Monday, 2 July 2012 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in June 2012: A cold and wet start to winter for most.

  • Above average rainfall across most of the agricultural districts and the northeast pastoral district, below average elsewhere.
  • Colder than average temperatures across the State for the start of winter.
  • Some record highest June rainfall totals and highest daily rainfall for June was recorded at a few locations.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

South Australia received close to the June rainfall average for the State as a whole, with the agricultural districts receiving rainfall that was up to 30% above average for June. The North-east Pastoral districts generally received above average rainfall, though the remainder of the pastoral districts and the northern agricultural districts saw totals that are below average for June.

Rainfall for the year to the end of June 2012 is above average across much of the State, particularly across the North-east Pastoral district, but tending below average in the far west and the southeast.

For the growing season rainfall (April to October) so far, April to June rainfall has been near average across most of the agricultural districts apart from the northern areas and Murray Mallee, and well above average on some parts of Kangaroo Island and the Lower Eyre and Fleurieu Peninsulas. The pastoral districts have received below average rainfall across this same period.

Pastoral Districts

The North-east Pastoral districts received most of their rainfall early in the month from a rain event extending across Queensland, with most of the remainder of the month without rain. Monthly totals generally ranged from 5 to 15 mm, with higher totals in the northeast. The wettest overall was Yardea in the North-West Pastoral district with 43.0 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 agricultural areas of the State with monthly rainfall totals near average, tending above average in areas closer to the coast.

The Upper Murray Valley, Murray Mallee and Upper North districts generally received rainfall totals of 20 to 40 mm. Most remaining areas in the agricultural districts recording totals in the 50 to 100mm range, though much of the Mount Lofty Ranges and parts of Kangaroo Island and lower Eyre Peninsula saw rainfall totals in excess of 100mm, with the highest June total in 2012 for the state being 257.3mm at Myponga on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Some sites had their highest total June rainfall on record.
Some sites had their highest total June rainfall for at least 25 years.
Some sites had their lowest total June rainfall on record.
Some sites had their highest June daily rainfall on record.
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 2012 was 0.6 °C below the long-term average, the coldest June for the State since 2007.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures over South Australia were widely colder than average though generally within 1.0°C of average across the state.

The coldest period was through 21st and 22nd with a strong cold frontal system directing a cold southerly airstream across the State. Mount Lofty recorded the coldest day of the month on the 22nd when its maximum temperature only reached 5.9°C. The warmest period was early in the month and in the northerly air stream ahead of the cold front in the third week of the month though the warmest day recorded was 28.0 °C at Marla on the 13th.

Average daily maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts ranged from 15.6°C at Yunta in the Northeast district to 19.4°C at Oodnadatta Airport in the North East district.

Average daily maximum temperatures across the agricultural areas ranged from 9.4°C at Mount Lofty to 18.2°C at Nullarbor in the Western Agricultural District.

See a map of maximum temperature anomalies.

Minimum

Mean minimum temperatures were generally within 1°C of average at locations across South Australia when averaged across the whole of June, though most locations tended to be colder than average.

The coldest nights were in the 2nd week of the month in clear skies and light winds from a persistent high pressure system. The minimum temperature at Yunta fell to -6.6°C on the 11th during this period, the coldest night for the month in the State. The warmest nights were early in the month with large parts of the pastoral areas up to 6°C above average on the night of the 1st. The warmest night for the month was 15.7 °C at Neptune Island 2nd.

Over the pastoral districts average minimum temperatures for the month as a whole ranged from 1.9°C at Yunta in the Northeast District to 6.1°C at both Andamooka in the Northwest District, and Moomba in the Northeast district. Over the agricultural areas average overnight minimum temperatures ranged from 2.3°C at Yongala to 12.2°C at Neptune Island.

Some sites had their lowest June temperature on record.

See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

Further information

Bureau of Meteorology
South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au
Extremes in June 2012
Hottest day 28.0 °C at Marla Police Station on the 13th
Warmest days on average 19.4 °C at Marla Police Station
19.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 9.4 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 5.9 °C at Mount Lofty on the 22nd
Coldest night -6.6 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 11th
Coolest nights on average 1.9 °C at Yunta Airstrip
Warmest nights on average 12.2 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night 15.7 °C at Neptune Island on the 2nd
Warmest on average overall 14.0 °C at Neptune Island
Coolest on average overall 7.8 °C at Yongala
Wettest overall 257.3 mm at Myponga
Wettest day 70.4 mm at Belair (State Flora Nursery) on the 21st
Highest wind gust 107 km/h at Neptune Island on the 13th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest June daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in June 2012 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for June		 Years of
record
Belair (State Flora Nursery) 70.4 on the 21st 57.2 on the 26th in 1916 125
Kalangadoo 52.4 on the 22nd 49.4 on the 6th in 2003 97
Blackwood (Wittunga) 65.4 on the 21st 54.8 on the 27th in 2003 34


Record highest total June rainfall
Total rainfall
for June 2012 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Finniss 186.2 176.6 in 1901 99 63.0

Highest total June rainfall for at least 25 years
Total rainfall
for June 2012 (mm) 		Most recent June
at least this wet		 Years since
wetter		 Average for
June
Myponga 257.3 265.9 in 1920* 84 113.1
Curramulka 116.0 =116.0 in 1955* 56 58.7
Yankalilla 158.8 161.3 in 1955* 56 87.3
Penneshaw 131.2 137.8 in 1978 34 70.9
Yorketown 101.0 143.4 in 1978 34 61.4
Adelaide Airport 105.6 137.8 in 1981 31 56.1
Belair (State Flora Nursery) 201.2 266.8 in 1981 31 108.7
Blackwood (Wittunga) 185.2 219.1 in 1981* 29 103.3

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.





Record lowest June temperature
Lowest temperature
in June 2012 (°C) 		Previous coolest
for June		 Years of
record		 Average for
June
Marla Police Station -4.0 on the 26th = -4.0 on the 21st in 2007 26 5.5


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for June 2012
Maximum temperatures
for June
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for June
(°C)		 Rainfall
for June
(millimetres)
Mean for
June
2012		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
June
2012		 Mean for
June
2012		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
June
2012		 Total for
June
2012		 Average
for
June		 Rank of
June
2012		 Fraction of
June
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 17.8 -0.9 21.5 13th 6.1 -0.8 1.4 11th 11.0 14.9 average 74%
Coober Pedy Airport 18.0   26.5 13th 5.9   1.4 10th 0.2
Ernabella (Pukatja) 17.7   25.3 13th 4.5   -2.4 19th 0.2
Marla Police Station 19.4 -0.3 28.0 13th 2.9 -2.6 -4.0 26th 3.6 14.0 average 26%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 17.7   22.5 20th 3.9   -2.6 23rd 12.4
Tarcoola Aero 18.5   25.9 13th 4.8   -1.9 9th 10.8
Woomera Aerodrome 17.0 -0.4 21.7 20th 5.8 -0.9 0.9 23rd 8.0 15.6 average 51%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 16.0 -0.9 20.0 13th 3.5 -0.9 -2.2 24th 33.3 14.6 high 228%
Leigh Creek Airport 16.5 -0.6 20.5 13th 4.1 -1.3 -1.2 23rd 15.0 16.0 average 94%
Marree Aero 18.4   22.6 13th 4.4   -0.5 23rd 12.8
Marree Comparison 19.1 -0.5 23.0 13th 5.5 -0.4 1.3 24th 14.2 13.5 average 105%
Moomba Airport 19.3   24.0 21st 6.1   2.0 23rd 31.2
Oodnadatta Airport 19.4 -0.5 26.1 13th 4.6 -1.9 -0.6 10th 1.8 11.8 average 15%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 17.8 -0.4 25.5 12th 6.5 +0.1 0.6 7th 42.2 35.0 high 121%
Cleve 15.2 -0.8 20.4 20th 7.7 -0.3 1.7 11th 78.4 46.6 high 168%
Cleve Aerodrome 15.0   20.4 20th 7.8   1.5 11th 63.2 42.2 high 150%
Coulta (Coles Point) 15.9 -0.5 20.7 12th 8.0 -0.2 1.4 10th 147.4
Cummins Aero 16.2   21.5 12th 6.2   -2.5 10th 81.4
Elliston 16.9 -0.2 21.6 12th 8.1 -0.4 2.0 8th 105.2 72.5 high 145%
Kimba 14.6 -1.5 20.2 20th 6.0 +0.1 1.2 11th 50.4 39.8 high 127%
Kyancutta 17.2 -0.6 22.1 13th 5.6 +0.3 -2.1 11th 66.9 38.5 high 174%
Minnipa Pirsa 15.9   21.2 12th 6.9   2.6 8th 62.4
Neptune Island 15.9 -0.1 19.0 12th 12.2 -0.1 8.6 22nd 99.0 66.7 high 148%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 16.3 -0.5 21.3 12th 8.5 -0.1 3.8 11th 73.0
Nullarbor 18.2 -0.6 26.3 13th 5.8 -0.5 0.2 15th 40.4 30.1 high 134%
Port Augusta Aero 17.6   22.3 20th 5.6   -0.8 10th 21.6
Streaky Bay 17.3 +0.1 21.1 12th 8.8 -0.2 3.7 10th 64.3 62.4 average 103%
Whyalla Aero 16.5 -0.8 22.5 20th 6.1 +0.1 -1.2 10th 13.8 25.2 low 55%
Wudinna Aero 16.8   21.9 12th 6.4   -0.9 11th 57.4
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 16.0 -0.4 21.5 13th 3.5 -1.0 -2.0 7th 29.9 37.8 average 79%
Yongala 13.3 -0.3 19.1 13th 2.3 -0.5 -5.1 10th 27.0 39.1 average 69%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 16.5   21.4 13th 3.2   -4.1 27th 12.8
Yunta Airstrip 15.6   20.0 1st 1.9   -6.6 11th 5.0
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 12.8   18.5 13th 4.6   -2.5 10th 62.0
Port Pirie Aerodrome 16.3   19.7 20th 6.7   0.3 10th 54.0
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 16.8 -0.3 20.0 20th 8.5 +0.1 3.0 10th 57.2 40.7 high 141%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 15.2   19.6 13th 5.4   -2.6 11th 52.6
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 15.4   18.4 12th 8.9   2.8 11th 101.8
Kadina AWS 15.6   19.0 20th 6.3   -0.8 11th 62.2
Maitland 14.5 -0.9 17.5 2nd 7.9 0.0 3.0 8th 107.0 69.3 high 154%
Minlaton Aero 15.2   19.0 2nd 8.2   2.7 23rd 76.8
Stenhouse Bay 15.8   18.4 18th 10.1   5.7 11th 108.0
Warooka 15.4 -0.5 18.6 2nd 8.7 +0.2 4.4 11th 104.6 65.1 high 161%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 14.6   18.0 1st 9.2   4.9 22nd 91.8
Cape Willoughby 14.7 -0.2 18.3 1st 10.6 -0.2 7.2 23rd 87.8 74.8 average 117%
Kingscote Aero 15.7   18.9 1st 6.8   0.4 27th 119.8
Parndana Cfs AWS 14.1   18.8 1st 7.1   2.6 23rd 144.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 15.3 -0.8 18.6 13th 7.9 -0.2 2.4 9th 126.4 79.4 high 159%
Adelaide Airport 15.2 -0.7 19.1 2nd 7.2 -0.4 1.1 9th 105.6 56.1 v high 188%
Edinburgh RAAF 15.5 -0.4 19.0 20th 6.7 -0.1 0.2 9th 88.4 53.9 v high 164%
Parafield Airport 15.6 -0.2 19.5 2nd 6.2 -0.9 -0.9 9th 81.0 54.0 high 150%
Roseworthy AWS 15.5   20.6 13th 5.8   -0.9 9th 60.2
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 13.4   16.8 19th 5.1   -2.5 11th 45.2
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 15.0 -0.6 19.3 20th 5.4 -0.8 -1.0 9th 75.5 56.6 high 133%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 15.3   18.7 13th 8.2   2.3 11th 128.0
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 12.1   16.1 12th 7.1   3.7 11th 177.0
Mount Barker 12.5 -1.2 16.8 13th 5.6 +0.4 -0.3 11th 171.0 100.0 high 171%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 10.8   15.4 1st 5.5   2.0 10th 98.6
Mount Lofty 9.4   13.9 1st 4.9   1.6 10th 170.8
Noarlunga 14.8   18.9 13th 8.7   3.8 10th 115.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 11.9   15.4 1st 7.5   4.3 11th 205.8
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 15.5   19.0 13th 6.9   -0.8 11th 147.2
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 16.3 0.0 20.5 1st     -3.6 11th 9.2 25.2 low 37%
Renmark Aero 16.5   21.4 13th 3.6   -4.5 11th 12.2
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 13.1 -0.6 17.9 20th 5.4 -0.3 -0.2 11th 60.8 52.0 average 117%
Meningie 15.3 -0.3 18.0 1st 6.3 -0.7 1.0 8th 99.6 62.0 v high 161%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 15.0   20.5 20th 5.0   -2.2 11th 51.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 15.9 -0.8 21.0 20th 5.6 -0.4 -0.5 11th 67.0 38.0 v high 176%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 14.6   18.4 20th 7.3   0.5 11th 114.6
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 15.4   21.6 20th 4.9   -0.6 11th 39.0 35.2 average 111%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 14.9 -0.6 20.0 1st 5.4 -0.5 0.2 8th 63.5 52.6 average 121%
Keith (Munkora) 14.6   19.1 1st 5.0   -0.8 8th 63.6
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 14.9   19.8 20th 4.6   0.3 8th 33.2
Lameroo Comparison 15.3 -0.3 19.8 20th 5.3 +0.2 1.6 6th 34.6 40.6 average 85%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 14.3 -0.4 18.2 1st 7.8 -0.2 3.3 12th 112.0
Coonawarra 14.0 -0.5 18.7 1st 4.8 -0.6 -0.4 11th 79.4 75.5 average 105%
Mount Gambier Aero 13.5 -0.3 17.9 1st 5.7 0.0 0.2 11th 103.6 83.3 high 124%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 14.1   19.0 1st 4.7   -1.5 11th 77.8
Padthaway South 14.2   18.4 1st 4.5   -1.6 8th 80.6
Robe Airfield 14.7   18.8 1st 6.5   0.7 19th 113.2
Robe Comparison 14.2 -0.1 16.7 2nd 8.7 -0.1 4.2 19th 126.6 95.4 high 133%

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 July 2012. 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

Bureau of Meteorology
South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au