Monday, 1 August 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in July 2011: Drier than average in the south, wetter in the north.

  • Near average to below average rainfall across the agricultural areas of South Australia, with above average rainfall across much of the pastoral areas.
  • Temperatures were generally slightly warmer than average, though with colder than average nights in the eastern districts.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Pastoral Districts

July rainfall totals were generally average to above average in the Pastoral districts, though rainfall at this time of the year in these areas is typically low. Totals were generally within 10 to 25mm, with Ernabella the highest total in the pastoral areas, recording 32.8mm. Much of the rainfall came in one widespread event mid-month.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals were generally below average across the Agricultural districts typically ~80% of the average for this time of the year, though some stations had their record highest July rainfall, with some stations have record highest July daily rainfall totals, this falling on the 2nd. Some locations in the western part of the Western Agricultural districts and the Flinders and Mount Lofty Ranges did receive average to slightly above average rainfall. Rainfall totals were typically ranged from about 30 to 50mm across most of the agricultural areas, but tended to totals closer to or in excess of 100mm on western Kangaroo Island and parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges, with the highest total in the state being 161.4mm at Aldgate Creek in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Much of the rainfall in these districts feel in the first and last weeks of the month.

Winter and growing season ( April to October ) rainfall totals have been below average across agricultural districts so far for these periods.

Some sites had their lowest total July rainfall on record.
Some sites had their lowest total July rainfall for at least 25 years.
Some sites had their highest July 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 July 2011 was 1.0°C warmer than average for South Australia as a whole.

Mean minimum temperatures have been near if slightly warmer than average across South Australia this winter so far. Streaky Bay had its warmest July temperature ever recorded in its 54 year record, with 24.0°C on the 29th. Several stations had record warmest overnight minimum temperatures, mainly in northerly winds ahead of the passage of a cold frontal system on the 1st and 2nd of the month.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures were close to average though tending to be up to 1°C above average. In the Pastoral districts, they ranged from 15.2°C at Yunta Airstrip to 20.3°C at Moomba Airport. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the Pastoral districts, and the state, for July 2011 was 29.9°C at Marla Police Station on the 29th. The lowest was 8.7°C at Ernabella on the 13th.

Mean maximum temperatures over the Agricultural districts were almost all within 0.5°C of the long-term mean for July, ranging from 9.7°C at Mount Lofty to 18.6°C at Nullarbor where it was 0.4°C warmer than average. The highest maximum recorded during July was 27.2°C at Ceduna on the 29th.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures were generally above average in the western half of the state, and below average in the east. In the pastoral areas they ranged from 2.9°C at Gluepot Reserve to 7.8°C at Coober Pedy. The lowest minimum temperature recorded during July in the Pastorals was -5.5°C at Gluepot in the Northeast Pastoral district on the 22nd. Maree recorded the warmest overnight temperature in the pastoral areas, and the state, with 16.0°C on the 2nd of July.

Over the Agricultural districts mean monthly minimum temperatures ranged from 2.0°C at Yongala to 12.0°C at Neptune Island. The lowest minimum temperature recorded in the Agricultural districts was -4.9°C at Yongala in the Upper North on the 22nd. The highest minimum temperature was 15.6°C at Port Pirie on the 2nd.

Some sites had their highest July temperature on record.
Some sites had their coldest July day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries
Extremes in July 2011
Hottest day 29.9 °C at Marla Police Station on the 29th
Warmest days on average 20.3 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average 9.7 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 5.8 °C at Mount Lofty on the 12th
Coldest night -5.5 °C at Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) on the 22nd
Coolest nights on average 2.0 °C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average 12.0 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night 16.0 °C at Marree Aero on the 2nd
16.0 °C at Marree Comparison on the 2nd
Warmest on average overall 13.7 °C at Neptune Island
Coolest on average overall 7.4 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 161.4 mm at Aldgate Creek
Highest wind gust 107 km/h at Neptune Island on the 3rd

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest July daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in July 2011 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for July		 Years of
record
Coulta 42.2 on the 2nd 41.7 on the 7th in 1927 116
Neptune Island 43.8 on the 2nd =43.8 on the 24th in 1986 46


Record lowest total July rainfall
Total rainfall
for July 2011 (mm) 		Previous driest
for July		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Angaston 5.6 16.1 in 1884 130 69.9
Paskeville 4.4 10.2 in 1899 122 48.3

Lowest total July rainfall for at least 25 years
Total rainfall
for July 2011 (mm) 		Most recent July
at least this dry		 Years since
drier		 Average for
July
Cape Willoughby 33.6 28.6 in 1899 111 81.4
Mallala 10.0 8.6 in 1982 29 45.5


Record highest July temperature
Highest temperature
in July 2011 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for July		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Streaky Bay 24.0 on the 29th 23.6 on the 29th in 1993 54 16.5


Record lowest July daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature
in July 2011 (°C) 		Previous coolest
for July		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Marla Police Station 9.5 on the 13th 10.8 on the 23rd in 1998 25 19.9


Record highest July daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in July 2011 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for July		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Marree Comparison 16.0 on the 2nd 14.8 on the 30th in 1993 73 4.9
Elliston 15.0 on the 29th = 15.0 on the 28th in 1975 50 7.8
Adelaide (Kent Town) 15.5 on the 1st 15.2 on the 30th in 1993 35 7.5
Maitland 12.0 on the 2nd = 12.0 on the 2nd in 2008 32 6.9
Nullarbor 14.2 on the 1st 12.7 on the 10th in 2009 25 5.1


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for July 2011
Maximum temperatures
for July
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for July
(°C)		 Rainfall
for July
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
July
2011		 Mean for
July
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
July
2011		 Total for
July
2011		 Average
for
July		 Rank of
July
2011		 Fraction of
July
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 18.4 0.0 25.7 30th 7.3 +1.3 3.2 22nd 24.8 12.8 high 194%
Coober Pedy Airport 18.6   28.1 29th 7.8   3.1 5th 15.0
Ernabella (Pukatja) 18.2   26.0 29th 5.1   -1.6 10th 32.8
Marla Police Station 19.7 -0.2 29.9 29th 6.6 +1.6 -1.8 11th 23.3 14.0 high 166%
Nonning 16.9 +0.4 23.9 31st 4.7 +0.9 -0.6 8th 20.0 26.1 average 77%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 18.2   25.5 30th 5.5   -0.5 8th 24.4
Tarcoola Aero 18.8   27.5 29th 6.1   -1.5 8th 15.6
Woomera Aerodrome 17.4 +0.5 24.5 31st 6.8 +1.0 2.0 8th 26.8 15.2 high 176%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 16.5 0.0 24.0 30th 2.8 -0.6 -2.9 9th 16.9 15.1 average 112%
Leigh Creek Airport 16.7 +0.2 24.2 30th 5.1 +0.3 0.2 9th 25.2 18.0 average 140%
Marree Aero 19.2   26.5 29th 5.2   -0.8 9th 9.8
Marree Comparison 20.1 +1.0 27.0 29th 6.0 +1.1 0.0 9th 7.2 10.1 average 71%
Moomba Airport 20.3   27.8 30th 5.6   -0.4 23rd 0.8
Oodnadatta Airport 20.1 +0.5 28.7 29th 7.1 +1.2 0.1 10th 12.0 10.2 high 118%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 18.5 +1.1 27.2 29th 7.7 +2.0 0.3 8th 44.2 40.0 average 111%
Cleve 15.7 +0.4 22.5 31st 7.8 +0.7 3.5 8th 55.6 46.3 average 120%
Cleve Aerodrome 15.4   22.1 31st 7.9   3.5 22nd 40.4 44.5 average 91%
Coulta (Coles Point) 16.0   23.1 1st 7.6   2.6 26th 102.0
Cummins Aero 15.8   21.9 1st 6.0   0.1 26th 60.6
Elliston 17.4 +1.0 26.6 31st 8.9 +1.1 3.7 15th 67.8 70.6 average 96%
Kimba 15.2 -0.3 21.0 29th 5.5 +0.5 1.5 16th 31.2 41.3 average 76%
Kyancutta 17.6 +0.5 24.7 31st 5.6 +0.9 0.2 26th 41.5 40.4 average 103%
Minnipa Pirsa 16.7   23.6 29th 7.0   3.2 15th 38.0
Neptune Island 15.4 +0.1 19.4 31st 12.0 +0.7 9.7 7th 80.8 76.1 average 106%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 16.1   22.6 1st 7.6   3.2 21st 68.0
Nullarbor 18.6 +0.4 27.0 28th 7.6 +2.5 3.4 18th 41.8 27.4 high 153%
Port Augusta Aero 18.3   24.6 31st 4.6   -1.2 22nd 25.6
Streaky Bay 17.6 +1.1 24.0 29th 9.2 +0.8 4.6 15th 59.0 61.1 average 97%
Whyalla Aero 17.4 +0.5 25.2 31st 5.2 0.0 0.0 21st 11.0 22.6 low 49%
Wudinna Aero 17.6   24.8 31st 6.3   1.2 15th 39.4
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 16.2 +0.3 23.3 29th 2.9 -0.8 -3.3 19th 19.2 33.6 average 57%
Yongala 13.2 +0.4 20.0 31st 2.0 -0.2 -4.9 22nd 41.7 39.4 average 106%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 17.0   24.0 30th 2.9   -5.5 22nd 14.3
Yunta Airstrip 15.2   23.0 30th 3.0   -4.9 22nd 17.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 13.0   19.3 31st 4.2   -3.3 22nd 54.0
Port Pirie Aerodrome 16.5   22.4 1st 6.0   -0.6 22nd 30.5
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 17.0 +0.6 22.5 1st 8.1 +0.4 3.0 22nd 33.0 33.8 average 98%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 15.6   22.4 1st 5.1   -2.2 22nd 33.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 15.2 +0.2 21.2 31st 8.0 +0.5 2.1 22nd 39.8 44.1 average 90%
Kadina AWS 15.6   21.0 1st 4.9   -1.4 22nd 33.2
Maitland 14.7 +0.4 20.2 1st 7.5 +0.6 3.8 12th 63.8 66.2 average 96%
Minlaton Aero 15.4   21.6 1st 7.0   1.9 19th 42.6
Stenhouse Bay 15.6   19.8 31st 9.5   3.8 16th 67.8
Warooka 15.2 +0.2 19.0 1st 7.7 +0.1 3.5 16th 63.4 65.8 average 96%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 14.2   17.6 29th 9.4   5.8 15th 113.2
Cape Willoughby 13.9 -0.2 18.4 1st 10.2 +0.5 6.7 10th 33.6 81.4 v low 41%
Kingscote Aero 15.6   18.7 30th 6.3   -1.9 22nd 44.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 15.6 +0.3 22.2 1st 7.9 +0.4 1.3 22nd 61.4 75.0 low 82%
Adelaide Airport 15.5 +0.6 22.5 1st 7.1 +0.1 0.1 22nd 53.4 59.3 average 90%
Edinburgh RAAF 15.4 +0.2 21.7 1st 6.0 0.0 -1.0 22nd 48.6 52.8 average 92%
Parafield Airport 15.9 +0.8 22.2 1st 6.0 -0.3 -0.9 16th 44.2 58.6 average 75%
Roseworthy AWS 15.6   22.9 1st 5.3   -0.2 22nd 29.0
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 13.5   19.7 1st 4.8   -3.2 22nd 48.2
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 15.1 +0.4 21.8 1st 5.4 -0.1 -0.9 22nd 50.6 58.8 average 86%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 15.4   21.4 31st 8.0   3.2 16th 39.0
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 12.4   19.5 1st 6.8   2.2 22nd 104.0
Mount Barker 13.2 +0.3 19.4 1st 5.4 +0.9 -2.5 22nd 116.2 106.0 average 110%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 11.2   17.0 31st 5.9   2.0 22nd 67.4
Mount Lofty 9.7   15.9 1st 5.1   1.1 22nd 134.4
Noarlunga 15.2   22.1 1st 8.5   3.3 16th 60.6
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 11.9   17.5 1st 6.9   2.4 16th 112.0
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 15.5   22.1 1st 6.4   -1.2 16th 79.0
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 16.1 +0.3 22.0 2nd 4.1 +0.3 -3.3 22nd 24.0 28.3 average 85%
Renmark Aero 16.8   23.5 2nd 3.8   -4.2 22nd 15.6
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 13.7 +0.6 20.0 31st 4.8 -0.2 -0.8 22nd 44.0 51.2 average 86%
Meningie 15.3 +0.4 20.6 31st 6.5 -0.2 0.2 22nd 62.4 61.2 average 102%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 15.9   22.1 31st 4.8   -2.8 22nd 23.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 16.6 +0.4 23.2 31st 5.5 +0.1 -2.0 22nd 30.3 35.2 average 86%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 15.1   20.7 31st 6.7   0.1 16th 43.8
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 15.5   22.6 31st 4.6   -2.0 22nd 31.8 34.5 average 92%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 15.1 +0.1 21.2 31st 5.8 +0.3 -1.2 21st 61.6 54.9 average 112%
Keith (Munkora) 14.6   19.9 1st 5.1   -1.4 21st 65.4
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 14.8   20.7 31st 4.0   -2.0 22nd 24.4
Lameroo Comparison 15.5 +0.5 22.0 31st 5.2 +0.8 0.0 22nd
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 14.0   18.2 1st 7.9   0.5 16th 64.6
Coonawarra 13.9 +0.1 19.0 31st 5.1 +0.1 -1.9 27th 46.8 76.7 low 61%
Mount Gambier Aero 13.6 +0.4 17.9 31st 6.0 +0.9 -0.9 27th 76.6 99.2 low 77%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 14.0   18.9 31st 5.4   -0.3 15th 79.0
Padthaway South 14.4   19.8 31st 5.4   -1.7 22nd 73.2
Robe Airfield 14.7   19.8 1st 7.2   -0.3 23rd 69.2
Robe Comparison 13.9 +0.3 17.1 1st 8.6 +0.5 3.0 23rd 65.1 104.1 low 63%

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 1 pm on Monday 1 August 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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