Tuesday, 1 September 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in August 2020: wet in the north, warm in the west

Rainfall in August was above average in the northern Pastoral districts, but it was a drier than average month for the Eyre Peninsula and South East Agricultural districts. Large areas of the state's west had warmer than average daytime and night-time temperatures, however it was generally cooler than average in the state's south-east, including around Adelaide.

Wet across the north, dry in the south-east

• Rainfall for August was above to very much above average over most of the northern Pastoral districts.
• It was a drier than average month for southern areas though, including the Eyre Peninsula and South East Agricultural districts.
• For South Australia as a whole, August rainfall was 37% above average.
• The highest totals were in the Adelaide Hills and on Kangaroo Island, and Piccadilly (Woodhouse) was the wettest location with 147.1 mm.
• A low pressure system over the north of the state on the 6th and 7th brought rain and isolated thunderstorms to the northern Pastoral districts, with many areas receiving more than their August average rainfall in one day.
• On the 7th, snow settled on the ground in the Flinders Ranges and northern parts of the Mid North district, likely the most significant snow event for the region since October 1995.
• On the 18th, there was significant damage to at least seven properties in the Adelaide suburb of Morphett Vale from a cold season tornado.
• Strong, gusty winds persisted the following day across the state, producing blowing dust in the Northeast Pastoral district on the 19th.
• Coober Pedy Airport and Tieyon had their highest August daily rainfall on record.
• Several sites had their highest total August rainfall for at least 20 years.

Warm overall, but some cool days and nights in the east

• Despite some cool days, South Australia's mean maximum temperature for August was 0.88 °C above average.
• On the 7th, South Australia as a whole had its coldest August day on record, more than one degree below its previous coldest August day on 17 August 1947.
• Most of the state's west and north had warmer than average night-time temperatures, with the statewide mean minimum temperature 1.25 °C above average, which was the eighth-highest on record.
• Nights were cooler than average though in the South East, Murrayland, and Riverland districts.
• On the 6th and 7th, many sites had their coldest August day on record, including several that were the coldest on record for any month in winter.
• On the 5th, a number of sites had their lowest August temperature on record and the -6.3 °C at Gluepot was the equal second-lowest on record for South Australia in August.
• Nullarbor and Ernabella (Pukatja) had their highest August mean daily minimum temperature on record
• Kimba and Ceduna had their highest August mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years

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