Tuesday, 1 March 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in February 2016: Cooler and wetter across the south, warmer and drier in the north

Southern coasts and some agricultural districts recorded a generally cooler and wetter than usual month, while inland pastoral areas recorded a drier and warmer finish to the summer. Most rainfall across southern areas was recorded between the 2nd and 3rd, with some rain also falling later in the month.

• Cooler on the coasts and agricultural areas
• Warmer and drier in the pastorals
• A wet start for southern coasts

Despite a mostly dry month, agricultural locations had average to above average rainfall overall. The passage of ex-tropical cyclone Stan resulted in some locations in southern districts recording their highest February daily rainfall on record on the 2nd or 3rd, but there was very little rain elsewhere in South Australia. A weak cold front and southerly airstream on the 16th, and the passage of a low pressure trough on the 23rd, brought light to moderate totals, again to southern districts. For some locations on southern coasts, monthly totals were highest on record for February or highest for at least 20 years. Elsewhere across the State, it was a very dry month, with parts of the Murray Valley and large areas of the pastoral districts recording very little or no rainfall for the month. Renmark Aero reported it's driest February since 2008.

Despite generally cooler days across southern districts, February's daytime temperatures were warmer than normal when averaged across South Australia as a whole. Hot temperatures late in the month resulted in some locations reporting daily maximum temperatures at least twelve degrees above average. Mean maximum temperatures across agricultural areas and the southern pastoral districts tended to be cooler than average, whereas the maximum temperatures in northeast of the State were much warmer than average. Minimum temperatures followed a similar pattern, with coastal and agricultural areas having cooler than normal nights, and inland pastoral areas recording generally warmer nights.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top