Wednesday, 1 November 2017 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in October 2017: near-average rainfall and warmer than average temperatures

October rainfall was close to average for South Australia as a whole, although some southern and eastern agricultural districts were drier than average. Both daytime and night time temperatures were warmer than average during October for most parts of South Australia.

Near-average rainfall

  • For South Australia as a whole, October rainfall was 7% above average
  • Rainfall was generally below average across southern and eastern agricultural districts
  • Pastoral districts had average to very much above average October rainfall
  • On the 11th, a surface trough and extensive cloudband with embedded thunderstorms brought more than 30 mm of rain to areas around Tarcoola, with the rain continuing into eastern parts of the State the following day
  • Tarcoola (Mobella) and Tieyon had their highest October daily rainfall on record
  • Two sites around Tarcoola had their highest total October rainfall for at least 20 years

Warmer than average

  • South Australia had its sixth consecutive month of warmer than average mean maximum temperatures (April is the only month this year so far in which the State's mean maximum temperature was cooler than average)
  • Mean maximum temperatures for South Australia as a whole were 1.48 °C warmer than average
  • After some cooler than average days during the first half of the month, daytime temperatures were up to 12 degrees warmer than average across agricultural districts from 16 to 18 October
  • The hottest temperature recorded during October in South Australia was 39.0 °C at Nullarbor on the 17th
  • From 16 to 18 October, sites in central agricultural districts had three consecutive days over 30 °C—their earliest such run after winter
  • Mean minimum temperatures for South Australia as a whole were 1.09 °C warmer than average
  • October began with a very cold night across much of South Australia, with overnight temperatures on the 1st more than eight degrees cooler than average in the State's east
  • The coldest temperature recorded for the month was −0.7 °C at Snowtown on the morning of the 1st
  • Cape Jaffa and Kingscote had their highest October mean daily minimum temperature on record

Strong winds at times

  • On the 11th, a cold front crossed South Australia bringing heavy rain and strong winds, with gusts of 90 km/h or more recorded at several sites in central and eastern South Australia
  • Towards the end of the month, gusts in excess of 90 km/h were recorded on the 27th, 29th, and 30th in central agricultural districts as a trough of low pressure and cold front crossed the State followed by cold west to southwesterly winds with showers and hail storms
  • Neptune Island recorded South Australia's strongest wind gust for the month of 107 km/h on the 11th

Further information

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in October 2017
Hottest day 39.0 °C at Nullarbor on the 17th
Warmest days on average 31.5 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average 18.0 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 9.9 °C at Mount Lofty on the 30th
Coldest night -0.7 °C at Snowtown (Rayville Park) on the 1st
Coolest nights on average 6.6 °C at Snowtown (Rayville Park)
Warmest nights on average 17.5 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 26.0 °C at Noarlunga on the 18th
26.0 °C at Moomba Airport on the 28th
Warmest on average overall 24.5 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall 13.2 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 74.4 mm at Crafers (Mt Lofty)
Driest overall 2.0 mm at Marree Aero
Wettest day 35.8 mm at Tieyon on the 1st
Strongest wind gust 107 km/h at Neptune Island on the 11th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures		 Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures		 Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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

Record highest October daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Tarcoola (Mobella) 35.4 on the 11th 32.4 on the 16th in 1974 59
Tieyon 35.8 on the 1st 26.8 on the 13th in 1999 23


Highest October total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
October
Tarcoola (Mobella) 55.2 77.8 in 1974* 14.9
Tarcoola (Mulgathing) 44.8 50.2 in 1993 17.6

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



Record highest October mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
October
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 10.6 10.4 in 1992 25 9.2
Kingscote Aero 8.6 = 8.6 in 1999 23 7.1


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for October 2017
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2017		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
October
2017		 Mean for
October
2017		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
October
2017		 Total for
October
2017		 Average
for
October		 Rank of
October
2017		 Fraction of
October
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 29.0 +0.7 37.0 29th 14.7 +1.1 9.6 2nd 12.9 17.9 average 72%
Coober Pedy Airport 30.0 +1.1 38.5 24th 14.7 +0.5 9.1 1st 9.0 10.8 average 83%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 29.4 +0.2 36.3 24th 14.0 -0.2 6.8 2nd 22.6 22.3 average 101%
Mount Ive 27.7   35.0 18th 10.7   3.9 31st 12.9 21.9 average 59%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 29.3 +0.7 37.2 29th 13.4 +0.8 4.7 2nd 13.2 11.7 average 113%
Tarcoola Aero 29.2 +0.7 37.5 18th 12.5 +0.5 5.3 31st 13.6 16.0 average 85%
Woomera Aerodrome 28.0 +1.6 36.3 29th 13.2 +0.8 6.8 12th 11.2 15.1 average 74%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 28.0 +1.1 34.0 27th 12.4 +0.8 4.1 2nd 15.9 18.5 average 86%
Leigh Creek Airport 28.8 +1.7 34.8 29th 13.1 +0.6 6.7 1st 18.0 16.6 average 108%
Marree Aero 31.2 +1.1 37.2 29th 14.3 +0.3 6.6 1st 2.0 9.3 average 22%
Moomba Airport 31.5 +0.7 38.6 27th 17.5 +1.8 10.4 2nd 10.6 9.0 average 118%
Oodnadatta Airport 31.2 +0.7 38.1 29th 15.9 +0.7 9.7 2nd 16.6 13.1 high 127%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 24.9 +0.9 37.2 17th 11.4 +1.4 2.1 2nd 22.4 24.5 average 91%
Cleve 24.1 +1.7 35.0 27th 11.2 +1.0 5.1 31st 32.8 35.7 average 92%
Cleve Aerodrome 24.2 +1.1 35.3 27th 10.5 +0.6 4.8 31st 28.8 27.9 average 103%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 21.2   32.4 17th 12.2   6.6 10th 21.8
Cummins Aero 23.8 +0.3 34.7 17th 8.3 +0.4 0.3 1st 19.2 19.6 average 98%
Elliston 23.1 +1.4 35.5 17th 12.4 +1.2 7.5 2nd 24.0 29.7 average 81%
Kimba 25.8 +1.8 34.0 18th     4.0 31st 13.2 30.0 average 44%
Kyancutta 27.4 +2.0 36.7 18th 8.9 +0.6 1.2 1st 17.4 25.6 average 68%
Minnipa Pirsa 26.2 +0.9 35.1 18th 10.8 +0.7 3.9 31st 17.8 20.3 average 88%
Neptune Island 18.1 +0.6 24.6 17th 13.1 +0.7 7.5 30th 14.8 26.1 average 57%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 22.1 +1.2 34.8 17th 10.1 +0.5 5.0 2nd 17.8 24.5 average 73%
Nullarbor 25.2 +0.6 39.0 17th 10.6 +0.3 3.5 1st 11.4 17.6 average 65%
Port Augusta Aero 27.9 +0.8 36.9 18th 12.5 +0.8 5.6 3rd 14.0 16.0 average 88%
Streaky Bay 23.3 +0.4 34.5 17th 12.2 +0.8 7.1 3rd 23.7 25.8 average 92%
Whyalla Aero 25.7 +1.6 37.9 27th 11.4 +0.7 6.1 3rd 5.2 22.3 low 23%
Wudinna Aero 27.1 +1.1 37.2 18th 9.3 +0.6 1.1 1st 17.6 19.0 average 93%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 26.9 +1.0 33.8 27th 11.5 +1.7 4.5 31st 27.6 24.2 average 114%
Yongala 23.8 +1.9 31.1 18th 7.3 +1.2 0.0 31st 10.6 32.9 low 32%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 26.9 +1.1 35.0 29th 8.3 -0.4 1.2 1st 3.0 20.7 low 14%
Yunta Airstrip 25.8 +0.5 31.9 18th     3.3 1st 17.4 18.0 average 97%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 22.9 +1.9 32.4 27th 8.0 +0.1 2.5 1st 24.0 44.4 low 54%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 27.0   35.7 18th 10.2   2.2 1st 12.6
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 25.9 +1.5 35.6 18th 6.6 -0.4 -0.7 1st 13.2 26.5 average 50%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 21.8 +1.4 35.5 18th 10.7 -0.1 4.4 1st 19.8 27.3 average 73%
Kadina AWS 24.8 +0.6 35.0 18th 8.8 +0.7 0.9 1st 22.2 21.8 average 102%
Minlaton Aero 23.9 +1.4 35.4 18th 9.7 +0.4 2.3 1st 17.8 23.2 average 77%
Stenhouse Bay 20.7 +0.6 34.4 18th 12.3 +0.6 8.0 10th 19.4 28.2 average 69%
Warooka 21.7 +1.0 31.4 18th 10.9 +0.8 6.4 1st 32.0 34.9 average 92%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 18.8 +0.8 27.8 16th 11.0 +1.0 6.9 10th 7.8 29.5 low 26%
Cape Willoughby 18.7 +1.0 29.7 18th 12.1 +0.6 7.1 30th 28.6 41.3 average 69%
Kingscote Aero 21.2 +1.0 32.3 18th 8.6 +1.5 2.1 10th 21.2 29.1 average 73%
Parndana Cfs AWS 19.0   28.5 18th 9.0   4.0 2nd 32.2
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 24.3 +2.2 34.4 18th 12.3 +0.8 6.3 2nd 36.8 41.9 average 88%
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 23.7 +2.4 33.9 18th 12.1 +1.0 5.9 2nd 30.0 44.4 average 68%
Adelaide Airport 22.9 +1.8 33.1 27th 12.3 +1.6 6.4 2nd 26.4 36.3 average 73%
Edinburgh RAAF 24.2 +1.9 34.4 27th 10.3 +0.3 4.4 1st 25.6 37.2 average 69%
Parafield Airport 24.9 +2.9 35.0 18th 10.8 +0.7 3.4 2nd 18.4 40.2 low 46%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Pirsa 23.1 +1.8 32.8 27th 8.6 +0.4 1.0 1st 26.8 34.8 average 77%
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 24.5 +2.5 34.7 18th 7.9 -0.4 1.0 1st 23.3 43.2 average 54%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 22.2 +1.1 34.1 18th 11.6 +0.7 8.2 10th 14.2 26.3 low 54%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 20.2 +1.5 30.4 18th 9.8 +0.7 4.8 30th 36.4 51.9 low 70%
Mount Barker 22.4 +2.9 32.0 18th 9.1 +1.9 3.4 10th 36.0 65.9 low 55%
Mount Crawford AWS 20.0 +1.9 29.7 18th 9.0 +0.6 3.5 30th 26.4 45.8 average 58%
Mount Lofty 18.0 +3.4 27.5 18th 8.3 +1.0 3.1 30th 56.4
Noarlunga 22.5 +1.2 32.6 18th 12.5 +1.0 7.2 1st 15.2 32.0 low 48%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 18.4 +1.6 29.1 18th 10.0 +1.1 5.5 30th 33.8 59.1 average 57%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 21.4 +0.8 33.2 18th 9.9 +1.0 4.4 10th 20.0 37.3 low 54%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 26.6 +2.2 34.6 29th 9.5 +1.1 2.1 1st 14.8 24.0 average 62%
Renmark Aero 27.0 +1.6 35.7 27th 10.0 +1.1 3.1 1st 21.4 24.7 average 87%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 23.2 +2.4 31.8 27th 8.4 +0.3 3.2 30th 22.6 39.6 average 57%
Meningie 22.4 +1.7 32.8 18th 10.9 +1.4 4.5 3rd 28.8 38.6 average 75%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 25.2 +1.2 35.9 18th 7.9 +0.5 -0.1 10th 12.6 16.7 average 75%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.9 +1.4 33.8 27th 9.6 +0.8 5.1 10th 23.8 33.6 average 71%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 23.4 +1.7 34.3 18th 8.7 +0.5 3.0 3rd 26.3 41.3 average 64%
Keith (Munkora) 23.5 +0.9 34.5 18th 7.1 +1.1 -0.5 10th 22.2 27.1 average 82%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 25.6 +1.5 34.5 18th 7.8 +0.5 0.3 6th 24.0 18.9 average 127%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 20.0 +1.4 31.7 18th 10.6 +1.4 5.1 27th 18.8 31.9 low 59%
Coonawarra 20.5 +0.9 32.2 18th 9.1 +1.8 3.3 10th 32.8 45.4 average 72%
Mount Gambier Aero 19.5 +1.5 31.8 18th 8.7 +1.6 3.3 3rd 52.0 60.6 average 86%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 21.2 +0.5 32.2 18th 8.8 +2.0 3.6 3rd 31.4 36.9 average 85%
Padthaway South 21.9 +1.1 33.2 18th 9.1 +1.4 1.6 10th 27.8 36.7 average 76%
Robe Airfield 19.6 +0.7 29.9 18th 10.1 +1.6 1.7 3rd 29.8 33.1 average 90%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Wednesday 1 November 2017. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites 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 10 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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
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Enquiries

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