Thursday, 1 October 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0
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
- Daytime temperatures in September were above average across the state, with very much above average temperatures in the north and areas surrounding the Spencer Gulf.
- Mean maximum temperatures were more than 3 degrees warmer than average in the state's north.
- The mean maximum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 2.99 °C above average, the equal fifth-warmest days on record for September and highest since 2013.
- Night-time temperatures in September were above to very much above average across the state.
- The mean minimum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 2.62 °C above average, the second-highest on record for September behind 2013.
- The state's overall mean temperature was 2.80 °C above average, making it the second-warmest September on record for South Australia as a whole and highest since 2013.
- On the 10th, Nullarbor reached 38.6 °C, an early-season record for South Australia and its highest September temperature on record.
- On the 25th, Hawker had its coldest September day on record.
- Elliston had its highest September mean daily maximum temperature on record.
- On the 17th and 18th, Ernabella (Pukatja) and Snowtown (Rayville Park) had their warmest September nights on record respectively.
- Several sites had their highest September mean daily minimum temperature on record or their highest September mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps | |||
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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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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 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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% |
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 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
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence