Monday, 3 June 2019 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0
South Australia in May 2019: wetter than average in southern areas
Rainfall in May was below average for South Australia as a whole, but it was wetter than average in some Agricultural districts and in the State's far north. Daytime temperatures were generally warmer than average but night-time temperatures tended to be near-average or cooler than average.
Wetter than average in some agricultural districts
- Rainfall in May was 12% below average for South Australia as a whole
- Most areas of the State recorded at least some rain during the month, but totals were below average across most pastoral areas
- Rainfall was above average in areas of the far north of the state and across much of the South Australian Agricultural districts—in particular western Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island
- The highest monthly totals were in the south and the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island received more than 150 mm, with 199.2 mm at Cherry Gardens the highest total recorded in the State
- There were several rain events during the month, with 1 May being the State's wettest day as a cold front and associated cloud bands brought rain to most areas
- On 1 May, Flinders Chase had its highest May daily rainfall on record
- Many sites had either their highest total May rainfall on record or their highest total May rainfall for at least 20 years
Warm days in some areas, but cool nights
- Daytime temperatures were warmer than average in northern and eastern areas of the State, but were a little cooler than average on the Eyre Peninsula and parts of the West Coast district
- The State's mean maximum temperature for May was 0.73 °C above average
- Night-time temperatures were below average in the west, but near-average or above average in the east
- The State's mean minimum temperature for May was 0.36 °C below average, the lowest difference from average for a month since June 2018 (which was 0.69 °C below average)
- On 9 May, several sites had their coldest May day on record
- On the 30th, Minnipa and Wudinna had their lowest May temperature on record
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in May 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
32.5 °C at Nullarbor on the 23rd |
| Warmest days on average |
24.1 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
| Coolest days on average |
13.0 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Coldest day |
7.3 °C at Mount Lofty on the 9th |
| Coldest night |
-1.1 °C at Yunta Airstrip on the 16th |
| Coolest nights on average |
5.4 °C at Yunta Airstrip |
| Warmest nights on average |
12.6 °C at Cape Willoughby |
| Warmest night |
20.9 °C at Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS on the 19th |
| Warmest on average overall |
17.6 °C at Moomba Airport |
| Coolest on average overall |
10.4 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Wettest overall |
199.2 mm at Cherry Gardens |
| Driest overall |
1.0 mm at Gammon Ranges (Moolawatana) |
| Wettest day |
87.0 mm at Mambray Creek (Bernie's Block) on the 10th |
| Strongest wind gust |
100 km/h at Cape Willoughby on the 29th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
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| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest May daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Flinders Chase (Rocky River) | 68.0 | on the 1st | 40.6 | on the 1st in 1960 | 60 | |
| Record highest May total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
||
| Mount Hope (Fairview) | 150.0 | 142.1 | in 1971 | 106 | 50.2 |
| Coffin Bay | 131.1 | 98.9 | in 1988 | 30 | 59.1 |
| Kingscote Aero | 102.4 | 92.4 | in 2003 | 26 | 49.2 |
| Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 115.0 | 102.2 | in 2000 | 25 | 55.8 |
| McLaren Vale (Pirramimma Winery) | 117.2 | 106.0 | in 2003 | 24 | 64.8 |
| Belair | 147.8 | 143.8 | in 2016 | 22 | 83.7 |
| Highest May total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for May |
|||
| Coulta | 163.7 | 177.0 | in 1877* | 62.5 | |
| Streaky Bay | 121.9 | 129.4 | in 1952 | 46.4 | |
| Cummins | 105.2 | 107.5 | in 1956 | 47.8 | |
| Meningie | 95.2 | 104.2 | in 1968 | 54.8 | |
| Kingscote | 115.6 | 124.8 | in 1958* | 58.5 | |
| Prospect Hill | 172.2 | 190.2 | in 1968* | 89.4 | |
| Willunga | 141.4 | 148.0 | in 1971* | 81.2 | |
| Georgetown | 97.4 | 145.0 | in 1974* | 50.8 | |
| Port Kenny (Mount Cooper) | 82.2 | 94.2 | in 1977* | 45.7 | |
| Elliston | 89.0 | 115.6 | in 1979 | 52.3 | |
| Blyth | 66.6 | 69.8 | in 1987 | 46.8 | |
| Mount Compass | 170.3 | 184.7 | in 1987 | 99.4 | |
| Inman Valley | 146.8 | 164.0 | in 1987* | 85.7 | |
| Brinkworth | 63.8 | 76.2 | in 1987* | 43.2 | |
| Kyancutta | 51.5 | 52.6 | in 1989 | 32.0 | |
| Lucindale Post Office | 96.8 | 133.0 | in 1988* | 64.3 | |
| Yankalilla | 104.7 | 150.2 | in 1989 | 70.1 | |
| Purnong (Claypans) | 40.8 | 50.8 | in 1992* | 30.2 | |
| Aldgate | 196.8 | 283.2 | in 1999 | 123.3 | |
| Belair (State Flora Nursery) | 162.8 | 216.2 | in 1999 | 98.6 | |
| Burra (Leighton) | 65.8 | 66.8 | in 1999 | 42.1 | |
| Clarendon | 161.4 | 166.0 | in 1999 | 98.4 | |
| Koolunga | 61.2 | 61.8 | in 1999 | 42.1 | |
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 140.4 | 199.0 | in 1999 | 97.5 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record lowest May daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Kyancutta | 12.1 | on the 9th | = 12.1 | on the 24th in 1942 | 90 | 21.1 |
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 10.0 | on the 9th | = 10.0 | on the 23rd in 2006 | 25 | 14.9 |
| Minnipa Pirsa | 11.1 | on the 9th | 11.7 | on the 24th in 2012 | 23 | 20.3 |
| Wudinna Aero | 11.6 | on the 9th | 13.0 | on the 27th in 2000 | 21 | 20.9 |
| Record lowest May temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Minnipa Pirsa | 3.8 | on the 30th | 4.0 | on the 14th in 2015 | 23 | 9.9 |
| Wudinna Aero | -0.3 | on the 30th | 0.1 | on the 21st in 2006 | 21 | 8.6 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for May 2019 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for May 2019 |
Diff from average |
Highest for May 2019 |
Mean for May 2019 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for May 2019 |
Total for May 2019 |
Average for May |
Rank of May 2019 |
Fraction of May average |
|||
| Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
| Andamooka | 22.7 | +0.3 | 30.5 | 22nd | 10.2 | +0.1 | 6.0 | 10th | 7.0 | 15.6 | average | 45% |
| Coober Pedy Airport | 22.4 | +0.3 | 30.4 | 21st | 9.3 | -0.9 | 4.1 | 31st | 7.0 | 9.8 | average | 71% |
| Ernabella (Pukatja) | 22.1 | +0.2 | 28.9 | 21st | 8.0 | -0.4 | 1.9 | 31st | 20.0 | 15.0 | average | 133% |
| Mount Ive | 20.3 | 29.0 | 23rd | 1.0 | 25th | 17.9 | 25.2 | average | 71% | |||
| Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 22.3 | -0.1 | 30.0 | 22nd | 8.6 | +0.3 | 3.4 | 11th | 5.8 | 9.2 | average | 63% |
| Tarcoola Aero | 22.5 | 0.0 | 30.5 | 23rd | 6.7 | -1.6 | 1.1 | 30th | 7.6 | 11.0 | average | 69% |
| Woomera Aerodrome | 21.3 | +0.6 | 29.2 | 23rd | 9.3 | -0.2 | 4.4 | 31st | 9.8 | 17.9 | average | 55% |
| Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
| Arkaroola | 21.6 | +1.3 | 28.4 | 22nd | 6.5 | -0.7 | 2.1 | 14th | 4.4 | 17.4 | average | 25% |
| Leigh Creek Airport | 21.6 | +0.5 | 28.7 | 22nd | 8.8 | -0.1 | 1.7 | 11th | 5.4 | 17.4 | average | 31% |
| Marree Aero | 23.5 | +0.2 | 31.0 | 21st | 8.8 | -0.5 | 2.6 | 31st | 2.8 | 7.3 | average | 38% |
| Moomba Airport | 23.8 | -0.1 | 30.8 | 18th | 11.3 | +0.5 | 3.3 | 31st | 7.0 | 10.2 | average | 69% |
| Oodnadatta Airport | 24.1 | +0.8 | 30.8 | 21st | 9.5 | -0.4 | 2.9 | 31st | 5.0 | 12.4 | average | 40% |
| Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
| Ceduna AMO | 20.2 | -0.7 | 30.7 | 23rd | 8.5 | -0.1 | 2.2 | 31st | 46.8 | 32.6 | high | 144% |
| Cleve | 18.7 | -0.3 | 27.4 | 23rd | 10.1 | 0.0 | 5.4 | 10th | 37.8 | 40.5 | average | 93% |
| Cleve Aerodrome | 18.7 | -0.6 | 27.5 | 23rd | 10.1 | -0.4 | 5.4 | 30th | 28.8 | 37.0 | average | 78% |
| Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) | 18.1 | 23.6 | 17th | 11.4 | 8.4 | 14th | 112.8 | |||||
| Cultana (Defence) | 20.3 | 28.9 | 23rd | 9.7 | 4.2 | 10th | 21.8 | |||||
| Cummins Aero | 18.4 | -1.4 | 24.8 | 17th | 8.0 | -0.9 | 1.5 | 30th | 107.2 | 44.1 | v high | 243% |
| Elliston | 19.3 | -0.2 | 25.3 | 17th | 10.7 | +0.3 | 4.6 | 14th | 89.0 | 52.3 | v high | 170% |
| Kimba | 18.9 | -0.5 | 28.0 | 23rd | 3.0 | 30th | 41.6 | 35.4 | average | 118% | ||
| Kyancutta | 20.1 | -1.0 | 29.5 | 23rd | 7.6 | +0.2 | -0.5 | 31st | 51.5 | 32.0 | high | 161% |
| Minnipa Pirsa | 18.7 | -1.6 | 28.7 | 23rd | 9.3 | -0.6 | 3.8 | 30th | 57.2 | 28.2 | high | 203% |
| Neptune Island | 17.0 | -0.8 | 19.8 | 21st | 9.3 | 10th | 61.0 | 53.7 | average | 114% | ||
| North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 18.7 | -0.9 | 25.1 | 17th | 9.6 | -0.9 | 6.7 | 16th | 75.6 | 43.4 | high | 174% |
| Nullarbor | 21.5 | 0.0 | 32.5 | 23rd | 7.8 | -1.2 | 2.0 | 31st | 32.6 | 29.9 | average | 109% |
| Port Augusta Aero | 21.3 | -0.3 | 29.6 | 23rd | 8.9 | +0.1 | 3.2 | 31st | 34.0 | 17.9 | high | 190% |
| Streaky Bay | 19.6 | -0.5 | 27.4 | 23rd | 10.6 | -0.3 | 6.2 | 31st | 121.9 | 46.4 | v high | 263% |
| Whyalla Aero | 20.2 | -0.4 | 29.6 | 23rd | 8.5 | -0.4 | 4.5 | 16th | 32.2 | 23.9 | high | 135% |
| Wudinna Aero | 19.7 | -1.2 | 28.9 | 23rd | 8.4 | -0.2 | -0.3 | 30th | 43.0 | 23.9 | high | 180% |
| Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
| Yongala | 16.8 | -0.3 | 24.4 | 23rd | 5.9 | +1.3 | 0.9 | 30th | 32.8 | 34.7 | average | 95% |
| Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
| Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 21.0 | +0.4 | 29.2 | 23rd | 6.3 | +0.1 | -0.4 | 6th | 17.1 | 19.1 | average | 90% |
| Yunta Airstrip | 20.0 | +0.6 | 27.1 | 24th | 5.4 | -0.4 | -1.1 | 16th | 6.4 | 11.2 | average | 57% |
| Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
| Clare High School | 16.6 | -0.6 | 23.9 | 23rd | 6.6 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 14th | 97.2 | 54.7 | v high | 178% |
| Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS | 20.2 | 27.4 | 24th | 9.3 | 2.5 | 30th | 45.4 | |||||
| Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 19.3 | -0.7 | 26.9 | 23rd | 7.5 | +0.1 | 3.3 | 5th | 46.6 | 36.4 | high | 128% |
| Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
| Edithburgh | 18.1 | -0.4 | 22.2 | 23rd | 10.0 | -0.9 | 6.3 | 13th | 82.4 | 44.9 | v high | 184% |
| Kadina AWS | 18.8 | -0.8 | 25.8 | 18th | 8.6 | +0.2 | 3.8 | 6th | 62.2 | 41.8 | high | 149% |
| Minlaton Aero | 18.7 | -0.8 | 26.1 | 18th | 9.7 | -0.3 | 4.4 | 30th | 64.2 | 40.9 | high | 157% |
| Stenhouse Bay | 18.3 | -0.4 | 23.1 | 17th | 11.8 | -0.3 | 9.3 | 17th | 89.2 | 53.3 | v high | 167% |
| Warooka | 18.3 | -0.3 | 24.1 | 18th | 8.5 | 30th | 102.5 | 53.8 | v high | 191% | ||
| Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Borda | 16.5 | -0.5 | 19.2 | 17th | 11.3 | 0.0 | 6.8 | 10th | 157.8 | 71.3 | v high | 221% |
| Cape Willoughby | 17.3 | +0.3 | 20.5 | 17th | 12.6 | 0.0 | 9.1 | 10th | 79.6 | 61.5 | high | 129% |
| Kingscote Aero | 18.3 | -0.3 | 22.0 | 18th | 8.8 | +0.8 | 4.2 | 17th | 102.4 | 49.2 | highest | 208% |
| Parndana Cfs AWS | 16.5 | 20.4 | 17th | 9.2 | 6.0 | 7th | 127.2 | |||||
| Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
| Adelaide (Kent Town) | 18.9 | -0.1 | 25.1 | 23rd | 10.0 | -0.3 | 5.0 | 30th | 87.4 | 61.5 | high | 142% |
| Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) | 18.6 | 0.0 | 24.9 | 18th | 10.8 | +0.4 | 4.9 | 30th | 83.0 | 68.1 | average | 122% |
| Adelaide Airport | 18.5 | -0.1 | 25.4 | 18th | 10.4 | +0.7 | 4.6 | 30th | 70.4 | 53.7 | high | 131% |
| Edinburgh RAAF | 18.8 | -0.4 | 25.8 | 23rd | 9.6 | +0.3 | 2.6 | 30th | 64.0 | 45.2 | high | 142% |
| Parafield Airport | 19.2 | +0.2 | 26.0 | 23rd | 8.8 | -0.6 | 2.0 | 30th | 63.2 | 48.4 | high | 131% |
| Roseworthy AWS | 19.3 | -0.5 | 27.3 | 23rd | 8.6 | -0.1 | 1.5 | 30th | 52.4 | 38.7 | high | 135% |
| County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
| Nuriootpa Pirsa | 17.5 | +0.1 | 25.5 | 23rd | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 30th | 63.2 | 48.0 | high | 132% |
| Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) | 18.6 | -0.1 | 27.9 | 23rd | 7.9 | -0.4 | 1.3 | 30th | 62.0 | 53.1 | average | 117% |
| Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
| Hindmarsh Island AWS | 18.7 | +0.1 | 24.6 | 23rd | 10.4 | -0.2 | 7.2 | 18th | 78.4 | 43.0 | high | 182% |
| Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 15.8 | -0.2 | 22.3 | 18th | 9.2 | -0.2 | 4.7 | 10th | 146.4 | 86.9 | high | 168% |
| Mount Barker | 17.2 | +0.6 | 24.0 | 23rd | 7.8 | +1.0 | 2.0 | 6th | 111.6 | 87.5 | high | 128% |
| Mount Crawford AWS | 14.8 | -0.1 | 22.5 | 23rd | 8.4 | -0.2 | 3.6 | 10th | 97.6 | 69.7 | high | 140% |
| Mount Lofty | 13.0 | +0.7 | 19.4 | 23rd | 7.8 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 30th | 182.0 | 108.9 | high | 167% |
| Noarlunga | 18.1 | -0.4 | 25.1 | 18th | 11.4 | -0.1 | 6.3 | 30th | 87.6 | 54.0 | high | 162% |
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 14.8 | -0.1 | 19.8 | 18th | 9.6 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 10th | 140.4 | 97.5 | v high | 144% |
| Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 18.7 | +0.1 | 24.7 | 19th | 8.3 | -0.6 | 3.1 | 17th | 81.8 | 61.1 | high | 134% |
| Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
| Loxton Research Centre | 20.4 | +0.8 | 28.2 | 23rd | 6.7 | +0.2 | 0.4 | 6th | 20.6 | 23.1 | average | 89% |
| Renmark Aero | 20.7 | +0.6 | 28.7 | 23rd | 6.7 | +0.1 | 0.6 | 17th | 13.0 | 16.6 | average | 78% |
| Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
| Eudunda | 17.1 | +0.1 | 25.2 | 23rd | 7.8 | +0.1 | 2.7 | 30th | 49.6 | 45.2 | average | 110% |
| Meningie | 25.4 | 18th | 9.3 | +0.4 | 3.5 | 6th | 95.2 | 54.8 | v high | 174% | ||
| Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 19.1 | -0.2 | 27.4 | 23rd | 7.5 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 6th | 50.6 | 31.1 | high | 163% |
| Strathalbyn Racecourse | 18.5 | -0.1 | 25.0 | 23rd | 9.2 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 18th | 62.2 | 44.3 | high | 140% |
| Murray Mallee (district 25A) | ||||||||||||
| Karoonda | 19.5 | +0.4 | 25.9 | 24th | 7.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 6th | 36.6 | 35.4 | average | 103% |
| Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
| Keith | 19.2 | +0.8 | 26.5 | 19th | 7.8 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 30th | 58.3 | 52.2 | average | 112% |
| Keith (Munkora) | 19.1 | +0.3 | 27.2 | 19th | 6.9 | -0.2 | -1.0 | 5th | 56.4 | 41.2 | high | 137% |
| Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 19.3 | +0.6 | 26.9 | 19th | 7.0 | -0.2 | 1.9 | 30th | 36.0 | 29.3 | high | 123% |
| Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 17.0 | +0.1 | 22.0 | 19th | 10.1 | +0.7 | 5.7 | 17th | 115.0 | 55.8 | highest | 206% |
| Coonawarra | 17.2 | 0.0 | 22.4 | 19th | 6.9 | -0.1 | 0.7 | 30th | 81.2 | 56.0 | high | 145% |
| Mount Gambier Aero | 16.6 | +0.5 | 22.8 | 19th | 8.2 | +0.8 | 3.5 | 23rd | 119.8 | 73.0 | high | 164% |
| Naracoorte Aerodrome | 17.8 | 0.0 | 23.1 | 19th | 7.6 | +0.3 | 1.2 | 6th | 59.0 | 42.0 | high | 140% |
| Padthaway South | 18.1 | +0.5 | 24.2 | 19th | 7.3 | +0.2 | 0.8 | 6th | 66.6 | 44.5 | high | 150% |
| Robe Airfield | 17.2 | -0.3 | 21.6 | 19th | 9.1 | +0.4 | 3.0 | 23rd | 124.4 | 70.8 | v high | 176% |
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 9 am on Monday 3 June 2019. 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
- 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
