Wednesday, 1 September 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in August 2010

Cold and wet

  • Above average rainfall throughout.
  • New daily and monthly rainfall records set at some locations.
  • Maximum temperatures 1°C to 2°C below average in the south, reaching 2°C to 3°C below average in the north.
  • New lowest mean maximum temperature records for August at a few locations.

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall totals were above average across the Pastoral districts in August; with totals generally ranging from 20 to 40 mm. The highest August rainfall total recorded in the Pastoral Districts was 54.9 mm at Nonning. Beltana Roadhouse recorded their highest August daily rainfall on record with 27 mm on the 10th, see rainfall records.

Agricultural Districts

August rainfall totals were generally above average across the Agricultural districts. The highest August rainfall total recorded in the Agricultural districts was 289.6 mm at Uraidla. Some sites set new daily rainfall records and several locations set new monthly rainfall records for August, see rainfall records.

Rainfall totals ranged from about 30 to 90 mm over the Western Agricultural, the Upper and Lower North districts, Upper Murray Valley and Yorke Peninsula. The Adelaide Plains, County Light, Lower Murray Valley, Murray Mallee and Upper Southeast districts had totals ranging from about 50 to 120 mm, increasing to 80 to 200 mm in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Kangaroo Island and the Lower Southeast had totals ranging from about 80 to 120 mm.

This year to date, rainfall totals have been above average across the northeast and in the west of South Australia. Rainfall totals have generally been close to average elsewhere, with pockets of above average rainfall.

Some sites had their highest total August rainfall on record.
Some sites had their highest total August rainfall for at least 25 years.
Some sites had their highest August daily rainfall on record.
See a map of rainfall deciles.

 

Temperature

State-wide the monthly mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for August 2010 was 12.2 °C, which is 0.8 °C below the long-term average for South Australia.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures were generally between 1°C and 2°C below average across the Agricultural districts this August, and 2°C to 3°C below average across the Pastoral Districts. Some sites set new lowest mean daily maximum temperature records for August, see mean maximum temperature records.

In the Pastoral districts mean maximum temperatures ranged from 15.3 °C at Yunta Airstrip to 19.6 °C at Oodnadatta Airport. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the Pastoral districts for August was 27.3 °C at Moomba Airport on the 31st. The lowest maximum temperature recorded in the Pastorals in August was 11.4 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 5th.

Mean maximum temperatures over the Agricultural districts ranged from 8.8 °C at Mount Lofty to 17.7 °C at Port Augusta Aero.

The highest maximum recorded in the Agricultural districts during August was 28.4 °C at Ceduna AMO on the 31st. The lowest was 5.7 °C at Mount Lofty on the 4th of August.

Some sites had their lowest August mean daily maximum temperature on record.
Some sites had their lowest August mean daily maximum temperature for at least 25 years.

This year so far, mean maximum temperatures have been below average in the northeast, and warmer than average across parts of the southeast. Elsewhere maximum temperatures have generally been close to average.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures were mixed across South Australia this August, but generally within ±1°C of the long-term mean.

Mean minimum temperatures in the pastoral areas ranged from 3.7 °C at Nonning to 7.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport. The lowest recorded minimum temperature in the Pastoral districts for August was -3.6 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 6th. The highest minimum temperature recorded in the Pastorals in August was 13.8 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 18th and at Moomba Airport on the 19th.

Over the Agricultural districts mean monthly minimum temperatures ranged from 2.7 °C at Yongala to 10.7 °C at Neptune Island.

The lowest recorded minimum temperature in the Agricultural districts for August was -3.1 °C at Yongala on the 6th. The highest minimum temperature recorded in the Agricultural districts in August was 14.4 °C at Elliston and Neptune Island on the 31st.

Mean minimum temperatures have been above average across most of the State this year so far.

 

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries
Extremes in August 2010
Hottest day 28.4 °C at Ceduna AMO on the 31st
Warmest days on average 19.6 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 8.8 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 5.7 °C at Mount Lofty on the 4th
Coldest night -3.6 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 6th
Coolest nights on average 2.7 °C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average 10.7 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night 14.4 °C at Elliston on the 31st
14.4 °C at Neptune Island on the 31st
Wettest overall 289.6 mm at Uraidla
Highest wind gust 102 km/h at Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) on the 26th

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest August daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in August 2010 (mm) 		Previous highest
for August		 Years of
record
Nildottie 26.0 on the 11th 19.6 on the 25th in 1983 45
Adelaide (Magill Secure Care Centre) 40.0 on the 26th 38.0 on the 1st in 1994 43
Beltana Roadhouse 27.0 on the 10th 25.8 on the 29th in 1992 25


Record highest total August rainfall
Total rainfall
for August 2010 (mm) 		Previous highest
for August		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Belair (State Flora Nursery) 181.3 175.8 in 1984 127 97.3
Corny Point 116.8 114.8 in 1909 120 58.6
Parawa (Sharon) 209.4 202.0 in 1996 69 125.3
Nildottie 71.4 62.2 in 2003 45 25.9
Adelaide (Magill Secure Care Centre) 158.5 149.8 in 1984 43 85.7

Highest total August rainfall for at least 25 years
Total rainfall
for August 2010 (mm) 		Most recent higher
for August		 Years since
higher		 Average for
August
Uraidla 289.6 292.5 in 1900 110 145.1
Meningie 110.0 114.9 in 1909 101 56.8
Andamooka 40.8 40.8 in 1979 31 13.4
Woodside 214.4 219.5 in 1968 30 112.8
Macclesfield 175.2 192.0 in 1981 29 96.0
Cooke Plains 77.0 78.0 in 1983 26 44.8
Neptune Island 119.6 131.2 in 1984 26 64.0
Tintinara 106.5 108.5 in 1981 26 57.4
American River 115.2 127.6 in 1985 25 73.7
Yankalilla 123.4 138.6 in 1985 25 72.2


Record lowest August mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for August 2010 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for August		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Kimba 14.6 14.9 in 2008 42 17.0
Nonning 16.0 16.1 in 1989 39 18.2
Hawker 15.3 15.4 in 1990 36 17.8
Leigh Creek Airport 16.3 16.4 in 1989 26 19.1

Lowest August mean daily maximum temperature for at least 25 years
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for August 2010 (°C) 		Most recent lower
for August		 Years since
lower		 Average for
August
Marree Comparison 19.1 18.9 in 1968 41 21.4
Andamooka 18.0 17.9 in 1978 32 20.6


Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for August 2010
Maximum temperatures
for August
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for August
(°C)		 Rainfall
for August
(millimetres)
Mean for
August
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
August
2010		 Mean for
August
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
August
2010		 Total for
August
2010		 Average
for
August		 Rank of
August
2010		 Fraction of
August
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 18.0 -2.6 25.3 18th 6.5 -0.7 1.0 7th 40.8 13.4 v high 304%
Coober Pedy Airport 18.5   25.6 18th 6.4   2.4 5th 23.0
Ernabella (Pukatja) 18.3   25.1 31st 5.4   -1.3 4th 20.4
Marla Police Station 19.5 -2.6 26.8 31st 5.9 -0.4 0.1 6th 16.6 8.5 high 195%
Nonning 16.0 -2.2 21.9 18th 3.7 -0.9 -2.1 6th 54.9 25.1 v high 219%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 17.6   24.8 18th 5.0   -1.9 6th 26.0
Tarcoola Aero 18.4   23.5 18th 4.9   -1.9 6th 24.6
Woomera Aerodrome 17.0 -1.9 24.2 18th 5.8 -1.0 2.2 6th 30.0 13.9 high 216%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola     23.4 31st 4.3 -0.3 -2.0 7th 17.6 14.4 high 122%
Leigh Creek Airport 16.3 -2.8 22.4 31st 5.2 -1.0 0.1 6th 38.0 16.3 high 233%
Marree Aero 18.4   25.3 18th 6.7   2.3 8th 12.0
Marree Comparison 19.1 -2.3 26.0 18th 7.2 +0.9 2.8 6th 27.3 9.3 v high 294%
Moomba Airport 19.3   27.3 31st 6.7   2.9 7th 33.2
Oodnadatta Airport 19.6 -2.5 25.8 31st 7.5 +0.1 1.7 6th 32.4 8.3 high 390%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 17.1 -1.6 28.4 31st 6.4 +0.2 1.4 21st 29.2 34.7 average 84%
Cleve 15.0 -1.6 22.4 31st 7.1 -0.3 4.6 6th 67.4 48.1 high 140%
Cleve Aerodrome 14.8   22.6 31st 6.8   3.3 6th 54.4 44.2 average 123%
Coulta (Coles Point) 15.1   20.1 30th 8.1   4.7 9th 77.4
Cummins Aero 15.0   20.4 30th 6.4   1.9 5th 85.0
Elliston 16.4 -0.7 21.8 30th 9.2 +1.0 3.5 13th 69.7 59.3 average 118%
Kimba 14.6 -2.4 23.0 31st 4.8 -0.7 1.2 6th 38.2 41.9 average 91%
Kyancutta 16.7 -1.9 25.0 31st 5.5 +0.6 -1.6 5th 33.2 39.1 average 85%
Minnipa DPI 15.9   25.9 31st 6.4   1.1 5th 53.0
Neptune Island 14.4 -0.9 17.5 30th 10.7 -0.4 9.1 1st 119.6 64.0 v high 187%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 15.4   20.3 30th 7.4   3.9 22nd 79.2
Nullarbor 17.1 -2.5 26.6 30th 5.9 +0.2 1.2 21st 46.2 24.7 high 187%
Port Augusta Aero 17.7   24.9 31st 5.1   -1.3 6th 27.2
Streaky Bay 16.7 -0.9 23.1 31st 9.5 +0.7 5.5 6th 77.3 50.3 high 154%
Whyalla Aero 17.0 -1.5 25.3 31st 5.7 -0.2 1.1 22nd 23.0 21.4 average 107%
Wudinna Aero 16.6   25.6 31st 5.5   -1.5 5th 32.0
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 15.3 -2.5 22.0 31st 3.5 -0.8 -2.6 6th 30.6 32.1 average 95%
Yongala 12.6 -1.8 19.4 31st 2.7 +0.2 -3.1 6th 59.6 43.6 high 137%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 17.0   25.5 31st 5.0   -2.2 17th 30.0
Yunta Airstrip 15.3   21.7 18th 4.3   -3.6 6th 18.4
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 12.3   18.0 31st 4.5   -1.4 22nd 87.4
Port Pirie Aerodrome 16.3   22.9 31st 5.6   0.4 5th 46.3
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 16.7 -1.4 22.6 31st 8.4 +0.2 4.5 5th 51.5 35.0 high 147%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 14.9   20.7 31st 4.9   -0.1 7th 54.6
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 15.1   19.7 30th 7.3   3.0 22nd 62.6
Kadina AWS 15.5   21.5 31st 5.9   -0.3 22nd 35.2
Maitland 14.4 -1.0 19.5 31st 7.3 +0.2 4.8 5th 93.8 61.1 v high 154%
Minlaton Aero 14.8   19.6 31st 6.9   2.3 5th 68.4
Stenhouse Bay 15.3   19.4 30th 8.8   5.4 7th 76.0
Warooka 14.8 -0.9 17.8 30th 7.2 -0.5 4.4 7th 79.4 59.4 high 134%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 13.5   16.3 30th 8.4   6.2 6th 109.8
Cape Willoughby 13.9 -0.6 16.4 30th 9.1 -0.5 6.4 20th 113.6 73.8 high 154%
Kingscote Aero 15.2   18.1 30th 6.4   0.7 30th 77.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 15.1 -1.6 20.1 31st 8.0 -0.2 3.6 7th 115.2 66.7 v high 173%
Adelaide Airport 15.0 -0.9 19.6 30th 8.0 +0.5 3.1 7th 77.4 50.1 high 154%
Edinburgh RAAF 15.0 -1.5 19.7 31st 6.9 +0.4 1.5 5th 61.2 49.7 average 123%
Parafield Airport 15.5 -0.7 21.1 31st 7.0 +0.3 1.6 5th 77.6 54.0 high 144%
Roseworthy AWS 14.7   19.6 18th 6.0   -0.2 5th 46.4
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 13.0   18.2 18th 5.3   -0.4 5th 75.2
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 14.3 -1.5 19.5 30th 5.6 -0.1 0.0 5th 80.8 57.4 high 141%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 14.6   19.5 31st 7.9   3.8 17th 86.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 11.9   17.6 31st 6.0   2.9 17th 154.4
Mount Barker 13.2 -1.0 18.5 30th 5.0 +0.1 -0.1 17th 188.1 102.6 v high 183%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 10.6   15.6 30th 5.2   2.6 17th 168.6
Mount Lofty 8.8   14.6 31st 4.1   1.9 17th 232.4
Noarlunga 14.7   18.9 31st 8.6   5.5 5th 80.0
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 11.5   14.3 31st 6.3   3.1 7th 169.0
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 15.2   19.5 30th 7.1   1.0 7th 111.0
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 16.0 -1.5 22.6 31st 4.6 +0.3 -1.2 7th 30.2 27.4 average 110%
Renmark Aero 16.2   23.5 31st 4.9   -2.1 17th 33.0
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 12.7 -1.7 18.4 30th 4.9 -0.4 0.2 7th 102.4 55.9 v high 183%
Meningie 15.1 -0.9 20.0 30th 7.1 -0.1 3.4 7th 110.0 56.8 v high 194%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 15.1   20.1 30th 5.2   -0.9 17th 46.4
Murray Bridge Comparison 15.8 -1.7 21.5 30th 6.0 +0.1 0.4 17th 54.7 37.0 high 148%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 14.5   20.1 31st 6.8   1.7 7th 67.8
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 15.0   20.6 30th 5.2   0.0 17th 63.7 38.2 v high 167%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 14.6 -1.6 20.0 30th 6.1 +0.2 0.5 17th 96.2 58.2 v high 165%
Keith (Munkora) 14.4   19.0 30th 5.2   -0.5 17th 86.0
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 14.3   19.5 30th 4.4   -0.3 17th 65.8
Lameroo Comparison 15.3 -1.1 20.7 30th 5.1 +0.3 0.9 17th 62.2 44.1 high 141%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 13.5   16.4 30th 7.7   3.7 6th 98.2
Coonawarra 13.6 -1.2 17.6 30th 5.2 -0.1 0.0 17th 94.0 80.2 average 117%
Mount Gambier Aero 13.0 -1.1 17.2 30th 5.6 +0.1 1.1 6th 151.2 94.9 v high 159%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 13.8   17.7 30th 5.0   0.2 10th 100.6
Padthaway South 13.9   18.8 30th 5.7   -1.4 17th 106.8
Robe Airfield 14.1   18.3 30th 6.9   0.9 17th 111.8
Robe Comparison 13.5 -0.8 16.2 30th 8.4 -0.1 3.5 17th 128.8 85.6 high 150%

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 12 pm on Wednesday 1 September 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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