Thursday, 1 August 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in July 2013: Wet and warm conditions for the State

• Wet conditions continue for agricultural areas with record daily and monthly totals.
• State-wide maximum temperatures mostly above average with new daily records.
• Warmest July nights in 38 years at Kent Town and warmest July days in 11 years

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

South Australia received rainfall above the long-term average July total for the State as a whole, resulting in the wettest July since 2006. Apart from the northwest pastoral district, where rainfall was average to below average, most locations recorded a wetter than average July. Parts of the Upper North and Flinders Ranges observed new record high July total rainfall. The wettest periods for most districts occurred between the 5th and 8th, between the 13th and 15th and between the 18th and 23rd. The heaviest falls were reported through the latter periods as low pressure systems located over the Great Australian Bight extended rain bands across southern parts of South Australia.  Several locations in the western agricultural and pastoral areas observed new record-high daily rainfall totals associated with the event on the 13th. The passage of another low pressure system late in the month resulted in scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms across the agricultural areas, with isolated showers further north. The cold southerly airstream associated with the low also produced light snowfall across parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges on the 20th.  

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall totals over the pastoral districts were mostly average to above average though tending below average in the far Northeast. Totals typically ranged between 10 and 25 mm, with higher totals in excess of 50mm for southern parts of the pastoral areas. The wettest overall in the pastoral districts was at Yardea in the Northwest, with 93.2 mm; 38 mm of which was observed in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th. Moonaree (Kangaroo Well), located in the southern part of the Northwest district, reported the wettest day for any location across the State, with 46.6 mm observed on the 13th.

Agricultural Districts

Most parts of the agricultural areas reported above-average rainfall throughout the month, particularly across western and coastal areas. Totals were in the range of 25 to 50mm across northern parts of the agricultural areas and in the 50 to100 mm range across large parts of the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas, the Mount Lofty and Flinders ranges and across the Murray Valley districts. Locations across Kangaroo Island, the Mount Lofty Ranges, the lower Southeast and the southern tips of the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas, observed monthly rainfall totals in the 100 mm to 200 mm range. The wettest overall for the month in the agricultural districts was at Uraidla in the Mount Lofty Ranges, reporting 293.6 mm for month; nearly half of which was observed between the 18th and 23rd.

Some sites had their highest total July rainfall on record. Some sites had their highest total July rainfall for at least 20 years. Some sites had their lowest total July rainfall on record. Some sites had their highest July daily rainfall on record.

Temperature

The mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for South Australia as a whole in July 2013 was 1.2 °C above the long-term average. Mean temperatures at particular stations ranged from 8.3 °C at Mount Lofty to 14.7 °C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district. Some sites had their highest July mean temperature on record. Some sites had their highest July mean temperature for at least 20 years.

Maximum Temperature

Mean maximum temperatures over South Australia were generally above average across the State throughout July, particularly in the pastoral districts. Across the State as a whole, monthly maximum temperatures were 1.4 °C above the long-term average and the warmest since 2007. Some locations were as much as 1.5 °C above average across northern parts of the State. Agricultural regions observed daytime temperatures closer to the average. Average daily maximum temperatures ranged from 10.3 °C at Mount Lofty to 22.3 °C at Moomba Airport in the Far North district.

The coldest periods for many locations occurred through the third week of July as low pressure and cold frontal systems crossed the State. Mount Lofty recorded the coldest day of the month when its maximum temperature only reached 5.5 °C on the 20th. 

The warmest day for much of the State occurred during the second and the last week of July in the northerly airstream ahead of a low pressure trough. Moomba Airport observed the hottest day for any location in the State, reaching 30.9 °C on the 13th.

Some sites had their highest July mean temperature on record. Some sites had their highest July mean temperature for at least 20 years.

Minimum Temperature

Mean minimum temperatures were widely above average across South Australia through July; with a State-wide anomaly 1.2 °C above average, July 2013 is the warmest since 2009. The warmest part of the State with respect to minimum temperatures was across the far north of the Northwest district and through the southeast of the State where minimum temperatures were up to 2 °C warmer than average.

The warmest nights for most of South Australia occurred during the second and third week of July. Moomba Airport observed the warmest night for any location in the State on the 18th, with a minimum of 16.2 °C. Gluepot Reserve, in the Northeast district, observed the coldest night with a minimum of –4.9 °C on the 10th.

The warmest nights on average were observed at Neptune Island with 12.3 °C, while Arkaroola observed the coolest nights on average with a monthly average of 3.0 °C.  

Some sites had their warmest July night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record. Some sites had their highest July mean daily minimum temperature on record. Some sites had their highest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.

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Extremes in July 2013
Hottest day	30.9 °C at Moomba Airport on the 13th
Warmest days on average	22.3 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average	10.3 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day	5.5 °C at Mount Lofty on the 20th
Coldest night	-4.9 °C at Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) on the 10th
Coolest nights on average	3.0 °C at Arkaroola
Warmest nights on average	12.3 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night	16.2 °C at Moomba Airport on the 18th
Warmest on average overall	14.7 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall	8.3 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall	293.6 mm at Uraidla
Driest overall	0 mm at Marla Police Station and Moomba Airport
Wettest day	46.6 mm at Moonaree (Kangaroo Well) on the 13th
Highest wind gust	117 km/h at Neptune Island on the 4th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

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Record highest July daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall in July 2013 (mm)		Previous wettest for July		Years of record
Tintinara	35.0	on the 22nd	25.2	on the 7th in 1993	114
Tarcoola (Mulgathing)	35.6	on the 13th	29.4	on the 26th in 1986	80
Tarcoola (Commonwealth Hill)	28.0	on the 13th	24.9	on the 15th in 1956	70
Tarcoola (Mobella)	38.0	on the 13th	24.0	on the 14th in 2006	55
Moonaree (Kangaroo Well)	46.6	on the 13th	28.0	on the 16th in 1998	28
Buckleboo (Karinya)	27.6	on the 13th	17.0	on the 30th in 1994	26
Edithburgh	24.0	on the 13th	23.0	on the 28th in 1998	22

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Record highest total July rainfall
	Total rainfall for July 2013 (mm)	Previous wettest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Lake Everard	87.8	85.8	in 1956	81	23.5
Tarcoola (Commonwealth Hill)	50.8	50.4	in 1986	72	11.1
Burnside	129.8	129.5	in 1917	35	77.0
Moonaree (Kangaroo Well)	78.4	56.6	in 1986	28	23.6
Coonawarra	139.2	135.7	in 2002	27	79.7
Buckleboo (Karinya)	73.4	59.8	in 2009	26	34.1
Edithburgh	97.2	93.2	in 1995	22	45.7

Highest total July rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for July 2013 (mm)	Most recent July at least this wet		Years since wetter	Average for July
Coonalpyn	100.6	115.0	in 1951*	60	54.6
Yardea	93.2	127.8	in 1956	57	32.5
Moonta	85.0	91.3	in 1963	50	45.3
Whyalla (Mullaquana)	47.0	50.4	in 1969*	43	21.8
Milang	103.8	110.2	in 1974	39	49.1
Tarcoola (Mobella)	63.4	67.9	in 1973*	38	11.9
Tailem Bend	73.6	78.6	in 1984	29	39.2
Yunta (Panaramitee)	36.6	41.2	in 1984	29	15.2
Yunta (Paratoo)	45.2	51.0	in 1984	29	16.9
Maitland	108.4	134.2	in 1963*	27	65.9
Tarcoola (Mulgathing)	70.0	100.6	in 1986	27	12.3
Langhorne Creek	83.2	88.8	in 1986*	26	43.8
Lobethal	213.2	230.8	in 1986*	26	129.5
Millicent	182.6	183.4	in 1986*	26	112.5
American River	137.6	149.8	in 1989	24	85.0

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

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Record lowest total July rainfall
	Total rainfall for July 2013 (mm)	Previous driest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Parilla	6.2	6.6	in 1924	99	36.1
Lenswood Research Centre	3.0	51.2	in 1982	46	154.6
Port Kenny	12.8	13.8	in 1976	44	56.4
Parndana	6.2	40.2	in 1994	34	106.5
Marla Police Station	0.0	= 0.0	in 2012	26	12.9

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Record highest July mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for July 2013 (°C)	Previous warmest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Cape Willoughby	15.2	= 15.2	in 2002	45	14.2

Highest July mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily maximum temperature for July 2013 (°C)	Most recent July at least this warm		Years since warmer	Average for July
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone)	14.7	15.1	in 1993	20	14.0

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Record highest July daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in July 2013 (°C)		Previous warmest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Mount Gambier Aero	12.7	on the 14th	11.7	on the 29th in 1952	72	5.2
Neptune Island	16.0	on the 1st	15.5	on the 28th in 1975	52	11.3
Arkaroola	15.1	on the 14th	14.5	on the 13th in 1995	36	3.3
Leigh Creek Airport	15.6	on the 13th	14.5	on the 30th in 1993	30	4.7
Loxton Research Centre	13.9	on the 14th	12.0	on the 9th in 1999	30	3.8
Coonawarra	13.5	on the 14th	11.4	on the 4th in 1991	28	5.1
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone)	14.3	on the 2nd	14.0	on the 3rd in 1992	22	7.5

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Record highest July mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for July 2013 (°C)	Previous warmest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Adelaide Airport	8.8	8.5	in 2009	58	7.0
Cape Willoughby	10.8	= 10.8	in 2004	45	9.8
Edinburgh RAAF	7.6	7.4	in 1995	40	6.0
Adelaide (Kent Town)	9.1	9.0	in 2009	36	7.5
Maitland	8.3	8.2	in 2009	33	7.0
Coonawarra	6.4	= 6.4	in 1988	27	5.1

Highest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily minimum temperature for July 2013 (°C)	Most recent July at least this warm		Years since warmer	Average for July
Mount Barker	6.7	=6.7	in 1930	83	4.5
Cleve	8.5	9.2	in 1975	38	7.1
Parafield Airport	7.8	8.2	in 1990	23	6.3

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Record highest July mean temperature
	Mean daily temperature for July 2013 (°C)	Previous warmest for July		Years of record	Average for July
Cape Willoughby	13.0	= 13.0	in 2002	45	12.0
Adelaide (Kent Town)	12.7	12.4	in 2009	36	11.4
Loxton Research Centre	11.0	10.9	in 1999	29	9.8

Highest July mean temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily temperature for July 2013 (°C)	Most recent July at least this warm		Years since warmer	Average for July
Adelaide Airport	12.4	12.8	in 1975	38	11.0
Edinburgh RAAF	11.8	12.3	in 1975	38	10.6
Meningie	11.9	12.6	in 1975	38	10.8
Parafield Airport	12.0	12.3	in 1975	38	10.7

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for July 2013
	Maximum temperatures for July (°C)				Minimum temperatures for July (°C)				Rainfall for July (millimetres)
	Mean for July 2013	Diff from average	Highest for July 2013		Mean for July 2013	Diff from average	Lowest for July 2013		Total for July 2013	Average for July	Rank of July 2013	Fraction of July average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka	19.4	+1.0	25.0	12th	7.0	+1.0	2.6	7th	15.4	12.6	average	122%
Coober Pedy Airport	19.4		28.7	17th	6.7		1.9	22nd	2.0	5.2	average	38%
Ernabella (Pukatja)	19.0		26.6	13th	5.2		-2.8	22nd	0.6
Marla Police Station	20.9	+1.1	29.2	13th	5.3	+0.4	-0.7	23rd	0	12.9	lowest	0%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome)	19.2		24.7	13th	4.9		-0.8	7th	9.0
Tarcoola Aero	18.8		25.8	17th	5.7		-0.3	7th	54.4
Woomera Aerodrome	17.9	+1.0	22.7	28th	6.5	+0.7	2.7	7th	28.6	15.3	high	187%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola	18.3	+1.8	25.0	28th	3.0	-0.3	-2.3	6th	7.0	15.1	average	46%
Leigh Creek Airport	18.3	+1.7	24.8	13th	5.6	+0.9	1.1	7th	17.2	17.4	average	99%
Marree Aero	20.6		27.3	13th	5.7		-0.1	25th	2.6
Marree Comparison	20.7	+1.6	27.7	13th	6.4	+1.5	1.5	7th	1.2	10.0	average	12%
Moomba Airport	22.3		30.9	13th	7.3		1.2	6th	0
Oodnadatta Airport	21.4	+1.8	30.3	13th	6.9	+1.1	1.4	23rd	0.8	9.9	average	8%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO	18.0	+0.6	21.6	3rd	6.5	+0.7	1.5	10th	55.6	40.0	high	139%
Cleve	16.1	+0.8	19.0	26th	8.5	+1.4	4.6	20th	63.2	46.3	high	137%
Cleve Aerodrome	15.9		19.2	17th	8.6		4.1	8th	47.4	44.0	average	108%
Coulta (Coles Point)	16.2	+0.7	19.5	17th	8.0	+0.6	2.5	8th	58.6	54.0	average	109%
Cummins Aero	15.8		18.7	17th	6.1		0.2	8th	87.2
Elliston	17.1	+0.7	20.6	26th	8.7	+0.9	4.3	8th	110.4	70.8	v high	156%
Kimba	15.7	+0.2	19.0	3rd	5.6	+0.6	2.0	10th	86.2	41.6	v high	207%
Kyancutta	17.7	+0.6	21.0	2nd	5.7	+1.0	0.3	31st	54.2	40.5	high	134%
Minnipa Pirsa	16.2		19.0	17th	7.2		3.5	21st	60.8
Neptune Island	15.9	+0.6	18.3	2nd	12.3	+1.0	7.4	21st	94.8	76.2	average	124%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS)	16.5	+0.4	21.1	17th	7.9	+0.4	3.9	8th	78.8	57.3	high	138%
Nullarbor	18.6	+0.4	23.7	3rd	6.3	+1.2	0.6	7th	36.8	27.4	high	134%
Port Augusta Aero	17.9		22.8	28th	5.1		0.1	26th	31.0
Streaky Bay	17.4	+0.9	19.4	31st	8.5	+0.1	4.0	8th	87.5	61.3	high	143%
Whyalla Aero	17.5	+0.6	22.6	28th	6.0	+0.8	0.8	10th	30.0	24.0	high	125%
Wudinna Aero	17.0		20.1	2nd	6.7		0.9	31st	60.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker	16.2	+0.3	21.8	27th	5.2	+1.5	0.0	8th	62.7	33.9	high	185%
Yongala	13.5	+0.7	18.8	28th	3.3	+1.1	-2.7	3rd	60.6	39.7	high	153%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot)	18.0		25.0	28th	4.6		-4.9	10th	29.7
Yunta Airstrip	16.5		23.2	28th	4.0		-4.2	10th	35.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School	13.4		17.6	28th	5.3		-0.5	10th	82.2	66.9	average	123%
Port Pirie Aerodrome	16.9		20.8	28th	6.9		1.5	10th	55.5
Snowtown (Rayville Park)	15.4		19.2	28th	5.8		0.2	10th	71.6
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh	15.5	+0.5	19.0	1st	8.1	+0.6	3.0	8th	97.2	45.7	highest	213%
Kadina AWS	15.8		19.1	28th	6.3		0.2	10th	64.8
Maitland	15.2	+0.9	18.0	11th	8.3	+1.3	4.1	22nd	108.4	65.9	v high	164%
Minlaton Aero	16.0		19.2	11th	8.3		4.0	23rd	79.0
Stenhouse Bay	16.0		19.3	1st	9.6		5.8	9th	120.0
Warooka	15.6	+0.6	18.4	1st	8.6	+1.0	4.6	21st	90.2	65.7	high	137%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda	14.9		17.7	1st	10.0		3.9	20th	135.8
Cape Willoughby	15.2	+1.0	18.0	1st	10.8	+1.0	6.4	20th	120.8	81.8	high	148%
Kingscote Aero	15.8		19.0	1st	7.5		0.5	9th	120.6	65.9	high	183%
Parndana Cfs AWS	14.3		17.2	2nd	7.7		2.8	8th	150.8
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town)	16.2	+0.9	20.8	28th	9.1	+1.6	4.1	9th	119.2	74.7	v high	160%
Adelaide Airport	15.9	+1.0	19.7	17th	8.8	+1.8	3.2	9th	92.4	59.4	high	156%
Edinburgh RAAF	16.0	+0.7	19.9	28th	7.6	+1.6	2.5	9th	84.2	53.0	high	159%
Parafield Airport	16.2	+1.1	20.4	28th	7.8	+1.5	2.3	9th	73.4	58.5	high	125%
Roseworthy AWS	15.6		19.1	28th	6.7		1.7	8th	51.8
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural	14.0		19.3	28th	6.1		0.8	10th	72.6
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre)	15.5	+0.8	20.0	28th	6.6	+1.1	1.9	8th	75.2	59.1	high	127%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS	15.8		20.4	28th	8.8		2.7	10th	84.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve	13.0		17.9	27th	7.7		2.6	20th	184.2
Mount Barker	13.5	+0.6	19.1	28th	6.7	+2.2	1.2	9th	191.3	106.6	v high	179%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS)	11.7		16.9	27th	6.8		1.8	20th	151.0	93.8	high	161%
Mount Lofty	10.3		15.6	27th	6.0		0.9	20th	220.4
Noarlunga	15.5		20.0	17th	9.8		5.5	20th	107.4
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)	12.6		16.1	17th	7.9		3.0	20th	174.2	125.9	high	138%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay)	16.2		20.6	27th	7.5		0.6	10th	100.2
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre	16.9	+1.1	24.6	28th	5.1	+1.3	-2.3	10th	26.6	28.3	average	94%
Renmark Aero	17.3		25.6	28th	4.4		-4.7	10th	20.4
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda	13.7	+0.6	18.8	28th	6.1	+1.1	0.2	10th	68.0	51.2	high	133%
Meningie	15.8	+0.8	19.2	28th	8.0	+1.3	2.2	9th	104.2	61.6	v high	169%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome)	15.9		21.3	28th	5.4		-0.4	10th	45.2
Murray Bridge Comparison	17.0	+0.8	22.5	28th	6.2	+0.8	0.6	10th	64.7	35.7	v high	181%
Strathalbyn Racecourse	15.6		20.2	28th	8.0		2.6	10th	100.4
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda	16.2		22.1	28th	6.2		-0.5	9th	63.5	35.0	v high	181%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith	15.8	+0.8	20.9	28th	6.7	+1.2	-0.5	9th	81.0	55.2	high	147%
Keith (Munkora)	15.6		20.3	28th	6.5		-0.5	9th	82.6
Lameroo (Austin Plains)	15.4		20.5	28th	5.3		-1.0	10th	43.8
Lameroo Comparison	16.3	+1.3	21.9	28th	6.2	+1.8	0.2	10th	44.6	41.3	average	108%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone)	14.7	+0.7	18.6	1st	8.1	+0.6	1.7	10th	130.6	81.0	v high	161%
Coonawarra	14.5	+0.7	17.3	14th	6.4	+1.3	-2.1	9th	139.2	79.7	highest	175%
Mount Gambier Aero	14.1	+0.9	17.5	2nd	6.1	+0.9	-0.4	9th	153.4	99.7	v high	154%
Naracoorte Aerodrome	14.7		17.9	1st	7.0		-0.6	9th	90.0
Padthaway South	15.0		19.6	28th	7.2		-0.6	9th	76.8
Robe Airfield	15.4		19.1	28th	7.6		-0.4	9th	131.6
Robe Comparison	14.5	+0.9	17.3	1st	9.1	+1.0	3.0	9th	125.5	104.0	high	121%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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