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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
(03) 9669 4057

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

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 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




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%

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
(03) 9669 4057

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