South Australia in September 2020: warm throughout the state, wet across the north

Both daytime and night-time temperatures were warmer than average across the state and the state's overall mean temperature for September was the second-highest on record. Rainfall in September was above to very much above average across the Pastoral districts and generally close to average for the Agricultural districts, making it the state's overall wettest September since 2016.

Wettest September since 2016

  • Rainfall in September was 41% above average for South Australia as a whole, the state's wettest September since 2016.
  • Rainfall in September was above to very much above average across most of the Pastoral districts during September.
  • Rainfall totals were generally close to average in most Agricultural districts, though parts of the Eyre Peninsula received less than 80% of their September average.
  • It was a generally dry start to the month, with raised dust observed in the Northeast Pastoral and Flinders Ranges districts on the 2nd.
  • Several significant rain events crossed the northern Pastoral districts during the second half of September, each one bringing more than the monthly average in less than 24 hours to some areas.
  • The state's wettest day was the 19th, as a cold front brought more than 40 mm to some northern areas.
  • Numerous sites had their highest September daily rainfall on record on the 19th and 20th.
  • A daily rainfall total of 93.0 mm at Marree Aero on the 19th more than tripled its previous highest September daily rainfall record (28.8 mm on 4 September 2010).
  • Mount Eba, with 104 years of rainfall observations, recorded its highest September daily rainfall of 98.5 mm on the 19th, which was nearly 10 times its September monthly average.
  • On the 25th, a cold front brought widespread showers, isolated thunderstorms, small hail and gusty winds; snow also fell about the ranges in the Mid North, southern Flinders Ranges and Mount Lofty.
  • Mount Eba and Marree Aero had their highest total September rainfall on record, and a few sites in the north had their highest total September rainfall for at least 20 years.

Second-warmest September on record

Further information

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Extremes in September 2020
Hottest day 38.6 °C at Nullarbor on the 10th
Warmest days on average 29.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 14.7 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 7.3 °C at Mount Lofty on the 25th
Coldest night -2.1 °C at Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) on the 1st
Coolest nights on average 5.8 °C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average 14.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night 23.1 °C at Marree Aero on the 18th
Warmest on average overall 21.9 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall 10.8 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 147.2 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse)
Wettest day 98.5 mm at Mount Eba on the 19th
Strongest wind gust 104 km/h at Cape Willoughby 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 September daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Boolcoomatta 51.4 on the 20th 41.9 on the 19th in 1915 134
Marree (Farina) 55.0 on the 19th 41.7 on the 19th in 1946 118
Mount Eba 98.5 on the 19th 63.8 on the 8th in 1949 104
Morchard (The Rocks) 38.0 on the 19th 31.0 on the 23rd in 2009 83
Woomera Aerodrome 41.0 on the 19th 27.9 on the 7th in 1949 71
Maralinga 53.0 on the 18th 52.2 on the 26th in 1982 53
Parachilna (Motpena) 41.0 on the 19th 39.0 on the 4th in 2010 52
Mount Ive 40.0 on the 19th 32.0 on the 25th in 2005 51
Strathearn 35.0 on the 20th 24.0 on the 21st in 2016 31
Marree (Callanna) 18.0 on the 19th =18.0 on the 18th in 2016 23
Marree Aero 93.0 on the 19th 28.8 on the 4th in 2010 23
Minburra 35.0 on the 19th 31.0 on the 4th in 2010 23
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 24.6 on the 19th 24.0 on the 3rd in 2005 23



Record highest September total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
September
Mount Eba 98.5 73.8 in 1949 105 10.9
Marree Aero 93.4 64.6 in 2010 23 12.2

Highest September total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
September
Marree (Farina) 55.4 60.1 in 1975 10.8
Tarcoola (Mobella) 44.2 110.8 in 1979* 14.1
Maralinga 64.3 145.0 in 1982* 20.0

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




Record highest September temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
September
Elliston 35.0 on the 7th 34.5 on the 29th in 1980 59 19.3
Nullarbor 38.6 on the 10th 38.5 on the 24th in 1990 34 22.6



Record lowest September daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
September
Hawker 11.2 on the 25th 11.5 on the 29th in 2016 47 21.8



Record highest September mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
September
Elliston 22.2 22.1 in 2013 58 19.3

Record highest September daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
September
Ernabella (Pukatja) 22.2 on the 17th 22.0 on the 21st in 2003 24 10.7
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 16.3 on the 18th 14.0 on the 23rd in 2001 23 5.2



Record highest September mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
September
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 11.3 11.1* in 1973 95 9.2
Hawker 10.0 9.7 in 1999 46 6.7
Marree Aero 13.0 12.8 in 2013 22 10.5
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 12.4 11.0 in 2009 22 9.1

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


Highest September mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
September
Ernabella (Pukatja) 13.9 17.8 in 1998 10.7
Moomba Airport 13.6 13.8 in 2000 12.0
Yongala 5.8 6.1 in 2000 4.0



Summary statistics for September 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
September
2020
Diff
from
average
Highest for
September
2020
Mean for
September
2020
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
September
2020
Total for
September
2020
Average
for
September
Rank of
September
2020
Fraction of
September
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 26.4 +1.7 32.8 20th 12.4 +2.0 6.5 27th 5.6 11.7 average 48%
Coober Pedy Airport 27.3 +1.6 36.0 7th 12.1 +1.0 6.7 26th 9.4 8.9 average 106%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 28.6 +2.4 34.6 8th 13.9 +3.2 6.9 26th 11.2 12.4 average 90%
Mount Ive 23.9   32.0 11th     9.0 3rd 56.0 23.0 v high 243%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 25.6 +0.3 32.7 16th 12.4 +3.3 5.6 26th 38.4 9.9 v high 388%
Tarcoola Aero 26.1 +0.7 36.5 7th 11.0 +2.1 2.8 26th 23.4 9.8 high 239%
Woomera Aerodrome 25.0 +2.2 32.0 11th 11.6 +2.1 5.1 26th 46.4 14.6 v high 318%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 25.1 +1.7 33.3 8th 12.1 +2.8 3.3 1st 22.2 17.8 high 125%
Marree Aero 27.5 +0.9 36.5 17th 13.0 +2.5 6.0 1st 93.4 12.2 highest 766%
Moomba Airport 28.3 +1.1 34.9 17th 13.6 +1.6 6.8 1st 20.0 14.7 high 136%
Oodnadatta Airport 29.5 +2.8 37.0 20th 14.2 +2.7 6.2 26th 6.0 10.1 average 59%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 23.4 +1.9 37.9 7th 9.7 +1.9 1.9 5th 21.8 26.5 average 82%
Cleve 21.7 +2.2 31.5 18th 9.0 +0.4 2.6 25th 35.4 42.1 average 84%
Cleve Aerodrome 21.9 +1.7 32.6 11th 9.9 +1.4 3.5 27th 28.4 35.5 average 80%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 19.4   28.6 10th 11.0   5.0 27th 40.6
Cultana (Defence) 23.4   32.1 18th 10.7   3.5 26th 33.8
Cummins Aero 20.4 +0.9 31.3 7th 7.0 +1.0 -0.9 26th 57.8 40.3 high 143%
Elliston 22.2 +2.9 35.0 7th 11.3 +1.8 4.4 15th 29.3 39.3 average 75%
Kimba 22.0 +1.6 32.0 11th 9.1 +2.1 2.0 26th 52.4 36.7 high 143%
Minnipa PIRSA 23.0 +1.3 33.6 7th 9.8 +1.6 2.4 26th 33.2 27.7 average 120%
Neptune Island 16.7 +0.5 20.7 7th 12.1 +0.5 7.1 25th 35.6 44.9 average 79%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 19.2 +0.5 31.5 7th 9.0 +1.1 2.8 1st 73.2 40.1 high 183%
Nullarbor 23.6 +1.0 38.6 10th 9.5 +1.6 3.1 26th 28.8 17.7 high 163%
Port Augusta Aero 25.0 +1.1 33.9 18th 10.3 +2.0 1.5 1st 35.4 18.2 high 195%
Streaky Bay 22.3 +2.0 33.4 7th 11.1 +1.2 6.3 26th 34.3 35.1 average 98%
Whyalla Aero 22.8 +1.1 33.0 18th 9.4 +1.3 1.6 1st 29.4 25.7 high 114%
Wudinna Aero 24.2 +1.7 33.6 7th 9.2 +2.1 1.9 26th 8.0 24.7 low 32%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 21.7 -0.1 28.7 8th 10.0 +3.3 2.4 28th 17.0 27.3 average 62%
Yongala 19.5 +1.5 28.0 18th 5.8 +1.8 -1.6 27th 68.0 37.9 high 179%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 23.2 +0.6 31.5 18th 7.8 +1.3 -2.0 1st 48.4 24.3 high 199%
Yunta Airstrip 22.0 +0.1 31.1 18th 8.3 +1.8 1.3 27th 51.4 16.4 high 313%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 18.5 +1.1 26.6 11th 7.5 +1.5 -0.7 27th 65.0 58.9 average 110%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 23.7   33.3 18th 9.2   1.9 27th 30.8
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 22.4 +2.0 30.9 18th 7.2 +2.0 -0.7 27th 37.4 38.9 average 96%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 18.9 +1.2 28.5 20th 9.2 +0.7 3.8 6th 51.0 44.0 average 116%
Kadina AWS 21.5 +1.2 31.7 18th 8.4 +2.4 0.3 27th 38.0 33.6 average 113%
Minlaton Aero 20.7 +1.6 30.8 18th 9.0 +1.2 1.2 26th 1.2 33.6 lowest 4%
Stenhouse Bay 18.5 +0.5 27.1 7th 10.9 +0.6 4.3 1st 62.2 45.3 high 137%
Warooka 18.9 +1.0 26.2 20th 9.2 +0.5 4.3 26th 49.3 45.8 average 108%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 16.4 +0.4 25.5 18th 10.3 +1.0 4.5 25th 71.4 47.0 high 152%
Cape Willoughby 16.8 +0.9 23.5 7th 10.9 +0.5 5.5 25th 71.8 56.4 high 127%
Kingscote Aero 18.2 +0.4 24.3 7th 7.4 +1.0 0.6 1st 78.6 46.9 high 168%
Parndana CFS AWS 16.4   22.9 7th 8.4   3.3 25th 92.8 63.6 high 146%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 20.5 +2.1 29.3 11th 11.3 +2.1 4.8 27th 57.6 50.9 average 113%
Adelaide Airport 20.5 +2.3 30.2 7th 11.0 +2.0 4.3 27th 41.4 45.0 average 92%
Edinburgh RAAF 21.2 +2.2 29.8 11th 10.2 +2.1 3.6 1st 45.2 47.3 average 96%
Parafield Airport 21.9 +2.9 30.8 11th 9.6 +1.4 1.9 27th 36.4 44.0 average 83%
Roseworthy AWS 21.5 +1.7 30.9 11th 7.7 +1.4 1.5 1st 49.8 46.3 average 108%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 18.6 +0.8 26.5 7th 7.9 +1.3 -0.3 27th 50.2 59.3 average 85%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 19.4 +0.7 29.1 7th 10.0 +0.7 3.7 1st 49.0 40.9 high 120%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 16.9 +0.8 25.8 7th 8.7 +0.7 3.8 25th 83.4 75.5 average 110%
Mount Barker 18.3 +1.7 25.7 11th 7.9 +2.0 2.2 27th 59.4 85.2 low 70%
Mount Crawford AWS 15.9 +0.8 23.5 11th 7.5 +0.2 1.3 25th 74.0 72.2 average 102%
Mount Lofty 14.7 +2.4 23.1 11th 7.0 +0.9 0.9 25th 117.0 111.6 average 105%
Noarlunga 19.9 +1.4 29.4 7th 11.3 +1.1 5.4 1st 56.2 43.9 high 128%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 15.8 +1.3 23.7 7th 8.5 +0.5 3.2 25th 83.4 82.7 average 101%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 19.0 +0.6 29.6 7th 8.7 +1.2 2.0 1st 58.4 59.6 high 98%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 22.0 +1.1 29.2 7th 8.2 +1.8 -0.4 1st 27.6 27.1 average 102%
Renmark Aero 22.6 +0.5 29.7 7th 8.7 +2.1 -1.9 1st 33.6 24.3 average 138%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 18.3 +1.1 26.4 7th 7.5 +1.1 2.5 27th 47.2 48.5 average 97%
Meningie 19.4 +1.2 27.4 18th 9.1 +0.8 2.3 1st 46.0 48.0 average 96%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 20.8 +0.5 30.0 11th 6.7 +1.5 -2.1 1st 49.0 33.9 high 145%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 19.3 +0.6 28.1 7th 8.2 +0.6 1.2 1st 52.0 47.2 average 110%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 20.9 +0.6 30.1 18th 7.6 +1.3 1.6 10th 34.2 35.1 average 97%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 19.6 +1.0 27.4 7th 7.5 +0.5 1.2 15th 53.4 50.0 average 107%
Keith (Munkora) 19.1 +0.5 26.6 7th 6.2 +0.9 -0.5 10th 47.8 38.2 high 125%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 20.3 +0.7 28.6 18th 6.6 +1.4 -0.5 1st 45.2 31.3 high 144%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 16.9 +0.8 24.9 19th 8.8 +0.3 3.1 10th 75.8 48.9 high 155%
Coonawarra 17.6 +0.7 24.8 7th 7.1 +0.7 1.1 1st 82.8 61.9 high 134%
Mount Gambier Aero 17.3 +1.4 25.8 19th 7.2 +0.9 0.0 28th 93.6 72.5 high 129%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 17.7 +0.2 25.3 7th 7.3 +0.9 -1.6 10th 68.6 52.9 high 130%
Padthaway South 18.1 +0.4 26.1 7th 7.5 +0.5 -0.2 10th 67.2 44.8 high 150%
Robe Airfield 17.3 +0.6 25.9 7th 8.7 +0.8 0.7 9th 89.6 55.1 high 163%

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 Thursday 1 October 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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