Agricultural districts mean monthly minimum temperatures ranged from 1.1°C at Yongala to 12.1°C at Neptune Island. The lowest minimum temperature recorded in the Agricultural districts was -4.5°C at Renmark Aero in the Upper Murray Valley on the 6th of July. The highest minimum temperature was 13.2°C at Neptune Island on the 13th.

Mean minimum temperatures have been below average across the southeast of South Australia this winter so far and generally close to average elsewhere. In contrast, mean minimum temperatures have generally been above average across South Australia this year so far.

 

Severe Winds

9-10 July 2010

Strong to gale force N-NE winds ahead of a frontal system occurred across a broad area of the state. Winds then shifted NW and only very gradually eased following the passage of the front. Duration of event was about 2-4 hours at many locations. Numerous reports of trees blown over and damaged property. Numerous severe winds gusts and severe mean winds were recorded across the state. Some of the strongest wind strengths recorded included: Cape Willoughby recorded a NNW gust to 126 km/h, Cleve recorded a N wind gust to 119 km/h and Mount Crawford recorded a NNE gust to 111 km/h.

14 July 2010

A cold front tracked across the southern agricultural area during the morning. In the unstable air mass showers and isolated thunderstorms developed. A tornado was reported to cause damage SE of Mallala in the states Mid North.

 

Severe Flash Flooding

18 July 2010

A fairly slow moving cluster of heavy convective showers tracked northeast across the Adelaide metro area in the early evening. Rain caused local flash flooding in southern suburbs. Marion recorded 33 mm in 1 hour from 5:50 pm to 6:50 pm.

 

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 July 2010
Hottest day 27.0 °C at Marla Police Station on the 29th
Warmest days on average 18.8 °C at Marree Comparison
Coolest days on average 9.6 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 7.0 °C at Mount Lofty on the 1st
Coldest night -4.5 °C at Renmark Aero on the 6th
Coolest nights on average 1.1 °C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average 12.1 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night 16.8 °C at Moomba Airport on the 30th
Wettest overall145.9 mm at Flinders Chase (Rocky River)
Highest wind gust 126 km/h at Cape Willoughby on the 10th

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for July 2010
Maximum temperatures
for July
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for July
(°C)		 Rainfall
for July
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
July
2010		 Mean for
July
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
July
2010		 Total for
July
2010		 Average
for
July		 Rank of
July
2010		 Fraction of
July
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 17.6 -0.8 22.5 29th 5.4 -0.6 0.0 11th 9.4 12.6 average 75%
Coober Pedy Airport 17.5   22.8 12th 5.8   0.7 1st 10.6
Ernabella (Pukatja) 17.2   24.8 29th 4.9   -3.7 2nd 25.4
Nonning 15.7 -0.8 19.4 29th 3.4 -0.4 -1.3 6th 23.3 26.1 average 89%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 17.0   21.8 29th 3.4   -2.0 8th 6.0
Tarcoola Aero 17.8   22.9 29th 3.5   -2.7 8th 9.4
Woomera Aerodrome 16.6 -0.3 20.5 29th 5.2 -0.6 0.7 8th 14.6 15.0 average 97%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 16.1 -0.4 22.5 29th 3.3 -0.1 -2.5 7th 28.3 15.1 high 187%
Leigh Creek Airport 16.2 -0.4 20.7 27th 4.7 -0.1 -0.5 7th 27.0 17.7 high 153%
Marree Aero 18.0   22.8 29th 5.4   0.2 7th 0
Marree Comparison 18.8 -0.3 23.4 29th 5.6 +0.7 0.4 7th 52.6 10.1 v high 521%
Moomba Airport 18.6   24.9 29th 7.1   1.2 8th 89.4
Oodnadatta Airport 18.5 -1.1 24.8 29th 6.0 +0.1 -0.6 8th 25.6 10.1 high 253%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 16.8 -0.6 21.3 29th 5.0 -0.7 0.8 1st 43.0 39.9 average 108%
Cleve 15.3 0.0 18.0 29th 6.8 -0.3 4.0 1st 31.4 46.2 low 68%
Cleve Aerodrome 15.0   17.6 29th 6.4   3.6 6th 26.2 44.5 low 59%
Coulta (Coles Point) 15.4   17.3 17th 6.5   2.8 2nd 48.6
Cummins Aero 15.4   17.5 17th 5.2   0.6 3rd 46.2
Elliston 16.3 -0.1 18.7 17th 6.6 -1.2 1.1 7th 53.4 70.6 average 76%
Kimba 14.7 -0.8 17.5 30th 4.8 -0.2 1.0 4th 30.8 41.4 average 74%
Kyancutta 16.5 -0.7 19.5 29th 3.8 -1.0 -1.0 24th 18.6 40.4 low 46%
Neptune Island 15.6 +0.4 17.5 17th 12.1 +0.8 10.2 14th 43.2 76.0 low 57%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 15.9   18.3 29th 6.2   2.7 5th 61.6
Nullarbor 16.9 -1.4 23.1 17th 4.8 -0.3 0.0 5th 48.0 27.2 high 176%
Port Augusta Aero 16.9   22.0 30th 3.7   -1.2 7th 21.0
Streaky Bay 16.8 +0.3 19.4 27th 7.4 -1.1 3.6 25th 45.0 61.1 average 74%
Whyalla Aero 16.3 -0.6 21.6 30th 3.6 -1.7 -0.4 4th 12.6 22.9 low 55%
Wudinna Aero 16.3   19.2 29th 4.9   -0.7 25th 29.6
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 14.9 -1.1 19.8 30th 2.6 -1.2 -2.2 6th 24.2 33.7 average 72%
Yongala 13.2 +0.4 18.0 30th 1.1 -1.1 -4.0 6th 21.8 39.4 low 55%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 16.4   23.3 30th 1.7   -3.6 9th 21.6
Yunta Airstrip 14.5   20.2 30th 2.4   -2.1 8th 21.4
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 12.8   16.0 28th 3.0   -2.5 6th 37.2
Port Pirie Aerodrome 16.2   20.4 30th 3.9   -0.6 6th 16.8
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 16.8 +0.4 21.1 30th 6.8 -0.9 3.0 3rd 17.4 33.8 low 51%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 15.4   18.9 28th 3.1   -1.2 3rd 24.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 15.0   17.5 30th 7.1   2.9 2nd 40.6
Kadina AWS 15.4   17.2 28th 3.5   -0.9 6th 23.8
Maitland 14.7 +0.4 17.5 28th 6.7 -0.2 3.5 1st 46.8 66.2 low 71%
Minlaton Aero 15.0   17.3 28th 6.3   2.4 1st 49.0
Stenhouse Bay 15.6   18.4 28th 8.7   4.9 5th 39.8
Warooka 15.2 +0.2 17.0 26th 7.1 -0.5 3.8 2nd 53.8 65.8 average 82%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 14.4   15.8 29th 8.8   5.4 2nd 71.2
Cape Willoughby 14.6 +0.5 16.5 9th 10.3 +0.6 7.7 1st 73.2 81.8 average 89%
Kingscote Aero 15.9   17.6 31st 5.1   -0.3 5th 49.2
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 15.4 +0.1 18.7 28th 6.8 -0.7 2.3 2nd 59.8 75.7 low 79%
Adelaide Airport 15.0 +0.1 18.1 28th 6.0 -1.0 2.0 2nd 45.2 59.4 average 76%
Edinburgh RAAF 15.3 +0.1 18.2 30th 5.1 -0.9 0.9 2nd 36.0 52.9 low 68%
Parafield Airport 15.7 +0.6 18.7 13th 4.8 -1.5 -0.3 6th 41.8 58.9 low 71%
Roseworthy AWS 15.3   19.2 13th 5.1   1.2 22nd 32.6
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 13.3   17.0 13th 3.8   -2.1 6th 39.2
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 14.8 +0.1 18.7 13th 4.1 -1.5 -0.5 6th 37.7 58.9 low 64%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 15.3   18.6 30th 7.3   3.0 5th 25.4
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 12.4   16.1 28th 6.3   3.3 5th 90.4
Mount Barker 13.8 +1.0 17.0 28th 3.8 -0.7 -0.8 5th 88.3 105.9 average 83%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 11.0   14.4 13th 5.6   3.1 1st 65.8
Mount Lofty 9.6   12.6 28th 5.0   2.9 25th 105.8
Noarlunga 14.9   17.4 28th 7.8   4.0 5th 60.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 12.1   14.3 28th 6.9   4.0 4th 56.4
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 15.5   18.2 30th 5.7   0.2 9th 68.4
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 15.5 -0.3 21.5 30th 2.6 -1.3 -3.9 6th 28.8 28.5 average 101%
Renmark Aero 15.6   22.0 30th 2.1   -4.5 6th 19.2
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 12.9 -0.2 16.7 13th 4.4 -0.6 0.0 5th 34.8 51.3 average 68%
Meningie 15.4 +0.5 18.7 30th 5.6 -1.1 1.2 5th 47.5 61.2 low 78%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 15.4   19.7 13th 3.5   -3.2 5th 24.0
Murray Bridge Comparison 16.5 +0.3 20.4 13th 4.1 -1.3 -1.2 5th 31.6 35.3 average 90%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 15.1   18.2 30th 5.5   0.4 9th 41.6
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 15.3   19.8 13th 3.4   -1.3 6th 30.5 34.5 average 88%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 14.9 -0.1 20.0 30th 4.5 -1.0 0.5 6th 40.4 54.9 average 74%
Keith (Munkora) 14.8   19.3 30th 4.0   -0.2 6th 38.4
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 14.6   18.9 30th 3.3   -0.9 6th 18.2
Lameroo Comparison 15.2 +0.2 18.9 30th 3.9 -0.5 -1.0 6th 21.8 41.3 low 53%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 14.2   16.2 30th 6.6   2.5 9th 56.4
Coonawarra 14.2 +0.4 17.8 30th 4.3 -0.8 -1.1 6th 67.8 77.8 low 87%
Mount Gambier Aero 14.0 +0.9 17.0 30th 4.7 -0.5 -0.3 6th 90.4 99.4 average 91%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 14.1   18.1 30th 4.5   -0.7 26th 40.0
Padthaway South 14.5   18.8 30th 4.1   -0.8 6th 52.4
Robe Airfield 14.9   17.0 30th 4.9   -0.5 26th 89.6
Robe Comparison 13.8 +0.2 15.7 31st 7.6 -0.5 2.1 26th 80.0 104.3 average 77%

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 9 am on Monday 2 August 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