South Australia in February 2020: wet start to the month with cool days

Rainfall in February was above average to very much above average over large parts of central South Australia and the South East. Most of the rain fell at the start of the month, when thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flash flooding in some areas. Daytime temperatures were cooler than average over central and eastern Agricultural districts, but warmer than average in the far north of the State. Night-time temperatures for February were close to average or cooler than average over most of South Australia.

Wetter than average in central areas and the South East

  • Rainfall in February was above average to very much above average over much of central South Australia and the South East
  • The far west and northeast received little or no rain for the month
  • Rainfall in February was 10% above average for South Australia as whole
  • The wettest day was at the start of the month, with widespread totals of 50 mm or more recorded over central and northern areas of the State on the 1st
  • The wettest location for the month was Yudnapinna in the Northwest Pastoral district with 104.0 mm, of which 103.0 mm was recorded on the 1st (the site's wettest day since 110.5 mm on 20 February 1938)
  • At the start of the month, moisture from the tropics extended over South Australia to Victoria and Tasmania; very high precipitable water (total moisture content of the atmosphere) was recorded at Ceduna, Woomera, Mount Gambier, and Adelaide Airport
  • On the 1st, several sites had their highest February daily rainfall on record
  • Several sites had either their highest total February rainfall on record or their highest total February rainfall for at least 20 years

Cool days in southern and eastern districts

  • Daytime temperatures were cooler than average over much of eastern and southern South Australia
  • Some areas of very much below average temperatures in the east, including southern areas of Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula
  • Several sites had either their lowest February mean daily maximum temperature on record or their lowest February mean daily maximum temperature since 1990 or earlier
  • Mean maximum temperatures were above average in parts of the far north
  • South Australia's mean maximum temperature was 0.29 °C below average, the lowest for February since 2012
  • Night-time temperatures were also cooler than average over much of central South Australia, with warmer than average areas confined to the northwest and northeast
  • Mean minimum temperatures were typically up to 1 °C below average over central areas of the State, although Marree Aero was 1.8 °C below average
  • The mean minimum temperature was 0.28 °C below average for South Australia as a whole, the lowest for February since 2012
  • On the 27th, Nuriootpa PIRSA had its lowest February temperature on record

Further information

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Extremes in February 2020
Hottest day 42.1 °C at Moomba Airport on the 1st
Warmest days on average 36.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 19.9 °C at Cape Willoughby
Coldest day 15.2 °C at Mount Lofty on the 3rd
Coldest night 3.7 °C at Nuriootpa Pirsa on the 27th
Coolest nights on average 11.9 °C at Mount Lofty
Warmest nights on average 23.4 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 29.6 °C at Moomba Airport on the 1st
Warmest on average overall 29.7 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall 16.7 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 104.0 mm at Yudnapinna
Wettest day 103.0 mm at Yudnapinna on the 1st
Strongest wind gust 98 km/h at Marree Aero on the 1st

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 February daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Huddleston (Willow Ponds) 72.0 on the 1st 69.0 on the 15th in 2014 63
Mount Schank (Jethia) 51.8 on the 1st 49.4 on the 19th in 2011 51
Coober Pedy Airport 68.0 on the 1st 40.0 on the 6th in 2011 26
Nangwarry Forestry SA Depot 61.4 on the 3rd 31.8 on the 21st in 2003 26
Minnipa Pirsa 46.0 on the 1st 23.0 on the 6th in 1997 24
Padthaway South 31.0 on the 1st 27.0 on the 21st in 2003 20



Record highest February total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
February
Mount Schank (Jethia) 76.8 71.2 in 2011 51 22.6
Nangwarry Forestry SA Depot 79.9 61.0 in 2011 26 25.1
Minnipa Pirsa 46.4 45.0 in 2011 23 14.7

Highest February total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
February
Mount Gambier Aero 86.2 99.7 in 1960 26.6
Frances 51.2 66.8 in 1973 21.5
Millicent 67.8 72.1 in 1972* 24.3
Port Germein 62.6 130.0 in 1973 17.7
Yacka 95.2 142.8 in 1973* 20.1
Brinkworth 83.0 153.4 in 1973* 21.1
Gulnare 66.8 78.6 in 1979 21.6
Manna Hill 99.4 271.0 in 1997 23.5

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




Record lowest February mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
February
Meningie 23.5 23.7 in 1988 53 26.4
Edinburgh RAAF 26.9 27.4 in 2002 47 30.0
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 22.1 = 22.1 in 2006 28 24.5
Clare High School 26.7 26.8 in 2005 25 29.8
Kingscote Aero 23.9 24.2 in 2006 25 26.6
Strathalbyn Racecourse 24.3 24.6 in 2008 23 27.5
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 22.4 22.7 in 2006 21 25.9

Lowest February mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
February
Whyalla Aero 27.1 25.4 in 1946* 29.7
Parafield Airport 27.6 =27.6 in 1988 29.5
Andamooka 33.2 33.0 in 1990 35.7
Mount Barker 25.1 =25.1 in 1990 26.8
Yongala 28.0 27.7 in 1990 30.2
Hawker 31.0 30.6 in 1990* 33.6

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




Record lowest February temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
February
Nuriootpa PIRSA 3.7 on the 27th 4.3 on the 1st in 2013 24 14.6



Summary statistics for February 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2020
Diff
from
average
Highest for
February
2020
Mean for
February
2020
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
February
2020
Total for
February
2020
Average
for
February
Rank of
February
2020
Fraction of
February
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 33.2 -2.5 39.2 17th 20.3 -0.9 15.8 28th 16.4 23.0 average 71%
Coober Pedy Airport 33.9 -1.7 39.8 17th 20.3 -1.3 14.9 2nd 68.0 14.1 v high 482%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 35.8 +1.0 41.1 14th 20.7 +0.4 16.7 23rd 0.2 27.2 average 1%
Mount Ive 31.9   39.0 17th       17.6 13.6 high 129%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 33.2 -2.7 38.9 17th 19.2 -1.1 14.0 29th 0.2 16.8 low 1%
Tarcoola Aero 34.1 -1.3 40.4 17th 17.6 -1.5 11.0 19th 15.2 23.0 average 66%
Woomera Aerodrome 31.7 -2.1 37.5 17th 18.4 -1.0 13.8 19th 52.0 19.6 high 265%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 32.5 -2.2 37.6 17th 19.0 -1.5 13.8 19th 85.4 26.6 v high 321%
Marree Aero 35.1 -2.1 40.4 17th 20.4 -1.8 15.0 29th 36.6 26.1 average 140%
Moomba Airport 35.9 -1.3 42.1 1st 23.4 -0.3 18.4 4th 1.6 25.2 average 6%
Oodnadatta Airport 36.4 -0.3 41.2 11th 21.0 -1.4 15.7 20th 1.6 29.6 average 5%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 27.1 -1.2 37.3 10th 15.0 -0.1 7.3 29th 6.2 14.0 average 44%
Cleve 25.7 -2.0 34.3 23rd 15.7 -0.4 11.0 27th 24.2 22.4 average 108%
Cleve Aerodrome 26.0 -2.5 34.3 23rd 15.3 -1.0 11.0 27th 19.4 18.7 average 104%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 23.3   31.0 10th 15.3   11.0 16th 4.2
Cultana (Defence) 29.5   37.2 24th 16.7   12.6 4th 54.0
Cummins Aero 28.0 -1.3 37.0 17th 14.2 -1.1 7.1 27th 22.2 21.6 high 103%
Elliston 25.9 +0.2 35.3 17th 16.3 +0.4 12.5 16th 0.8 13.6 low 6%
Kimba 30.1 -1.1 36.6 17th     7.8 2nd 17.8 20.8 average 86%
Kyancutta 31.8 -0.6 40.6 17th 14.2 -0.2 6.8 28th
Minnipa Pirsa 30.3 -2.1 38.1 17th 14.8 -1.2 9.9 27th 46.4 14.7 highest 316%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 24.8 -1.2 33.0 10th 15.8 -0.4 12.7 23rd 5.8 15.5 average 37%
Nullarbor 27.2 -0.6 39.0 9th 16.0 0.0 11.6 2nd 0.4 14.6 low 3%
Port Augusta Aero 30.0 -3.3 37.7 24th 18.5 -0.3 15.1 19th 78.8 18.8 v high 419%
Streaky Bay 27.5 -1.6 36.0 17th 14.6 -1.5 11.5 21st 5.9 14.7 average 40%
Whyalla Aero 27.1 -2.6 34.2 24th 17.7 -0.1 13.3 23rd 56.8 23.6 high 241%
Wudinna Aero 31.3 -1.4 39.8 17th 13.7 -1.5 6.2 28th 8.6 14.6 average 59%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 31.0 -2.6 36.9 17th 17.2 -0.8 12.0 19th 51.8 21.0 high 247%
Yongala 28.0 -2.2 34.2 17th     8.8 19th 61.8 21.2 v high 292%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 30.4 -2.4 36.3 13th 14.7 -0.7 7.0 27th 25.6 22.6 high 113%
Yunta Airstrip 30.1 -2.4 36.7 17th 15.1 -0.8 8.3 4th 41.8 20.2 high 207%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 26.7 -3.1 34.1 24th 13.6 -1.3 9.4 20th 53.6 25.8 high 208%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 29.4   36.5 24th 15.6   10.2 27th 61.2
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 29.4 -2.6 36.7 17th 13.5 -0.9 7.1 20th 26.0 19.8 average 131%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 23.7 -1.5 31.3 10th 16.8 -0.3 13.5 2nd 36.0 18.1 high 199%
Kadina AWS 28.4 -2.5 36.2 7th 14.8 -0.3 9.4 21st 21.6 13.1 high 165%
Minlaton Aero 27.2 -1.5 33.7 7th 14.6 -0.7 9.6 27th 35.2 18.2 high 193%
Stenhouse Bay 23.1 -1.8 28.4 10th 16.6 -0.5 14.7 2nd 24.0 17.9 high 134%
Warooka 25.3 -1.8 32.6 10th 15.7 -0.3 12.3 4th 31.8 17.4 high 183%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 23.1 -1.4 30.9 8th 14.3 -0.1 11.4 4th 2.6 17.0 low 15%
Cape Willoughby 19.9 -2.0 26.6 9th 16.0 -0.3 13.7 2nd 38.6 18.3 high 211%
Kingscote Aero 23.9 -2.7 31.8 9th 14.0 +0.4 6.5 27th 62.6 18.3 high 342%
Parndana Cfs AWS 23.8   32.3 9th 13.0   8.6 23rd 40.4
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 26.8 -2.7 34.7 24th 16.5 -0.8 11.9 20th 44.4 16.1 v high 276%
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 26.4 -2.2 32.9 24th 16.3 -0.6 11.8 20th 31.0 20.6 high 150%
Adelaide Airport 25.5 -2.6 33.0 8th 16.3 +0.1 12.2 27th 29.6 18.8 high 157%
Edinburgh RAAF 26.9 -3.1 34.2 24th 16.2 -0.4 9.6 20th 32.4 18.0 high 180%
Parafield Airport 27.6 -1.9 34.8 24th 15.4 -1.0 9.2 20th 30.4 18.7 high 163%
Roseworthy AWS 28.1 -3.2 36.6 24th 14.2 -0.6 7.1 20th 20.2 19.7 average 103%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Pirsa 26.8 -2.7 34.8 24th 13.3 -1.3 3.7 27th 25.6 25.0 average 102%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 22.7 -2.0 33.7 9th 15.8 0.0 9.6 4th 17.6 17.4 average 101%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 22.4 -3.5 31.3 24th 13.1 -1.1 8.6 4th 38.8 24.1 high 161%
Mount Barker 25.1 -1.7 33.4 24th 12.3 +0.3 6.5 27th 65.8 25.8 v high 255%
Mount Crawford AWS 24.1 -3.0 33.3 24th 12.9 -1.3 6.9 4th 53.0 25.5 high 208%
Mount Lofty 21.5 -1.0 29.4 24th 11.9 -1.1 5.7 4th 66.4 39.5 high 168%
Noarlunga 25.4 -2.4 32.5 8th 16.0 -1.0 10.7 27th 30.2 18.7 high 161%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 20.6 -2.8 30.2 9th 13.2 -0.7 9.5 4th 38.8 30.8 high 126%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 22.2 -2.1 31.0 9th 14.5 -0.1 8.4 23rd 41.0 24.4 high 168%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 29.5 -2.0 36.2 13th 15.3 +0.7 7.4 27th 20.8 18.4 average 113%
Renmark Aero 30.2 -2.6 37.0 13th 15.7 -0.4 9.9 27th 15.2 19.5 average 78%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 27.3 -1.8 35.7 24th 14.3 0.0 7.6 27th 20.4 22.4 average 91%
Meningie 23.5 -2.9 32.0 23rd 14.3 +0.3 7.1 4th 40.0 17.3 high 231%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 27.1 -2.8 34.3 23rd 14.3 0.0 8.3 4th 24.4 19.2 high 127%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 24.3 -3.2 32.2 23rd 14.3 -0.3 7.6 4th 37.8 21.5 high 176%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 27.2 -3.5 36.5 24th 13.8 -0.3 8.0 27th 68.2 20.1 v high 339%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 27.6 -2.3 35.1 13th 12.7 -0.5 6.6 27th 22.8 19.9 average 115%
Keith (Munkora) 27.6 -2.7 35.1 13th 12.2 +0.3 4.0 27th 47.8 13.4 v high 357%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 29.3 -1.8 36.2 13th 14.0 +0.3 4.9 27th 59.2 14.5 v high 408%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 22.1 -2.4 31.2 8th 13.9 +0.2 8.8 4th 37.8 17.2 high 220%
Coonawarra 25.3 -2.3 33.5 13th 12.9 +1.1 5.4 27th 40.0 18.1 high 221%
Mount Gambier Aero 23.5 -1.8 31.3 13th 12.7 +1.0 5.1 4th 86.2 26.6 v high 324%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 26.7 -2.6 34.7 13th 12.1 +0.2 3.9 4th 24.6 18.3 average 134%
Padthaway South 26.3 -2.4 34.2 13th 12.6 +0.3 5.0 27th 37.8 16.8 v high 225%
Robe Airfield 22.5 -1.9 31.3 8th 13.2 +0.3 6.2 4th 42.8 22.6 high 189%

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 2 March 2020. 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

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Enquiries

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