Friday, 1 November 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0
South Australia in October 2013: Dry, windy with warm days
- Rainfall was below average for most of the state
- Daytime temperatures were above average, with cooler nights across eastern districts
- Windy, with increased frequent strong and gusty winds across the state
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Rainfall
Most locations in South Australia received below average rainfall throughout October, apart from the lower southeast where above average rainfall was recorded in a persistent westerly airstream. The wettest periods for much of the state occurred at the start of the month, on the 17th and again on the 22nd and 24th. In the latter period an intense low pressure system moved across southern parts of the State. As the low strengthened, strong to gale force and very gusty winds developed over southern districts along with showers and isolated thunderstorm activity.
Pastoral Districts
Rainfall totals over the pastoral districts were average to below average, tending to very much below average across the Northwest district and other northern parts of the pastoral areas. Rainfall totals were typically between 5 to 10mm in what is typically a low rainfall time of the year with several locations reporting no rainfall through the month. With this, some sites had their lowest total October rainfall on record.
The wettest period for the pastoral districts was on the 1st as a cloud band and trough of low pressure produced showers and isolated thunderstorms. The wettest location overall throughout the pastoral districts was at Gluepot Reserve in the northeast of the state with 15.2 mm in total for the month.
Agricultural Districts
Average to below average rainfall was observed across the agricultural districts with some parts in the western agricultural areas seeing very much below average rainfall for the month. The lower southeast was the only region to receive above average rainfall through October were some sites had their highest total October rainfall on record or had their highest total October rainfall for at least 20 years.
Totals ranged between 25 to 50 mm for most locations, with 60 to 80 mm widely recorded across the Mount Lofty Ranges and the lower southeast districts of the state. The wettest overall for the month in the agricultural districts was at Mount Gambier Aerodrome in the lower southeast with 114.8 mm, 35.6 mm of which was reported on the 23rd, which was also the wettest day for any location in the state. Some other sites also reported their highest October daily rainfall on record on the 23rd.
Temperature
The mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for South Australia as a whole in October 2013 was 0.9 °C above the long-term average. By contrast, October 2012 was 1.4 °C above average. Mean temperatures across the state ranged from 11.7°C at Mount Lofty to 23.4°C at Oodnadatta Airport in the Far North.
Maximum temperature
Mean maximum temperatures were above average across most of South Australia through October, except for the southeast districts where daytime temperatures were cooler than average. The state wide area average was 1.7 °C above normal and ranks as the 12th warmest October days out of 104 years of observations. Several locations across western agricultural districts and parts of the pastoral districts in the far north observed temperatures in excess of 2.0°C above the long term October average. Elsewhere across the state, daytime temperatures were 1 to 2 °C above average.
Average daily maximum temperatures ranged from 16.2 °C at Mount Lofty to 32.0 °C at Moomba Airport in the Northeast pastoral district.
The warmest period occurred during the third week of October due to a high pressure system over the Tasman Sea directing warm northerly winds across South Australia. From the 18th through to the 21st, much of the state observed maximum temperatures well above average. The warmest day for any location was recorded was at Moomba Airport, reaching 43.5 °C on the 21st, a record warmest October day at this location, though records commenced at this site in 1995. On the 1st, Mount Lofty recorded the coldest day for any location when its maximum temperature reached just 9.7°C.
Minimum temperature
While most of the eastern half of South Australia experienced cooler than average nights, mean minimum temperatures were mostly near average as a whole, with October overnight minimum temperatures for the state only 0.1 °C warmer than average. Some locations across the western agricultural areas observed nights of 1 to 2 °C above normal, with cooler nights between 1 to 2 °C below average observed across parts of the Flinders ranges and in the Northeast pastoral. The warmest nights on average were recorded at Oodnadatta, with 14.7 °C, while the coolest nights on average were observed at Yongala with 5.0°C.
The warmest nights for many locations occurred between the 19th and 22nd in the warm north-westerly airstream ahead of an approaching low pressure trough. Moomba Airport reported the warmest night for any location on the 22nd with a minimum of 25.8°C. The coldest night for any location around the State was observed at Yongala where the temperature fell to -1.8 °C on the 18th.
Wind
While strong and gusty winds are common across the southern parts of South Australia during spring months, October 2013 has been particularly windy across the state. On the 1st and 2nd wind gusts in excess of 70 km/h were reported across southern regions associated with the passage of a vigorous cold frontal system. Neptune Island recorded the highest wind gust on the 2nd, with 111km/h. The windy weather continued on the 16th and 17th with gusts up to 78 km/h observed in the Adelaide region km/h. Another vigorous cold front that passed across southern parts of the state on the 22nd, saw winds gust to 107 km/h, again at Neptune Island, and at North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS), while Edinburgh RAAF reported the strongest wind gust in the Adelaide region with 89 km/h. Several stations saw record numbers of gusty winds for October, and accumulated wind totals at southern stations indicate winds were also typically 10-20% stronger than usual for this time of the year.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Extremes in October 2013 | |
---|---|
Hottest day | 43.5 °C at Moomba Airport on the 21st |
Warmest days on average | 32.0 °C at Moomba Airport |
Coolest days on average | 16.2 °C at Mount Lofty |
Coldest day | 9.7 °C at Mount Lofty on the 1st |
Coldest night | -1.8 °C at Yongala on the 18th |
Coolest nights on average | 5.0 °C at Yongala |
Warmest nights on average | 14.7 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
Warmest night | 25.8 °C at Moomba Airport on the 22nd |
Warmest on average overall |
23.3 °C at Moomba Airport 23.3 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
Coolest on average overall | 11.7 °C at Mount Lofty |
Wettest overall | 114.8 mm at Mount Gambier Aero |
Driest overall | 0 mm at Cook, Marla Police Station, and Moomba Airport |
Wettest day | 35.6 mm at Mount Gambier Aero on the 23rd |
Highest wind gust | 111 km/h at Neptune Island on the 2nd |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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
Record highest October daily rainfall | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highest daily rainfall in October 2013 (mm) |
Previous wettest for October |
Years of record |
||||
Nangwarry Forestry SA Depot | 23.4 | on the 23rd | 22.4 | on the 7th in 1994 | 20 |
Record highest total October rainfall | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total rainfall for October 2013 (mm) |
Previous wettest for October |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 68.0 | 61.8 | in 2000 | 20 | 33.8 |
Highest total October rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total rainfall for October 2013 (mm) |
Most recent October at least this wet |
Years since wetter |
Average for October |
||
Kalangadoo | 111.8 | 175.4 | in 1975 | 38 | 61.9 |
Robe Comparison | 77.2 | 83.6 | in 1992 | 21 | 44.4 |
Record lowest total October rainfall | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total rainfall for October 2013 (mm) |
Previous driest for October |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
Cook | 0.0 | = 0.0 | in 2006 | 93 | 17.3 |
Marla Police Station | 0.0 | = 0.0 | in 1994 | 28 | 20.1 |
Highest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean daily minimum temperature for October 2013 (°C) |
Most recent October at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for October |
||
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 10.1 | 10.4 | in 1992 | 21 | 9.1 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary statistics for October 2013 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures for October (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for October (°C) |
Rainfall for October (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for October 2013 |
Diff from average |
Highest for October 2013 |
Mean for October 2013 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for October 2013 |
Total for October 2013 |
Average for October |
Rank of October 2013 |
Fraction of October average |
|||
Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
Andamooka | 28.7 | +0.6 | 39.5 | 20th | 13.2 | -0.3 | 9.2 | 14th | 4.8 | 18.9 | average | 25% |
Coober Pedy Airport | 29.9 | 41.5 | 20th | 13.3 | 8.5 | 14th | 3.0 | 12.2 | average | 25% | ||
Ernabella (Pukatja) | 30.5 | 38.9 | 9th | 13.8 | 4.6 | 2nd | 1.2 | |||||
Marla Police Station | 30.6 | +0.8 | 42.2 | 9th | 13.4 | -0.9 | 6.0 | 4th | 0 | 20.1 | lowest | 0% |
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 29.2 | 41.2 | 20th | 11.5 | 2.2 | 18th | 2.6 | |||||
Tarcoola Aero | 29.6 | 42.0 | 9th | 12.0 | 3.6 | 14th | 0.2 | |||||
Woomera Aerodrome | 27.9 | +1.7 | 40.0 | 20th | 12.7 | +0.4 | 7.6 | 14th | 7.6 | 15.6 | average | 49% |
Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
Arkaroola | 27.6 | +1.0 | 40.0 | 21st | 5.3 | 12th | 5.2 | 19.2 | average | 27% | ||
Leigh Creek Airport | 28.4 | +1.7 | 40.1 | 21st | 11.6 | -0.8 | 5.2 | 18th | 6.6 | 18.2 | average | 36% |
Marree Aero | 30.5 | 42.1 | 21st | 12.4 | 6.5 | 16th | 2.6 | |||||
Marree Comparison | 31.4 | +1.9 | 43.3 | 21st | 12.4 | -1.0 | 6.8 | 18th | 3.0 | 13.2 | average | 23% |
Moomba Airport | 32.0 | 43.5 | 21st | 14.5 | 8.0 | 15th | 0 | |||||
Oodnadatta Airport | 31.9 | +1.6 | 41.5 | 21st | 14.7 | -0.4 | 7.1 | 15th | 1.8 | 13.7 | average | 13% |
Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
Ceduna AMO | 26.7 | +2.9 | 42.0 | 9th | 11.3 | +1.4 | 2.0 | 15th | 23.2 | 25.3 | average | 92% |
Cleve | 23.9 | +1.6 | 36.1 | 20th | 10.9 | +0.7 | 4.5 | 25th | 7.4 | 36.3 | v low | 20% |
Cleve Aerodrome | 24.3 | 37.6 | 20th | 10.2 | 3.2 | 25th | 4.4 | 28.9 | low | 15% | ||
Cummins Aero | 24.1 | 36.7 | 9th | 7.0 | 0.3 | 25th | 19.4 | |||||
Elliston | 23.1 | +1.6 | 36.0 | 9th | 11.8 | +0.7 | 4.1 | 18th | 10.9 | 30.2 | low | 36% |
Kimba | 24.9 | +1.1 | 38.2 | 20th | 9.1 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 14th | 4.8 | 30.8 | low | 16% |
Kyancutta | 27.4 | +2.2 | 40.6 | 20th | 9.0 | +0.8 | 1.0 | 25th | 5.3 | 26.2 | low | 20% |
Minnipa Pirsa | 26.6 | 39.8 | 9th | 10.5 | 4.7 | 18th | 5.6 | |||||
Neptune Island | 18.4 | +1.0 | 25.3 | 9th | 13.1 | +0.8 | 9.4 | 17th | 34.0 | 27.1 | high | 125% |
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 22.1 | +1.6 | 36.3 | 9th | 9.2 | -0.3 | 3.8 | 18th | 27.6 | 26.6 | average | 104% |
Nullarbor | 25.6 | +1.3 | 40.4 | 8th | 11.0 | +0.8 | 2.5 | 11th | 4.0 | 18.1 | low | 22% |
Port Augusta Aero | 27.7 | 41.6 | 20th | 10.3 | 2.2 | 18th | 12.4 | |||||
Streaky Bay | 24.8 | +2.0 | 34.0 | 20th | 12.4 | +1.0 | 6.0 | 25th | 5.3 | 26.3 | low | 20% |
Whyalla Aero | 25.4 | +1.6 | 41.2 | 20th | 11.2 | +0.7 | 4.0 | 18th | 5.0 | 24.3 | low | 21% |
Wudinna Aero | 27.3 | 40.9 | 20th | 8.9 | 1.0 | 25th | 7.4 | |||||
Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
Hawker | 26.9 | +1.2 | 38.8 | 20th | 8.6 | -1.2 | 2.8 | 18th | 22.6 | 24.6 | average | 92% |
Yongala | 22.9 | +1.1 | 36.3 | 20th | 5.0 | -1.1 | -1.8 | 18th | 17.2 | 33.6 | average | 51% |
Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 26.0 | 39.0 | 20th | 8.9 | 0.5 | 15th | 15.2 | |||||
Yunta Airstrip | 26.0 | 38.0 | 20th | 8.7 | 0.2 | 18th | 7.2 | |||||
Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
Clare High School | 21.4 | 35.1 | 20th | 6.8 | 0.6 | 25th | 29.2 | 49.1 | average | 59% | ||
Port Pirie Aerodrome | 25.4 | 38.8 | 20th | 9.5 | 2.4 | 25th | 15.6 | |||||
Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 24.7 | 38.6 | 20th | 6.5 | -0.1 | 25th | 16.8 | |||||
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
Edithburgh | 21.5 | +1.4 | 34.9 | 9th | 9.5 | -1.3 | 2.0 | 18th | 18.6 | 29.0 | low | 64% |
Kadina AWS | 23.7 | 37.8 | 20th | 7.7 | 0.2 | 18th | 12.2 | |||||
Maitland | 22.4 | +1.1 | 35.5 | 20th | 10.7 | +0.7 | 6.9 | 15th | 25.8 | 41.7 | average | 62% |
Minlaton Aero | 23.1 | 35.1 | 9th | 9.3 | 2.7 | 25th | 13.6 | |||||
Stenhouse Bay | 20.4 | 31.8 | 9th | 11.3 | 5.5 | 18th | 26.4 | |||||
Warooka | 21.1 | +0.5 | 29.4 | 20th | 10.0 | -0.1 | 5.8 | 24th | 19.8 | 35.4 | average | 56% |
Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
Cape Borda | 18.0 | 26.6 | 9th | 10.7 | 6.7 | 26th | 54.4 | |||||
Cape Willoughby | 18.3 | +0.7 | 26.1 | 9th | 11.7 | +0.3 | 7.7 | 17th | 46.6 | 41.9 | average | 111% |
Kingscote Aero | 20.4 | 29.9 | 9th | 8.0 | 2.5 | 18th | 41.0 | 31.4 | average | 131% | ||
Parndana Cfs AWS | 18.0 | 26.9 | 9th | 8.4 | 3.8 | 26th | 55.0 | |||||
Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
Adelaide (Kent Town) | 22.3 | +0.4 | 33.0 | 20th | 11.3 | -0.2 | 5.4 | 15th | 32.4 | 43.1 | average | 75% |
Adelaide Airport | 21.9 | +0.9 | 32.7 | 20th | 11.1 | +0.5 | 5.0 | 15th | 16.4 | 37.2 | low | 44% |
Edinburgh RAAF | 23.1 | +1.0 | 34.1 | 20th | 10.1 | +0.1 | 3.7 | 15th | 18.6 | 38.6 | low | 48% |
Parafield Airport | 23.3 | +1.5 | 34.3 | 20th | 9.9 | -0.2 | 3.4 | 15th | 21.4 | 41.4 | low | 52% |
Roseworthy AWS | 24.4 | 38.0 | 20th | 7.7 | 1.6 | 25th | 12.2 | |||||
County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
Nuriootpa Viticultural | 21.4 | 34.4 | 20th | 7.4 | 0.1 | 15th | 21.0 | |||||
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) | 22.9 | +1.1 | 36.8 | 20th | 7.1 | -1.2 | 1.1 | 15th | 24.5 | 43.8 | average | 56% |
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
Hindmarsh Island AWS | 21.5 | 33.3 | 9th | 11.1 | 5.9 | 4th | 22.0 | |||||
Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 18.6 | 29.0 | 20th | 9.0 | 4.8 | 4th | 36.4 | |||||
Mount Barker | 19.8 | +0.4 | 30.9 | 20th | 7.9 | +0.7 | 2.2 | 25th | 49.0 | 66.4 | average | 74% |
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) | 18.4 | 30.0 | 20th | 8.2 | 3.9 | 24th | 41.4 | 48.7 | average | 85% | ||
Mount Lofty | 16.2 | 26.6 | 20th | 7.3 | 3.3 | 24th | 63.4 | |||||
Noarlunga | 21.2 | 31.4 | 9th | 11.5 | 6.9 | 25th | 15.8 | |||||
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 16.8 | 26.3 | 9th | 9.1 | 5.7 | 4th | 51.8 | 62.5 | average | 83% | ||
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 21.0 | 31.5 | 9th | 9.5 | 2.1 | 18th | 30.6 | |||||
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
Loxton Research Centre | 24.8 | +0.7 | 37.9 | 20th | 8.4 | +0.1 | 1.3 | 18th | 20.0 | 26.0 | average | 77% |
Renmark Aero | 25.8 | 39.7 | 20th | 8.6 | 0.1 | 15th | 18.4 | |||||
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
Eudunda | 21.8 | +1.2 | 35.2 | 20th | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 15th | 23.0 | 40.2 | average | 57% |
Meningie | 21.3 | +0.7 | 29.3 | 19th | 10.5 | +1.1 | 5.0 | 18th | 28.0 | 39.0 | average | 72% |
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 23.6 | 36.4 | 20th | 7.2 | -1.1 | 4th | 12.4 | |||||
Murray Bridge Comparison | 23.9 | +1.2 | 35.2 | 20th | 9.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 4th | 14.4 | 33.8 | low | 43% |
Strathalbyn Racecourse | 21.3 | 32.5 | 20th | 9.3 | 4.0 | 4th | 26.2 | |||||
Murray Mallee (district 25A) | ||||||||||||
Karoonda | 23.8 | 37.5 | 20th | 8.7 | 1.9 | 15th | 14.4 | 32.5 | low | 44% | ||
Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
Keith | 21.6 | +0.1 | 33.0 | 9th | 8.8 | +0.6 | 3.0 | 4th | 33.8 | 41.9 | average | 81% |
Keith (Munkora) | 21.7 | 32.8 | 20th | 6.8 | -0.3 | 18th | 52.2 | |||||
Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 23.6 | 37.0 | 20th | 6.6 | 0.2 | 18th | 18.2 | |||||
Lameroo Comparison | 23.3 | +0.7 | 36.5 | 20th | 8.3 | +0.5 | 2.7 | 18th | 14.2 | 36.7 | low | 39% |
Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 17.5 | -1.0 | 26.7 | 19th | 10.1 | +1.0 | 6.3 | 7th | 68.0 | 33.8 | highest | 201% |
Coonawarra | 18.2 | -1.2 | 28.0 | 9th | 8.2 | +1.0 | 3.1 | 7th | 83.6 | 46.7 | v high | 179% |
Mount Gambier Aero | 17.3 | -0.6 | 26.8 | 19th | 8.3 | +1.2 | 3.5 | 4th | 114.8 | 61.8 | v high | 186% |
Naracoorte Aerodrome | 18.9 | 29.4 | 9th | 7.9 | 2.5 | 7th | 58.8 | |||||
Padthaway South | 19.3 | 30.6 | 9th | 8.1 | 2.7 | 7th | 60.6 | |||||
Robe Airfield | 17.4 | 26.3 | 19th | 9.8 | 4.7 | 7th | 70.0 | |||||
Robe Comparison | 16.8 | -0.8 | 23.0 | 19th | 11.0 | +0.7 | 8.1 | 27th | 77.2 | 44.4 | v high | 174% |
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 10 am on Friday 1 November 2013. 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.
The ACORN-SAT dataset is being used for temperature area averages from December 2012 onwards. The major change from earlier datasets is that the ACORN-SAT dataset commences in 1910, rather than 1950, and hence rankings are calculated using a larger set of years.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence