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

South Australia in November 2020: warmest on record

Rainfall in November was below to very much below average across most of South Australia, making it the state's driest November since 1990. Daytime and night-time temperatures were very much above average for November and the overall mean temperature was the state's highest on record.

Driest since 1990

  • Rainfall in November was below to very much below average across most of South Australia.
  • Rainfall in November was 71% below average for South Australia as a whole, the state's driest November since 1990.
  • Little or no rain fell across much of the Northeast Pastoral district.
  • Rainfall totals were more than 25 mm below average in the Lower South East.
  • Several cold fronts and low pressure troughs crossed the state during the month, bringing isolated showers and thunderstorms with gusty winds at times.

Warmest on record

  • Daytime temperatures in November were very much above average across South Australia, including large areas of highest on record across the northern Pastoral districts.
  • Large areas of the state had mean maximum temperatures more than 4 °C warmer than average.
  • The mean maximum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 4.38 °C above average, the highest on record (the previous highest was +3.62 °C in 2012).
  • The highest temperature recorded for the month was 48.0 °C at Andamooka on the 28th, which was South Australia's highest temperature on record for November and highest recorded anywhere in Australia during November since 48.5 °C at Birdsville on 30 November 2006.
  • Earlier in the month, Oodnadatta recorded 47.4 °C on the 15th, which, at the time, equalled the state's second-highest temperature on record for November.
  • On the 10th, raised dust was observed about the Mid North and Eyre Peninsula as hot to very hot and windy conditions developed ahead of a change.
  • Night-time temperatures were above to very much above average across South Australia during November.
  • The mean minimum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 2.33 °C above average, the fourth-highest on record and highest since 2009.
  • The state's overall mean temperature in November was 3.36 °C above average, the highest on record (previous highest was +3.01 °C in 1914 and 2009).
  • On the 28th, numerous sites across the state's north and east had their highest November temperature on record and many of those same sites went on to have their highest November mean daily maximum temperature on record
  • Marree Aero and Snowtown (Rayville Park) had their warmest November night on record
  • Ernabella (Pukatja) had its highest November mean daily minimum temperature on record
  • Several sites had their highest November mean temperature on record

Further information

Media
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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in November 2020
Hottest day 48.0 °C at Andamooka on the 28th
47.5 °C at Marree Aero on the 28th
47.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 15th
47.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 28th
47.4 °C at Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) on the 28th
Warmest days on average 37.8 °C at Moomba Airport and Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 22.0 °C at Robe
Coldest day 11.2 °C at Mount Lofty on the 12th
Coldest night 0.1 °C at Keith (Munkora) on the 1st
Coolest nights on average 9.8 °C at Kingscote Aero
Warmest nights on average 21.5 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 30.9 °C at Moomba Airport on the 28th
Warmest on average overall 29.7 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall 16.9 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 50.4 mm at Mount Gambier Aero
Wettest day 25.2 mm at Mount Gambier Aero on the 29th
Strongest wind gust 124 km/h at Sellicks Hill (Mount Terrible Radar) on the 22nd

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 November temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Woomera Aerodrome 46.9 on the 28th 44.9 on the 19th in 2009 72 29.9
Oodnadatta Airport 47.4 on the 28th 47.3 on the 29th in 2006 71 33.8
Andamooka 48.0 on the 28th 45.7 on the 22nd in 2014 52 31.9
Hawker 44.5 on the 28th 44.0 on the 18th in 2009 48 29.4
Arkaroola 44.5 on the 28th 44.4 on the 18th in 2009 43 30.3
Leigh Creek Airport 46.0 on the 28th 45.2 on the 18th in 2009 37 30.8
Coober Pedy Airport 45.9 on the 28th 45.4 on the 29th in 2006 27 32.2
Moomba Airport 47.1 on the 28th 47.0 on the 30th in 2006 26 34.1
Ernabella (Pukatja) 43.5 on the 28th 41.8 on the 25th in 2012 24 31.6
Marree Aero 47.5 on the 28th 46.8 on the 18th in 2009 23 33.7
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 47.4 on the 28th 46.1 on the 22nd in 2014 23 32.1
Yunta Airstrip 44.6 on the 28th 43.5 on the 18th in 2009 23 28.6


Record highest November mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 28.8 28.4 in 1911 95 24.4
Woomera Aerodrome 34.1 33.2 in 2009 71 29.9
Oodnadatta Airport 37.8 37.5 in 2012 70 33.8
Andamooka 35.0 34.8 in 1982 51 31.9
Arkaroola 33.6 33.3 in 2012 42 30.3
Leigh Creek Airport 34.4 34.3 in 2012 36 30.8
Whyalla Aero 30.7 = 30.7 in 2009 35 26.6
Nullarbor 30.1 29.2 in 2009 34 26.1
Coober Pedy Airport 35.8 35.2 in 2012 26 32.2
Ernabella (Pukatja) 35.9 35.3 in 2006 23 31.6
Tarcoola Aero 35.4 34.8 in 2012 23 31.7
Marree Aero 36.7 36.2 in 2012 22 33.7
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 35.0 34.7 in 2012 22 32.1


Record highest November daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Marree Aero 30.7 on the 21st 30.3 on the 28th in 2006 23 17.7
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 23.6 on the 22nd 23.3 on the 5th in 2012 23 10.3


Record highest November mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Ernabella (Pukatja) 20.4 20.1 in 2006 23 16.9


Record highest November mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Nullarbor 22.1 22.0 in 2009 34 19.3
Coober Pedy Airport 27.5 27.4 in 2012 26 24.9
Moomba Airport 29.7 29.3 in 2012 25 26.8
Ernabella (Pukatja) 28.1 27.7 in 2006 23 24.2
Tarcoola Aero 26.2 25.6 in 2012 23 23.5
Marree Aero 27.8 = 27.8 in 2009 22 25.7


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for November 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
November
2020		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
November
2020		 Mean for
November
2020		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
November
2020		 Total for
November
2020		 Average
for
November		 Rank of
November
2020		 Fraction of
November
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 35.0 +3.1 48.0 28th 18.3 +1.2 12.0 5th 0.2 14.1 v low 1%
Coober Pedy Airport 35.8 +3.6 45.9 28th 19.1 +1.5 10.9 5th 2.6 13.3 low 20%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 35.9 +4.3 43.5 28th 20.4 +3.5 13.2 12th 6.6 26.1 low 25%
Mount Ive 33.0   42.0 27th       0.7 18.3 v low 4%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 35.0 +2.9 47.4 28th 17.5 +1.1 11.2 5th 0 12.8 lowest 0%
Tarcoola Aero 35.4 +3.7 44.3 27th 16.9 +1.5 8.5 5th 0.2 20.3 lowest 1%
Woomera Aerodrome 34.1 +4.2 46.9 28th 17.0 +1.6 10.2 5th 1.6 16.4 low 10%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 33.6 +3.3 44.5 28th 18.1 +2.7 10.0 5th 0.6 17.0 low 4%
Leigh Creek Airport 34.4 +3.6 46.0 28th 18.1 +1.9 10.1 6th 0 17.3 lowest 0%
Marree Aero 36.7 +3.0 47.5 28th 19.0 +1.3 10.8 6th 1.2 12.9 v low 9%
Moomba Airport 37.8 +3.7 47.1 28th 21.5 +2.1 12.2 6th 0.4 17.8 low 2%
Oodnadatta Airport 37.8 +4.0 47.4 28th 20.6 +2.0 12.8 1st 0 12.8 lowest 0%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 29.6 +3.5 42.9 10th 14.2 +1.9 6.0 17th 1.2 18.5 v low 6%
Cleve 28.9 +4.0 42.1 27th 13.5 +1.2 6.8 5th 4.4 27.3 v low 16%
Cleve Aerodrome     42.8 27th 13.1 +0.8 6.8 6th 3.4 21.3 v low 16%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 24.6   35.0 10th 14.1   8.2 14th 18.4
Cultana (Defence) 31.8   43.6 15th 15.3   7.7 6th 2.8
Cummins Aero 29.2 +2.8 40.7 10th 11.6 +0.5 0.6 5th 9.6 18.1 low 53%
Elliston 27.7 +4.1 40.9 10th 14.4 +1.3 7.2 6th 4.8 19.3 low 25%
Kimba 30.4 +3.2 43.0 27th 11.5 -0.5 4.8 6th 3.0 23.0 low 13%
Minnipa PIRSA 31.4 +2.8 43.5 27th 14.3 +1.8 5.4 5th 1.0 16.3 lowest 6%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 25.2 +2.1 39.7 10th 12.1 +0.1 6.9 14th 10.4 18.6 average 56%
Nullarbor 30.1 +4.0 46.4 27th 14.2 +1.7 6.0 17th 0.4 17.4 low 2%
Port Augusta Aero 33.2 +2.9 45.3 15th 15.7 +0.3 9.6 18th 1.8 18.6 lowest 10%
Streaky Bay 29.2 +3.6 41.6 10th 14.3 +1.0 7.4 7th 1.3 18.3 v low 7%
Whyalla Aero 30.7 +4.1 43.9 27th 14.5 +0.5 8.8 8th 3.8 21.7 low 18%
Wudinna Aero 32.0 +2.6 44.9 27th 13.4 +1.8 3.3 6th 2.6 16.3 low 16%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 32.1 +2.7 44.5 28th 15.5 +1.9 8.3 5th 0.1 22.4 v low 0%
Yongala 29.1 +3.3 40.7 28th 11.3 +2.1 3.0 6th 2.4 27.6 v low 9%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 32.3 +3.1 44.4 28th 12.5 +0.6 4.3 8th 5.4 28.2 lowest 19%
Yunta Airstrip 31.6 +3.0 44.6 28th 14.1 +1.6 6.5 6th 3.4 27.0 v low 13%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 28.0 +3.0 40.0 27th 11.1 +0.4 2.9 6th 15.0 35.3 low 42%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 31.5   44.1 27th 13.9   5.3 7th 5.8
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 31.5 +3.3 43.3 27th 11.3 +1.0 2.0 6th 5.0 26.3 lowest 19%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 26.4 +3.8 40.0 27th 13.6 +0.3 5.3 17th 9.2 17.6 average 52%
Kadina AWS 29.9 +2.4 43.4 27th 12.7 +1.5 4.4 6th 15.2 16.3 average 93%
Minlaton Aero 28.7 +2.8 39.5 27th 12.7 +0.9 4.4 5th 6.0 20.7 low 29%
Stenhouse Bay 24.9 +2.9 35.3 10th 14.0 +0.3 8.5 14th 15.8 20.6 average 77%
Warooka 27.1 +3.6 36.9 27th 13.8 +1.7 6.4 5th
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 22.3 +1.4 31.8 27th 13.1 +1.4 7.0 1st 7.6 26.5 low 29%
Cape Willoughby 22.6 +3.4 31.4 15th 13.9 +0.8 10.8 14th 15.2 27.7 average 55%
Kingscote Aero 25.5 +2.4 36.9 21st 9.8 +0.2 3.0 17th 11.2 21.5 average 52%
Parndana CFS AWS 24.1   37.3 27th 10.7   5.6 1st 18.8 24.1 average 78%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 28.8 +4.4 40.6 27th 15.0 +1.8 7.0 1st 13.8 30.5 low 45%
Adelaide Airport 28.0 +4.0 38.3 27th 14.5 +1.6 6.5 1st 10.2 24.3 low 42%
Edinburgh RAAF 29.7 +3.9 43.0 27th 14.1 +1.2 6.1 1st 14.6 23.9 average 61%
Parafield Airport 30.2 +4.8 42.1 27th 13.9 +1.1 5.4 1st 13.6 25.8 low 53%
Roseworthy AWS 31.3 +3.8 44.8 27th 11.7 +1.0 2.4 5th 9.0 25.0 low 36%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 28.6 +3.4 41.8 27th 11.0 +0.2 2.4 6th 19.0 30.8 low 62%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 26.2 +2.9 38.1 10th 13.4 +0.3 7.7 8th 8.2 20.3 low 40%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 24.4 +2.6 36.4 27th 11.8 +0.7 6.0 5th 23.8 35.1 average 68%
Mount Barker 26.1 +3.5 37.9 27th 10.5 +1.6 5.5 6th 23.2 39.6 average 59%
Mount Crawford AWS 25.5 +3.1 37.8 27th 12.0 +1.3 5.3 5th 21.6 32.2 average 67%
Mount Lofty 22.9 +5.1 34.8 27th 11.0 +1.8 4.4 5th 36.6 40.6 average 90%
Noarlunga 27.5 +2.8 38.3 27th 14.9 +0.9 7.6 5th 10.8 20.7 low 52%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 23.1 +3.6 34.4 27th 11.5 +0.8 7.5 1st 26.6 40.6 average 66%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 25.3 +2.7 37.7 27th 10.9 -0.6 6.4 8th 9.0 29.0 v low 31%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 31.3 +3.6 42.6 27th 12.4 +1.1 5.9 17th 11.0 22.3 average 49%
Renmark Aero 32.3 +3.3 45.0 28th 13.4 +1.0 6.8 17th 6.8 20.9 low 33%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 28.4 +3.8 41.2 27th 11.8 +1.4 6.8 7th 9.8 29.6 low 33%
Meningie 27.0 +3.9 37.4 21st 12.8 +1.5 5.4 8th 10.0 27.3 low 37%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 29.9 +2.9 42.7 27th 10.7 0.0 3.6 8th 4.6 20.7 v low 22%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 27.7 +3.2 40.6 27th 11.5 +0.2 5.1 8th 4.6 25.8 v low 18%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 29.3 +4.3 41.2 27th 12.2 +2.2 3.3 1st 11.4 31.4 low 36%
Keith (Munkora) 29.8 +3.1 42.6 27th 10.2 +1.6 0.1 1st 15.0 29.3 low 51%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 30.5 +3.1 44.0 27th 11.3 +0.9 2.5 5th 6.0 28.6 v low 21%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 24.2 +2.8 36.5 10th 11.9 +1.1 5.2 8th 18.8 26.2 average 72%
Coonawarra 25.9 +3.3 36.3 19th 10.6 +1.7 3.7 1st 33.6 35.6 average 94%
Mount Gambier Aero 24.9 +4.4 36.7 10th 10.5 +2.0 3.9 8th 50.4 46.4 average 109%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 27.2 +2.6 37.7 19th 10.5 +1.9 0.5 8th 29.2 34.0 average 86%
Padthaway South 27.0 +2.5 37.0 19th 10.7 +1.1 2.7 1st 21.8 29.9 low 73%
Robe 22.0 +2.4 31.0 10th 12.4 +0.9 6.9 1st 31.0 30.5 average 102%
Robe Airfield 23.8 +2.5 36.1 10th 11.5 +1.0 3.8 1st 27.4 32.8 average 84%

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 Tuesday 1 December 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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