Thursday, 1 April 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0
South Australia in March 2021: wet in the north, cool days
Rainfall in March was above to very much above average in the northern Pastoral districts, but totals were close to average or below average in many southern areas of the state. Overall, it was the state's wettest March since 2016. Daytime temperatures were below average in the north, but closer to average in the south. The mean maximum temperature for South Australia as a whole was the lowest in March since 2012. Night-time temperatures were generally cooler than average in the east, but near-average or warmer than average in the west.
Wettest state-wide since 2016
- Rainfall in March was 66% above average for South Australia as a whole, the state's wettest March since 2016.
- On the 21st and 22nd, parts of far northern South Australia received 50–100 mm in 24 hours, including 118.0 mm at Mount Dare. The heavy rain caused ponding and overland flow that covered roads and delayed transport. Tieyon recorded a daily total of 100.4 mm, its highest March daily rainfall on record.
- Much of the state's north-east recorded more than double its March average rainfall.
- Tieyon had its highest total March rainfall on record and Mount Dare had its highest total March rainfall since 1989.
- The southern half of the state though recorded average to below average March rainfall, with some southern and eastern areas recording less than half their March average.
- Some eastern districts and southern coastal fringes recorded less than 10 mm for the month.
Coolest days since 2012
- Daytime temperatures were below average in the north, but closer to average in the south.
- It was a hot start to the month for the Pastoral districts and the highest temperature recorded for the month was 43.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 2nd.
- On the 21st and 22nd, maximum temperatures were more than 12 °C below average in areas of the Pastoral districts and Marree Aero had its coldest March day on record.
- The mean maximum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 0.07 °C below average, the lowest for March since 2012.
- Night-time temperatures were generally cooler than average in the east, but average or warmer than average in the west.
- The mean minimum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 0.22 °C above average.
- Eudunda had its lowest March mean daily minimum temperature since 1997.
- The mean temperature for South Australia as a whole was 0.08 °C above average, making it the state's overall coolest March since 2015.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Extremes in March 2021 | |
---|---|
Hottest day |
43.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 2nd |
Warmest days on average |
33.1 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
Coolest days on average |
20.1 °C at Cape Willoughby |
Coldest day |
15.1 °C at Mount Lofty on the 15th |
Coldest night |
1.3 °C at Coonawarra on the 14th |
Coolest nights on average |
9.3 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome |
Warmest nights on average |
19.9 °C at Moomba Airport |
Warmest night |
28.1 °C at Moomba Airport on the 9th |
Warmest on average overall |
26.2 °C at Moomba Airport
and Oodnadatta Airport |
Coolest on average overall |
16.0 °C at Mount Lofty |
Wettest overall |
127.8 mm at Mount Dare |
Wettest day |
118.0 mm at Mount Dare on the 22nd |
Strongest wind gust |
78 km/h at Oodnadatta Airport on the 13th
and at Moomba Airport on the 26th |
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 March daily rainfall | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
Tieyon | 100.4 | on the 22nd | 49.4 | on the 1st in 2012 | 27 |
Record highest March total rainfall | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
Tieyon | 115.0 | 112.4 | in 2001 | 27 | 17.6 |
Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
Mount Dare | 127.8 | 320.1 | in 1989 | 21.2 |
Record lowest March daily maximum temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
|||
Marree Aero | 19.9 | on the 22nd | 20.7 | on the 28th in 2007 | 23 | 33.8 |
Lowest March mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for March |
|||
Eudunda | 10.7 | 9.3 | in 1997 | 12.3 |
* 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
Summary statistics for March 2021 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for March 2021 |
Diff from average |
Highest for March 2021 |
Mean for March 2021 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for March 2021 |
Total for March 2021 |
Average for March |
Rank of March 2021 |
Fraction of March average |
|||
Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
Andamooka | 31.0 | -1.3 | 39.7 | 12th | 19.1 | +0.8 | 13.3 | 15th | 41.2 | 14.0 | v high | 294% |
Coober Pedy Airport | 31.4 | -0.6 | 40.3 | 12th | 18.7 | +0.2 | 12.7 | 15th | 22.8 | 10.9 | high | 209% |
Ernabella (Pukatja) | 29.8 | -1.8 | 38.6 | 2nd | 17.3 | -0.4 | 10.3 | 31st | 48.4 | 26.1 | high | 185% |
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 31.1 | -1.1 | 39.8 | 12th | 17.8 | +0.6 | 12.5 | 15th | 25.6 | 7.9 | v high | 324% |
Tarcoola Aero | 32.0 | +0.3 | 40.9 | 1st | 16.9 | +0.7 | 8.0 | 15th | 14.6 | 17.3 | average | 84% |
Woomera Aerodrome | 30.5 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 12th | 17.1 | +0.2 | 11.1 | 14th | 13.6 | 12.9 | high | 105% |
Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
Arkaroola | 28.8 | -1.3 | 38.1 | 1st | 16.6 | +0.7 | 11.5 | 15th | 41.6 | 29.3 | high | 142% |
Leigh Creek Airport | 29.9 | -1.5 | 38.5 | 1st | 17.3 | -0.2 | 8.7 | 15th | 19.6 | 18.4 | high | 107% |
Marree Aero | 31.9 | -1.9 | 41.0 | 1st | 18.2 | -0.6 | 10.0 | 15th | 33.6 | 10.9 | high | 308% |
Moomba Airport | 32.4 | -1.7 | 41.0 | 1st | 19.9 | -0.7 | 12.8 | 15th | 98.6 | 26.2 | high | 376% |
Oodnadatta Airport | 33.1 | -0.7 | 43.0 | 2nd | 19.2 | -0.1 | 11.4 | 15th | 53.6 | 14.2 | v high | 377% |
Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
Ceduna AMO | 27.3 | +0.6 | 37.3 | 12th | 13.3 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 15th | 18.0 | 15.9 | high | 113% |
Cleve | 25.2 | -0.7 | 35.0 | 12th | 14.5 | -0.3 | 10.1 | 15th | 29.0 | 21.8 | high | 133% |
Cleve Aerodrome | 25.6 | -0.5 | 35.4 | 12th | 13.9 | -0.7 | 10.2 | 14th | 21.6 | 21.6 | average | 100% |
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) | 22.8 | 30.7 | 21st | 14.3 | 11.4 | 15th | 3.0 | |||||
Cultana (Defence) | 28.3 | 35.6 | 12th | 15.0 | 9.8 | 14th | 27.0 | |||||
Cummins Aero | 27.1 | -0.1 | 34.1 | 12th | 12.1 | -1.3 | 2.6 | 14th | 4.4 | 15.0 | average | 29% |
Elliston | 24.5 | +0.2 | 32.0 | 12th | 14.1 | -0.3 | 8.1 | 14th | 15.6 | 14.8 | average | 105% |
Kimba | 27.3 | -0.7 | 35.0 | 12th | 13.6 | -0.4 | 9.0 | 14th | 29.2 | 16.9 | high | 173% |
Kyancutta | 30.2 | +0.3 | 37.7 | 12th | 13.0 | +0.6 | 6.6 | 15th | 19.0 | 14.0 | high | 136% |
Minnipa PIRSA | 29.0 | +0.2 | 36.7 | 12th | 14.3 | +0.1 | 7.8 | 14th | 9.6 | 18.6 | average | 52% |
Neptune Island | 21.4 | +0.3 | 25.2 | 21st | 16.2 | +0.2 | 14.2 | 14th | 3.0 | 18.2 | low | 16% |
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 24.4 | 0.0 | 35.3 | 12th | 14.1 | -0.5 | 9.6 | 15th | 4.0 | 16.9 | low | 24% |
Nullarbor | 26.2 | -0.5 | 35.4 | 12th | 14.4 | +0.1 | 8.4 | 25th | 10.2 | 20.9 | average | 49% |
Port Augusta Aero | 30.0 | -0.5 | 38.3 | 12th | 16.9 | +0.3 | 12.3 | 15th | 10.2 | 13.2 | average | 77% |
Streaky Bay | 27.3 | +0.1 | 35.0 | 12th | 14.5 | -0.3 | 10.4 | 14th | 6.2 | 14.8 | average | 42% |
Whyalla Aero | 26.7 | -0.6 | 36.4 | 12th | 15.4 | -0.2 | 11.0 | 30th | 25.6 | 18.1 | high | 141% |
Wudinna Aero | 29.4 | -0.1 | 37.3 | 12th | 12.9 | -0.1 | 7.3 | 15th | 19.0 | 16.4 | average | 116% |
Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
Hawker | 28.9 | -1.3 | 36.1 | 1st | 15.3 | +0.3 | 9.4 | 14th | 4.8 | 16.2 | average | 30% |
Yongala | 25.9 | -1.3 | 32.2 | 12th | 11.4 | +0.5 | 4.0 | 14th | 12.0 | 16.2 | average | 74% |
Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 28.3 | -1.2 | 35.0 | 12th | 12.0 | -0.3 | 4.5 | 15th | 6.8 | 12.8 | average | 53% |
Yunta Airstrip | 27.1 | -1.9 | 34.8 | 12th | 12.6 | -0.3 | 5.5 | 15th | 16.8 | 11.8 | average | 142% |
Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
Clare High School | 26.0 | -0.2 | 31.7 | 12th | 11.9 | -0.3 | 4.0 | 15th | 18.6 | 23.2 | average | 80% |
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS | 29.3 | 35.2 | 12th | 14.7 | 7.2 | 14th | 16.4 | |||||
Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 28.5 | -0.2 | 34.0 | 12th | 11.7 | -0.4 | 5.1 | 15th | 11.0 | 17.2 | average | 64% |
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
Edithburgh | 23.2 | -0.4 | 32.9 | 12th | 15.4 | -0.3 | 9.3 | 15th | 20.4 | 16.5 | high | 124% |
Kadina AWS | 26.8 | -1.5 | 33.8 | 12th | 13.3 | -0.3 | 7.4 | 15th | 12.8 | 27.5 | average | 47% |
Minlaton Aero | 25.9 | -0.8 | 32.5 | 21st | 13.1 | -0.9 | 7.9 | 14th | 8.2 | 14.4 | average | 57% |
Stenhouse Bay | 23.2 | -0.2 | 31.8 | 12th | 15.8 | -0.2 | 11.2 | 26th | 4.6 | 18.5 | v low | 25% |
Warooka | 25.4 | +0.3 | 32.2 | 21st | 14.5 | -0.2 | 11.2 | 28th | 9.2 | 16.2 | average | 57% |
Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
Cape Borda | 22.0 | -0.5 | 27.9 | 20th | 13.6 | -0.1 | 9.4 | 14th | 11.8 | 22.4 | low | 53% |
Cape Willoughby | 20.1 | -0.7 | 27.6 | 12th | 15.6 | 0.0 | 12.9 | 28th | 8.0 | 21.0 | low | 38% |
Kingscote Aero | 24.9 | +0.3 | 31.7 | 12th | 11.3 | -0.1 | 5.6 | 14th | 6.2 | 22.6 | low | 27% |
Parndana CFS AWS | 23.8 | 30.6 | 21st | 11.6 | 6.2 | 14th | 6.0 | 16.4 | low | 37% | ||
Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) | 26.0 | 0.0 | 32.6 | 20th | 14.4 | -0.8 | 9.4 | 15th | 13.2 | 23.6 | average | 56% |
Adelaide Airport | 25.0 | -0.5 | 32.5 | 20th | 14.3 | -0.2 | 9.1 | 14th | 17.4 | 21.1 | average | 82% |
Edinburgh RAAF | 26.7 | -0.3 | 33.1 | 12th | 14.1 | -0.5 | 7.9 | 14th | 11.8 | 23.9 | average | 49% |
Parafield Airport | 27.2 | +0.3 | 33.3 | 20th | 13.7 | -0.9 | 7.6 | 14th | 11.2 | 21.7 | average | 52% |
Roseworthy AWS | 27.8 | -0.5 | 34.7 | 12th | 11.8 | -1.1 | 4.7 | 14th | 11.4 | 16.9 | average | 67% |
County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
Nuriootpa PIRSA | 25.5 | -0.5 | 32.3 | 12th | 11.4 | -0.6 | 3.7 | 15th | 15.0 | 24.7 | average | 61% |
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
Hindmarsh Island AWS | 23.0 | -1.0 | 32.4 | 12th | 14.0 | -0.5 | 8.5 | 3rd | 13.4 | 14.3 | average | 94% |
Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 22.7 | -0.6 | 29.3 | 12th | 12.1 | -0.7 | 7.5 | 14th | 31.6 | 33.0 | average | 96% |
Mount Barker | 25.1 | +0.4 | 31.8 | 12th | 10.2 | -0.3 | 6.1 | 15th | 28.2 | 30.9 | average | 91% |
Mount Crawford AWS | 23.2 | -0.3 | 29.5 | 12th | 11.4 | -0.8 | 6.5 | 14th | 15.0 | 26.9 | average | 56% |
Mount Lofty | 21.5 | +1.9 | 26.9 | 12th | 10.6 | -0.6 | 5.5 | 3rd | 23.6 | 39.1 | average | 60% |
Noarlunga | 25.1 | -0.6 | 32.3 | 20th | 14.8 | -0.9 | 9.8 | 14th | 20.8 | 19.4 | average | 107% |
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 21.0 | -0.2 | 28.9 | 20th | 12.3 | -0.7 | 9.3 | 14th | 7.6 | 33.2 | v low | 23% |
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 22.6 | -1.0 | 31.7 | 12th | 12.2 | -0.7 | 8.0 | 30th | 15.8 | 19.4 | average | 81% |
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
Loxton Research Centre | 27.6 | -0.8 | 33.9 | 12th | 11.7 | -0.5 | 5.7 | 15th | 6.0 | 11.3 | average | 53% |
Renmark Aero | 27.9 | -1.2 | 34.5 | 12th | 12.5 | -0.5 | 7.3 | 15th | 9.0 | 11.5 | average | 78% |
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
Eudunda | 25.4 | -0.4 | 32.0 | 12th | 10.7 | -1.6 | 5.6 | 14th | 18.4 | 20.6 | average | 89% |
Meningie | 24.7 | +0.3 | 32.8 | 12th | 11.8 | -0.9 | 6.7 | 3rd | 14.2 | 21.8 | average | 65% |
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 26.4 | -1.2 | 34.1 | 12th | 11.5 | -0.9 | 6.4 | 4th | 9.8 | 18.2 | average | 54% |
Strathalbyn Racecourse | 25.0 | -0.3 | 32.9 | 12th | 12.3 | -0.6 | 6.6 | 3rd | 16.4 | 17.2 | average | 95% |
Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
Keith | 26.1 | -0.8 | 33.0 | 12th | 10.4 | -1.1 | 4.0 | 2nd | 13.8 | 20.8 | average | 66% |
Keith (Munkora) | 26.6 | -1.0 | 33.4 | 12th | 9.7 | -0.6 | 2.3 | 2nd | 11.6 | 16.9 | average | 69% |
Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 26.9 | -1.1 | 33.6 | 12th | 10.6 | -1.4 | 4.0 | 14th | 6.2 | 16.3 | average | 38% |
Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 21.8 | -0.9 | 28.0 | 18th | 12.6 | +0.1 | 8.2 | 3rd | 8.0 | 21.2 | v low | 38% |
Coonawarra | 24.5 | -0.5 | 32.0 | 12th | 10.0 | -0.3 | 1.3 | 14th | 14.8 | 25.6 | average | 58% |
Mount Gambier Aero | 23.4 | +0.2 | 31.6 | 12th | 11.1 | +0.5 | 4.8 | 14th | 25.4 | 35.3 | average | 72% |
Naracoorte Aerodrome | 25.7 | -0.5 | 32.7 | 12th | 9.3 | -0.9 | 1.9 | 3rd | 6.6 | 22.9 | v low | 29% |
Padthaway South | 25.3 | -0.7 | 31.9 | 12th | 9.5 | -1.0 | 2.4 | 3rd | 14.8 | 23.3 | average | 64% |
Robe | 21.1 | 0.0 | 27.5 | 20th | 13.3 | +0.6 | 8.0 | 6th | 14.4 | 26.6 | average | 54% |
Robe Airfield | 22.0 | -1.2 | 29.1 | 21st | 11.2 | -0.2 | 4.1 | 3rd | 8.6 | 25.3 | v low | 34% |
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 April 2021. 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