Wednesday, 1 August 2012 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in July 2012: Cold nights with below average rainfall for most of the State.

• Rainfall was below average across the State as a whole, with drier conditions across western districts tending to above average in parts of the east.
• Below average minimum temperatures across the State as a whole result in the coolest July nights in 15 years.
• Some sites observe a record lowest July daily minimum and a record lowest average July minimum temperature.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

South Australia received about half of the July rainfall average for the State as a whole. Apart from areas across central and eastern districts where rainfall was average tending to above average, much of the rest of South Australia received below average rainfall. The wettest periods for much of the State occurred between the 10th and 14th and again between 26th and 28th. In the earlier period, a trough of low pressure caused thunderstorms in central and eastern districts, with heavy rain and hail affecting parts of the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. Large amounts of hail up to 2cm in diameter were observed about the hills around Rowland Flat and Lyndoch. The heavy rain caused localised flash flooding in Mount Barker. The highest daily rainfall total for the month occurred at Birdwood (McVitties Hill) in the Mount Lofty Ranges, where 50.2 mm was recorded to 9 am on 13th. In the latter period, a trough of low pressure moved across southern and eastern parts of the State producing scattered showers resulting in falls generally between 20 to 30 mm to 9am on the 27th. Adelaide (Kent Town) recorded its wettest July day in 14 years with a total of 31.2mm to 9am on the 27th, while Greenacres reported 44.4mm and Belair (State Flora Nursery) in the Mount Lofty Ranges reported 42mm.

Rainfall for the year to the end of July 2012 is above average across the Northeast Pastoral district, but tending below average in the far west and in parts of the southeast. Elsewhere across the State rainfall has been average.

For the growing season rainfall so far (April to October), the April through to July rainfall totals have been near average across most of the agricultural districts apart from areas in the Upper North, the Northeast and the Upper and Lower Murray Valley where totals are below average.

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall totals over the Pastoral districts were above average in the Northeast tending to average in the Far North and below average across the Northwest. A number of locations recorded no rainfall through July, not unusual for this time of the year for northern South Australia.

The wettest period for the Pastoral districts was between the 9th and 13th as a slow moving low pressure trough produced areas of rain and isolated thunderstorms. Most of the remainder of the month was without rain. Monthly totals generally ranged from 2 to 15 mm, in the Northwest and Far North with higher totals ranging between 20 to 30mm in the Northeast. The wettest overall was at Yunta (Paratoo) in the Northeast Pastoral district with 34.8 mm.

Agricultural Districts

Western agricultural districts, parts of the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Plains and parts of the Lower Southeast saw mainly below average rainfall totals during July. The Murray Mallee, the Murray Valley and the Upper and Lower North districts generally received average to above average rainfall.

Totals were in the range of 40 to 60mm in most locations, but tending to higher totals up to about 100mm across the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges, the southeast of the State, and the Murray Malley and Riverland. The wettest overall for the month in the agricultural districts was Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) on the Fleurieu Peninsula, with 129.8 mm.

Some sites had their lowest total July rainfall on record.
Some sites had their lowest total July 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 July 2012 was -0.64 °C below the long-term average, the coldest July for the State since 1998. Mean temperatures ranged from 7.2°C at Mount Lofty to 13.3°C at Neptune Island.

Maximum

Mean maximum temperatures over South Australia were generally near normal, with several locations being within 0.5°C of average across the State. However, many locations in the Northwest, Western Agricultural, the Upper North, the Murray Valley and parts of the Upper Southeast observed below average daytime temperatures.

The coldest periods for many locations occurred through the first and last week of July owing to the presence of high pressure systems which maintained generally clear conditions across much of the State. A cold spell in the third week of July brought daytime temperatures to below average for several coastal and hills locations.

Mount Lofty recorded the coldest day of the month on the 14th when its maximum temperature only reached 6.5°C. The warmest period was early in the month and in the northerly air stream ahead of the cold front in the second week of the month when the warmest day recorded was at Marla Police Station, reaching 26.8°C on the 11th.

Average daily maximum temperatures ranged from 9.3°C at Mount Lofty to 19.6°C at Marree Comparison and Moomba Airport in the Northeast district.

See a map of maximum temperature anomalies.

Minimum

Apart from the southeast corner of the State, mean minimum temperatures were widely below average across South Australia. When averaged across the State as a whole, July 2012 is coldest since 1997.

Large areas across the northwest of South Australia observed average July overnight minimum temperatures in excess of 2°C cooler than normal. Marla (Police Station) observed a record lowest average July night-time temperature of -0.1°C, which is 5.2°C below the long-term average for this location. Oodnadatta Airport also observed a record lowest average July daily minimum temperature of 2.8°C, where in 63 years of record the previous coolest July was 3.2°C in 1976.

The coldest nights occurred through the first week of July in clear skies and light winds owing to slow moving high pressure system positioned to the south of the State. The minimum temperature at Yunta fell to -7.5°C on the 6th during this period, the coldest night for any location during the month and the second coldest July daily minimum on record for this site since July 16, 1976 when the observed minimum was -7.9°C. Both Marla Police Station and Nullarbor observed record lowest daily minimum temperature; respectively observing -5.0°C and -2.2°C on the 7th.

The warmest nights for many locations occurred through the second week of July as a warm northwesterly airstream was directed across the State ahead of an approaching low pressure trough.

Moomba airport reported the warmest night for any location on the 12th with a minimum of 15.1°C

The warmest nights on average were observed at Neptune Island with 11.4°C

Some sites had their lowest July temperature on record.
Some sites had their lowest July mean daily minimum 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

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Extremes in July 2012
Hottest day	26.8 °C at Marla Police Station on the 11th
Warmest days on average	19.6 °C at Marree Comparison 19.6 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average	9.3 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day	6.5 °C at Mount Lofty on the 14th
Coldest night	-7.5 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 6th
Coolest nights on average	-0.1 °C at Marla Police Station
Warmest nights on average	11.4 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night	15.1 °C at Moomba Airport on the 12th
Warmest on average overall	13.3 °C at Neptune Island
Coolest on average overall	7.2 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall	129.8 mm at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Driest overall	0 mm at Ernabella (Pukatja) 0 mm at Marla Police Station 0 mm at Oodnadatta Airport
Wettest day	50.2 mm at Birdwood (McVitties Hill) on the 13th
Highest wind gust	102 km/h at Cape Borda on the 25th 102 km/h at Neptune Island on the 25th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record lowest total July rainfall
	Total rainfall for July 2012 (mm)	Previous driest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Oodnadatta Airport	0.0	= 0.0	in 2008	65	10.0
Moonaree (Kangaroo Well)	2.0	= 2.0	in 1999	27	21.3
Marla Police Station	0.0	= 0.0	in 2007	25	13.4

Lowest total July rainfall for at least 25 years
	Total rainfall for July 2012 (mm)	Most recent July at least this dry		Years since drier	Average for July
Nonning	2.3	2.0	in 1929	83	25.9
Nundroo	6.2	2.8	in 1976	36	47.1
Port Kenny	15.0	13.8	in 1976*	33	56.7
Port Vincent	16.8	13.7	in 1982*	29	46.5
Wharminda	9.8	=9.8	in 1982*	28	44.3
Paskeville	25.2	20.6	in 1982*	25	48.4

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

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Record lowest July temperature
	Lowest temperature in July 2012 (°C)		Previous coolest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Marla Police Station	-5.0	on the 7th	-3.9	on the 20th in 1997	26	5.1
Nullarbor	-2.2	on the 7th	-2.0	on the 21st in 1997	26	5.2

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Record lowest July mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for July 2012 (°C)	Previous coolest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Oodnadatta Airport	2.8	3.2	in 1976	63	5.9
Marla Police Station	-0.1	2.8	in 2007	25	5.1

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for July 2012
	Maximum temperatures for July (°C)				Minimum temperatures for July (°C)				Rainfall for July (millimetres)
	Mean for July 2012	Diff from average	Highest for July 2012		Mean for July 2012	Diff from average	Lowest for July 2012		Total for July 2012	Average for July	Rank of July 2012	Fraction of July average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka	18.1	-0.3	22.0	11th	4.9	-1.1	0.6	17th	3.0	12.5	average	24%
Coober Pedy Airport	17.7		23.0	11th	4.3		2.2	15th	0.2
Ernabella (Pukatja)	16.9		24.6	11th	1.4		-4.2	8th	0
Marla Police Station	18.4	-1.5	26.8	11th	-0.1	-5.2	-5.0	7th	0	13.4	lowest	0%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome)	18.2		22.0	8th	0.9		-3.0	6th	0.4
Tarcoola Aero	18.3		22.5	24th	2.4		-2.3	19th	1.2
Woomera Aerodrome	17.0	+0.1	20.9	8th	4.6	-1.2	1.6	17th	4.8	15.2	low	32%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola	16.4	-0.1	22.0	12th	2.0	-1.4	-2.8	4th	26.5	15.2	high	174%
Leigh Creek Airport	16.9	+0.3	21.8	8th	3.0	-1.8	-1.1	18th	1.4	17.4	v low	8%
Marree Aero	18.7		23.8	11th	3.1		-1.0	3rd	2.4
Marree Comparison	19.6	+0.5	23.6	11th	4.7	-0.2	1.0	3rd	2.4	10.0	average	24%
Moomba Airport	19.6		26.2	12th	5.0		0.8	3rd	1.4
Oodnadatta Airport	19.2	-0.4	25.4	11th	2.8	-3.1	-0.7	4th	0	10.0	lowest	0%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO	17.0	-0.4	22.9	24th	4.9	-0.9	-0.2	7th	21.6	39.7	low	54%
Cleve	15.3	0.0	18.6	17th	6.7	-0.4	3.0	7th	25.4	46.1	low	55%
Cleve Aerodrome	14.9		18.9	17th	6.6		1.0	7th	19.2	43.9	v low	44%
Coulta (Coles Point)	15.1	-0.4	18.0	9th	6.9	-0.5	3.3	7th	61.8
Cummins Aero	15.2		17.9	24th	4.2		0.6	10th	39.6
Elliston	16.2	-0.2	19.4	24th	7.7	-0.1	2.5	10th	56.9	70.5	average	81%
Kimba	14.6	-0.9	18.2	17th	4.6	-0.4	0.0	7th	26.0	41.1	low	63%
Kyancutta	16.8	-0.3	20.3	24th	3.7	-1.0	-0.7	7th	31.8	40.3	average	79%
Minnipa Pirsa	15.3		19.7	24th	5.7		2.9	30th	24.0
Neptune Island	15.2	-0.1	17.0	16th	11.4	+0.1	8.9	18th	63.4	75.8	average	84%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS)	15.6	-0.5	17.8	17th	6.5	-1.1	2.8	7th	45.2
Nullarbor	17.5	-0.7	22.7	24th	3.1	-2.1	-2.2	7th	20.6	27.3	average	75%
Port Augusta Aero	17.3		21.3	24th	3.6		-2.7	7th	27.2
Streaky Bay	16.9	+0.4	21.5	11th	7.6	-0.9	3.5	8th	36.8	61.1	low	60%
Whyalla Aero	16.2	-0.7	20.5	24th	4.4	-0.8	-1.4	7th	43.4	23.7	v high	183%
Wudinna Aero	16.0		19.6	24th	4.5		-0.4	10th	29.2
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker	15.3	-0.6	19.7	24th	2.4	-1.3	-2.0	3rd	31.8	33.7	average	94%
Yongala	12.5	-0.3	16.0	24th	2.3	+0.1	-3.7	3rd	49.8	39.5	high	126%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot)	16.2		18.9	8th	2.7		-6.5	6th	25.4
Yunta Airstrip	15.0		18.9	8th	2.0		-7.5	6th	29.8
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School	12.4		16.3	24th	3.9		-1.9	3rd	89.6
Port Pirie Aerodrome	15.9		19.1	8th	5.5		1.1	3rd	63.6
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison	16.5	+0.1	20.0	8th	7.6	-0.1	3.8	6th	43.3	33.9	average	128%
Snowtown (Rayville Park)	14.9		18.3	8th	4.5		-0.9	7th	25.4
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh	14.9	-0.1	17.4	20th	7.2	-0.3	2.3	7th	26.2	43.2	low	61%
Kadina AWS	15.1		17.5	24th	4.6		-0.1	7th	35.6
Maitland	14.5	+0.2	17.0	24th	7.2	+0.2	4.5	19th	63.0	65.5	average	96%
Minlaton Aero	14.8		17.2	8th	6.5		3.0	1st	18.4
Stenhouse Bay	15.3		17.6	20th	9.0		4.1	7th	38.0
Warooka	15.1	+0.1	17.6	20th	7.5	-0.1	3.6	7th	31.6	65.5	v low	48%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda	14.1		16.2	20th	8.5		4.7	6th	55.8
Cape Willoughby	14.3	+0.1	17.0	15th	10.1	+0.4	6.7	1st	81.6	81.4	average	100%
Kingscote Aero	15.5		18.6	20th	5.2		-2.1	7th	45.4	63.2	low	72%
Parndana Cfs AWS	13.9		16.9	20th	6.0		2.7	7th	59.4
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town)	15.3	0.0	19.0	24th	7.8	+0.3	2.3	6th	64.8	75.0	average	86%
Adelaide Airport	15.2	+0.3	18.8	12th	7.5	+0.5	1.7	6th	30.2	58.8	low	51%
Edinburgh RAAF	15.3	0.0	18.4	24th	6.1	+0.1	0.7	6th	28.6	52.2	low	55%
Parafield Airport	15.6	+0.5	18.8	12th	6.3	0.0	0.8	6th	33.2	58.3	low	57%
Roseworthy AWS	15.1		18.6	8th	5.9		-0.1	30th	24.6
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural	13.2		16.5	24th	5.0		-1.3	3rd	38.8
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre)	14.7	0.0	18.4	24th	5.7	+0.2	0.0	6th	55.9	58.9	average	95%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS	15.1		18.4	24th	8.0		2.0	6th	63.6
Kuitpo Forest Reserve	12.1		16.6	12th	6.5		2.6	7th	94.2
Mount Barker	13.0	+0.1	16.9	12th	5.2	+0.7	-0.1	6th	115.2	106.1	average	109%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS)	11.0		14.8	12th	5.7		2.8	1st	51.2
Mount Lofty	9.3		13.3	12th	5.0		2.1	6th	95.6
Noarlunga	14.8		18.9	12th	8.5		4.0	6th	57.2
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)	11.9		14.4	24th	6.9		2.5	7th	129.8
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay)	15.2		17.6	24th	6.2		-0.7	7th	118.8
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre	15.7	-0.1	18.4	17th	4.1	+0.3	-3.5	6th	27.8	28.3	average	98%
Renmark Aero	16.0		18.8	17th	3.0		-4.9	6th	41.4
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda	12.6	-0.5	16.5	21st	5.0	0.0	0.2	6th	30.2	51.0	low	59%
Meningie	14.8	-0.2	17.7	24th	6.8	+0.1	0.7	7th	76.0	61.3	high	124%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome)	14.9		18.1	24th	4.6		-3.8	7th	56.4
Murray Bridge Comparison	15.6	-0.6	19.2	24th	5.3	-0.1	-1.5	7th	63.5	35.4	v high	179%
Strathalbyn Racecourse	14.6		18.0	24th	6.7		1.0	7th	73.6
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda	15.0		18.2	16th	4.5		-1.2	7th	45.0	34.7	high	130%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith	14.7	-0.3	17.5	17th	6.2	+0.7	1.5	5th	58.3	55.0	average	106%
Keith (Munkora)	14.4		17.1	16th	5.2		-0.2	31st	69.2
Lameroo (Austin Plains)	14.3		17.0	17th	4.5		-0.7	7th	34.4
Lameroo Comparison	15.0	0.0	17.7	17th	5.2	+0.8	0.3	7th	43.4	41.2	average	105%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone)	14.2	+0.2	16.6	21st	7.6	+0.1	1.4	7th	79.6
Coonawarra	14.1	+0.3	17.0	21st	5.7	+0.7	-0.6	5th	59.0	77.4	low	76%
Mount Gambier Aero	14.1	+0.9	16.2	21st	5.6	+0.4	-0.3	6th	73.6	98.9	low	74%
Naracoorte Aerodrome	14.3		16.6	21st	5.7		-0.4	5th	50.2
Padthaway South	14.2		17.0	17th	5.8		-0.6	31st	51.4
Robe Airfield	15.0		17.5	12th	6.4		-1.0	6th	66.8
Robe Comparison	14.0	+0.4	16.3	22nd	8.6	+0.5	2.9	6th	64.8	103.9	low	62%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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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

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