Monday, 3 August 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in July 2020: very dry, warm days and cold nights

Rainfall in July was below to very much below average across large parts of South Australia and overall it was the state's driest July since 1997. Daytime temperatures were warmer than average throughout the state, including large areas of very much above average maximum temperatures, however night-time temperatures were below to very much below average across most of central and eastern South Australia.

Driest July since 1997

• Rainfall in July was below to very much below average across large parts of South Australia.
• July rainfall was 67% below average for South Australia as a whole, the lowest since 1997 and tenth-lowest on record.
• On the 12th, a low pressure trough brought showers to agricultural districts and Port Augusta Aero had its highest July daily rainfall on record, however old sites at Port Augusta Railway Station and Port Augusta West recorded higher July daily rainfall totals in 1975 and 1986 respectively.
• Numerous sites across central and eastern agricultural districts had their driest July since at least 1997 and some had their driest July on record.
• Rainfall for the first 4 months of the year was above average over much of South Australia, however drier conditions have prevailed since May, with May to July the third-driest on record for South Australia as a whole; May to July rainfall has been below to very much below average over most of the southern half of Australia.

Coldest nights since 2012

• Night-time temperatures were below to very much below average across most of central and eastern South Australia, but were warmer than average in the far west.
• The mean minimum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 1.01 °C below average, the lowest since 2012.
• Daytime temperatures were warmer than average throughout the state, including large areas of very much above average maximum temperatures.
• The mean maximum temperature for the state as a whole was 1.41 °C above average, which, after several very warm years, was the lowest since 2016.
• The overall mean temperature for South Australia was 0.20 °C warmer than average, the lowest since 2015.
• Clear skies and cold nights were common during the month and some sites had their lowest July temperature on record.
• The current Snowtown (Rayville Park) site equalled or exceeded its coldest July night on record 4 times during the month and its -4.5 °C on the 28th not only equalled the current site's record for any month, it was also below the record for the old Snowtown site (-4.4 °C on 10 July 1959), with data back to 1908.
• Several sites had their lowest July mean daily minimum temperature on record or their lowest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
• The cold nights resulted in some sites equalling their lowest July mean temperature on record or having their lowest July mean temperature since 1998.
• Year-to-date daytime temperatures have tended to be cooler than average in the state's south-east but warmer than average in the west, while night-time temperatures have been cooler than average in many central and eastern districts so far this year.

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 lower value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* note: This includes an estimated daily rainfall total of 6.2 mm for the 2nd at Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira).

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top