Monday, 4 July 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in June 2011: A dry start to winter

  • Average to below average rainfall across most of South Australia.
  • Fourth wettest year to date rainfall following the wettest January to March period on record.
  • Maximum temperatures up to 1°C above average.
  • Minimum temperatures within 1°C of average.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

South Australia has received close to 60% of the June rainfall average for the state as a whole, with most areas receiving average to below average rainfall.

South Australia has had its fourth wettest first half of the year on record. January to March this year was the wettest first 3 months of the year on record, but with below average rainfall in April, close to average rainfall in May 2011 and below average rainfall in June, the year to date state average has slipped to fourth place. The wettest first half of the year was in 1974.

Pastoral Districts
The pastoral districts received most of their rainfall from the 5th to the 9th of June associated with a trough of low pressure in the middle levels of the atmosphere, and from the 20th to the 22nd in a moist westerly flow. Overall monthly rainfall totals were generally below average, with some locations, including Marree and Leigh Creek, not receiving any rainfall. Monthly totals generally ranged from about 0 to 10 mm. The wettest overall was Tieyon with 28.0 mm.

Agricultural Districts
The passage of a series of cold fronts in the first and third week of June delivered most of the month’s rainfall to southern parts of the state when showers were generated in the cold, moist southerly flow following the passage of these fronts. Monthly rainfall totals were average to below average.
The Upper Murray Valley, Murray Mallee and Upper North districts received rainfall totals of up to10 to 20mm, the Western Agricultural, Lower North, Adelaide Plains, County Light, Yorke Peninsula, Lower Murray Valley and Upper Southeast received 20 to 50 mm, increasing to 40 to 90 mm over the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and Lower Southeast districts. The wettest overall was at Parawa (Sharon) with 120.2 mm.

Some sites had their lowest total June rainfall on record. Some sites had their lowest total June rainfall for at least 25 years. See a map of rainfall deciles.

Temperature

The mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for South Australia as a whole in June 2011 was 12.3 °C, which is 0.1 °C above the long-term average.

Maximum temperature

The area-averaged mean maximum temperature of 19.1°C was 0.5°C above the long-term June average for South Australia as a whole.

Mean maximum temperatures over South Australia were generally within 1.0°C of average across the state but tending just above average. In the Far North District, mean maximum temperatures reached up to 1.5°C above average. The coldest periods were around the 8th to the 11th of June where a strong high pressure system to the south of the Great Australian Bight directed a cool to cold southerly flow across the state; and the 21st also associated with a cool to cold southwesterly flow as a high pressure system moved across southern WA. Mount Lofty recorded the coldest day of the month on the 13th when its maximum temperature only reached 7.1°C. The warmest period was around the 2nd and 3rd of June (around the 5th in the Far North) in the northerly air stream ahead of a cold front; the warm northerly winds pushing the maximum temperature up to 27.5 °C at Nullarbor on the 2nd.

Average daily maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts ranged from 16.4°C at Yunta in the Northeast district to 21.6°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for June was 27.1°C at Marla on the 3rd of the month. Leigh Creek had its equal highest June mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Average daily maximum temperatures across the agricultural areas ranged from 10.4°C at Mount Lofty to 19.4°C at Port Augusta Aero in the Western Agricultural District. The lowest recorded maximum temperature for June was 7.1°C at Mount Lofty on the 13th of the month, with the warmest day recorded was at Nullarbor with 27.5°C on the 2nd.

Minimum temperature

Mean minimum temperatures were generally within 1°C of average across South Australia when averaged across the whole of June. The coldest nights were around the 1st, and the 15th and 16th when conditions were fine and clear with light winds. The minimum temperature at Yunta fell to -4.4°C on the 15th. The warmest nights were from the 5th to the 7th of June in the Pastoral districts due to overnight cloud cover; and between the 3rd and 5th and around the 19th in the Agricultural districts also associated with increased cloud cover. It was also much warmer than average across the state on the night of the 29th/morning of the 30th with warm northerly winds and cloud cover ahead of an approaching cold front.
Over the pastoral districts average minimum temperatures ranged from 2.6°C at Yunta in the Northeast District to 8.0°C at Andamooka in the Northwest District. The lowest overnight minimum temperature in the pastorals for June was -4.4°C at Yunta on the 15th, whilst the highest was 14.0°C recorded at Leigh Creek Airport on the 30th.
Over the agricultural areas average overnight minimum temperatures ranged from 2.6°C at Yongala to 13.0°C at Neptune Island. The lowest recorded daily minimum temperature for June in the Agricultural districts was -4.1°C at Yongala on the 15th, whilst the highest was 14.7 °C at Neptune Island on the 26th and at Adelaide (Kent Town) on the 30th. This was the warmest June night in Adelaide since the 10th of June 2005 where 15.4°C was recorded.

 

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 June 2011
Hottest day 27.5 °C at Nullarbor on the 2nd
Warmest days on average 21.6 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average 10.4 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 7.1 °C at Mount Lofty on the 13th
Coldest night -4.4 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 15th
Coolest nights on average 2.6 °C at Yongala
2.6 °C at Yunta Airstrip
Warmest nights on average 13.0 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night 14.7 °C at Neptune Island on the 26th
14.7 °C at Adelaide (Kent Town) on the 30th
Warmest on average overall 14.6 °C at Neptune Island
Coolest on average overall 8.1 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 120.2 mm at Parawa (Sharon)
Highest wind gust 107 km/h at Robe Airfield on the 20th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record lowest total June rainfall
Total rainfall
for June 2011 (mm)		 Previous driest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Marree Comparison 0.0 = 0.0 in 2006 126 13.5
Leigh Creek Airport 0.0 0.2 in 2007 27 16.1

Lowest total June rainfall for at least 25 years
Total rainfall
for June 2011 (mm)		 Most recent June
at least this dry		 Years since
drier		 Average for
June
Warooka 31.6 16.4 in 1986 25 64.9


Record highest June mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for June 2011 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Leigh Creek Airport 18.5 = 18.5 in 1996 28 17.0


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for June 2011
Maximum temperatures
for June
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for June
(°C)		 Rainfall
for June
(millimetres)
Mean for
June
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
June
2011		 Mean for
June
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
June
2011		 Total for
June
2011		 Average
for
June		 Rank of
June
2011		 Fraction of
June
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 19.6 +1.0 24.8 3rd 8.0 +1.1 3.0 1st 0.8 15.0 v low 5%
Coober Pedy Airport 18.7   26.3 3rd 6.4   0.6 13th 0
Ernabella (Pukatja) 17.9   24.9 5th 3.8   -2.3 16th 23.2
Marla Police Station 19.4 -0.3 27.1 3rd     -1.2 15th 6.4 14.3 average 45%
Nonning 17.5 +0.7 21.9 30th 4.7 0.0 -1.5 15th 12.2 26.7 low 46%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 19.3   24.7 3rd 3.3   -3.3 15th 0.8
Tarcoola Aero 19.3   26.6 3rd 5.2   -2.6 15th 2.8
Woomera Aerodrome 17.9 +0.6 24.8 3rd 5.8 -0.9 1.7 15th 0.8 15.8 v low 5%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 17.8 +1.0 22.9 3rd 3.7 -0.8 -2.0 16th 0.8 14.4 low 6%
Leigh Creek Airport 18.5 +1.5 23.0 29th 5.2 -0.2 -0.4 16th 0 16.1 lowest 0%
Marree Aero 20.2   24.0 30th 4.7   -0.6 16th 0
Marree Comparison 21.1 +1.5 25.2 30th 5.6 -0.4 0.9 10th 0 13.5 lowest 0%
Moomba Airport 21.6   26.5 5th 6.2   0.2 10th 0
Oodnadatta Airport 20.0 +0.1 27.0 5th 5.2 -1.3 0.9 15th 3.0 11.9 average 25%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 18.8 +0.6 25.0 2nd 6.2 -0.2 -1.8 15th 21.4 34.9 average 61%
Cleve 16.4 +0.4 20.4 29th 8.5 +0.5 4.1 15th 36.4 46.3 average 79%
Cleve Aerodrome 16.3   20.3 2nd 8.4   4.1 15th 28.8 41.8 average 69%
Coulta (Coles Point) 17.2   20.6 1st 7.8   2.7 15th 37.6
Cummins Aero 17.1   21.1 2nd 6.6   0.9 15th 11.0
Elliston 17.7 +0.6 22.8 30th 8.5 0.0 4.5 7th 32.4 72.3 low 45%
Kimba 15.8 -0.3 20.0 29th 6.2 +0.3 2.2 16th 37.0 39.7 average 93%
Kyancutta 17.8 0.0 22.2 2nd 5.6 +0.3 -0.2 15th 26.6 38.2 average 70%
Minnipa Pirsa 17.1   21.6 2nd 7.5   3.9 15th 35.4
Neptune Island 16.3 +0.3 18.5 2nd 13.0 +0.8 8.8 21st 58.8 66.1 average 89%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 17.1   20.1 1st 8.6   4.0 27th 35.0
Nullarbor 19.1 +0.3 27.5 2nd 7.5 +1.3 2.4 15th 19.2 30.0 average 64%
Port Augusta Aero 19.4   23.9 29th 4.8   -1.2 15th 5.4
Streaky Bay 18.1 +0.9 20.7 29th 9.2 +0.2 5.0 15th 44.1 62.4 average 71%
Whyalla Aero 17.6 +0.4 22.9 2nd 6.0 0.0 0.0 15th 20.0 24.4 average 82%
Wudinna Aero 18.2   22.6 2nd 7.0   1.6 28th 19.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 17.3 +0.9 22.0 30th 3.6 -0.9 -3.0 15th 7.6 37.8 low 20%
Yongala 14.3 +0.7 19.0 2nd 2.6 -0.2 -4.1 15th 21.6 39.2 low 55%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 17.7   22.5 26th 3.5   -3.1 28th 9.3
Yunta Airstrip 16.4   21.1 30th 2.6   -4.4 15th 2.8
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 13.9   18.2 2nd 4.5   -1.4 15th 47.0
Port Pirie Aerodrome 17.7   22.4 29th 5.7   0.5 15th 21.4
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 17.9 +0.8 22.5 29th 8.2 -0.2 2.5 15th 22.4 40.6 low 55%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 16.6   20.7 2nd 5.8   -0.8 15th 28.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 16.3   21.7 2nd 8.8   3.4 1st 37.2
Kadina AWS 16.5   19.5 29th 6.1   -0.8 15th 24.2
Maitland 15.7 +0.3 19.0 30th 8.4 +0.5 4.5 14th 46.6 68.4 average 68%
Minlaton Aero 16.3   19.7 2nd 7.8   3.1 15th 29.2
Stenhouse Bay 16.5   18.8 1st 10.3   6.5 16th 49.4
Warooka 16.2 +0.3 19.4 29th 8.7 +0.2 5.6 15th 31.6 64.9 low 49%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 15.1   17.1 1st 10.5   7.7 15th 48.2
Cape Willoughby 15.3 +0.4 17.8 2nd 11.3 +0.6 8.3 21st 65.6 75.0 average 87%
Kingscote Aero 16.4   18.9 26th 6.2   -0.2 29th 47.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 16.5 +0.4 20.6 2nd 8.5 +0.4 3.6 14th 37.2 79.3 low 47%
Adelaide Airport 16.5 +0.6 20.5 2nd 7.8 +0.2 1.9 15th 30.8 55.2 low 56%
Edinburgh RAAF 16.4 +0.5 20.8 2nd 6.2 -0.6 0.5 15th 40.6 53.0 average 77%
Parafield Airport 16.8 +1.1 20.7 2nd 6.3 -0.8 -0.2 15th 32.4 53.6 low 60%
Roseworthy AWS 16.7   21.7 2nd 6.2   0.5 12th 30.0
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 14.5   19.7 2nd 5.1   -0.3 8th 41.4
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 15.9 +0.3 21.2 2nd 5.4 -0.8 0.0 8th 46.7 56.1 average 83%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 16.1   20.3 2nd 8.6   3.0 29th 49.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 13.1   18.3 30th 7.5   4.4 14th 70.2
Mount Barker 13.9 +0.2 18.2 2nd 6.0 +0.8 0.0 14th 87.5 99.6 average 88%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 12.0   16.8 2nd 6.5   4.1 8th 40.4
Mount Lofty 10.4   14.4 30th 5.9   3.2 8th 87.2
Noarlunga 15.8   19.5 30th 9.4   5.4 14th 31.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 12.8   16.1 29th 7.7   4.2 15th 109.6
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 16.3   19.9 2nd 7.5   0.7 1st 79.0
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 17.2 +0.9 21.4 2nd 4.7 0.0 -0.5 1st 10.2 25.0 low 41%
Renmark Aero 17.8   22.1 2nd 4.4   -2.8 28th 7.4
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 14.3 +0.6 19.5 2nd 5.6 -0.1 2.5 8th 33.2 51.9 low 64%
Meningie 16.4 +0.8 18.8 3rd 6.3 -0.7 -0.3 15th 69.0 61.8 average 112%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 17.1   21.8 2nd 4.9   -1.5 15th 20.4
Murray Bridge Comparison 17.6 +0.9 22.6 2nd 5.9 -0.1 0.1 15th 29.9 37.8 average 79%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 15.9   20.2 2nd 7.6   1.8 15th 39.4
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 16.6   21.5 2nd 5.2   -0.2 15th 24.0 35.3 average 68%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 16.3 +0.8 21.0 2nd 5.4 -0.5 -2.0 15th 41.9 52.5 average 80%
Keith (Munkora) 16.4   21.9 2nd 4.5   -2.4 15th 39.0
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 16.2   21.0 2nd 4.9   -0.1 15th 22.8
Lameroo Comparison 16.6 +1.0 21.5 2nd 5.5 +0.4 0.9 15th
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 15.2   17.5 2nd 7.6   -0.7 15th 61.0
Coonawarra 14.9 +0.4 19.9 2nd 5.0 -0.4 -2.8 15th 38.0 72.6 low 52%
Mount Gambier Aero 14.3 +0.5 18.8 2nd 6.2 +0.5 1.2 15th 84.6 83.0 average 102%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 15.3   20.3 2nd 5.1   -3.8 15th 51.4
Padthaway South 15.7   20.5 2nd 4.9   -2.1 15th 54.2
Robe Airfield 15.6   19.1 2nd 6.8   -1.9 15th 68.6
Robe Comparison 14.7 +0.4 16.6 3rd 9.2 +0.5 3.4 15th 73.0 95.2 average 77%

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 3 pm on Monday 4 July 2011. 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