South Australia in October 2021: mixed rainfall, cool nights in the south-east

October rainfall was below average in the north-west, but above average in the north-east and pockets of the agricultural areas. Daytime temperatures were mostly close to average, while nights were very much cooler than average for parts of the south-east but warmer than average for parts of the north-east and west.

Near average rainfall for most of the state

  • State-wide, October rainfall was 28% below average.
  • Parts of the north-west recorded less than 5 mm total rainfall for the month.
  • A cold front impacted south-east South Australia on the 4th bringing strong, gusty winds and heavy showers of rain and small hail.
  • A low pressure system towards the end of the month brought thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain. Several sites had their highest October daily rainfall on record.
  • Cool season (April to October) rainfall for South Australia overall was below average, with only parts of the agricultural areas and north-east recording near average totals.

Cool nights in the south-east

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in October 2021
Hottest day 43.3 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 27th
Warmest days on average 30.9 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 15.2 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 8.6 °C at Mount Lofty on the 4th
Coldest night -3.6 °C at Keith (Munkora) on the 11th
Coolest nights on average 4.6 °C at Keith (Munkora)
Warmest nights on average 15.6 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night 24.6 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 20th
Warmest on average overall 23.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall 10.9 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 108.8 mm at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Wettest day 66.6 mm at Wirrabara Forest on the 15th
Strongest wind gust 113 km/h at Neptune Island on the 4th

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 October daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Nangwarry Forestry SA Depot 37.2 on the 29th 35.0 on the 9th in 2020 28
Naracoorte Aerodrome 34.8 on the 29th 27.4 on the 9th in 2018 24
Padthaway South 42.2 on the 29th 26.4 on the 23rd in 2013 22
Adelaide (Keswick) 24.4 on the 15th 19.2 on the 5th in 2020 21
Bool Lagoon (Locksley Farm) 29.2 on the 29th 22.4 on the 8th in 2005 21



Highest October total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
October
Neptune Island 58.4 84.6 in 2000 26.3



Record lowest October temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Parafield Airport 1.4 on the 11th 1.6 on the 7th in 2010 65 10.2
Padthaway South -0.9 on the 11th -0.5 on the 9th in 2006 22 7.7
Keith (Munkora) -3.6 on the 11th -3.3 on the 21st in 2006 21 6.1



Record lowest October mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Padthaway South 6.3 6.6 in 2012 21 7.7
Keith (Munkora) 4.6 = 4.6 in 2012 20 6.1
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 7.6 7.8 in 2006 20 9.0

Lowest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
October
Keith 6.7 6.6 in 1987* 8.2
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 10.4 10.2 in 1956* 11.2

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




Summary statistics for October 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2021
Diff
from
average
Highest for
October
2021
Mean for
October
2021
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
October
2021
Total for
October
2021
Average
for
October
Rank of
October
2021
Fraction of
October
average
Eucla (district 11)
Eucla (Red Rocks Point) 22.4 -0.6 36.6 25th 11.8 -0.6 4.1 7th 21.0 17.2 average 122%
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 27.7 -0.7 38.4 28th 13.5 -0.2 9.0 8th 10.8 17.5 average 62%
Coober Pedy Airport 28.6 -0.4 39.1 27th 13.4 -0.9 8.3 11th 10.6 11.2 average 95%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 29.1 -0.2 38.1 19th 13.7 -0.7 7.0 11th 1.6 21.8 low 7%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 27.7 -1.0 37.9 28th 12.9 +0.1 5.3 5th 6.6 11.7 average 56%
Tarcoola Aero 27.9 -0.7 37.5 26th 11.4 -0.8 3.9 5th 6.2 16.1 average 39%
Woomera Aerodrome 26.9 +0.4 37.6 27th 12.0 -0.5 7.2 5th 11.6 15.3 average 76%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 26.3 -0.7 36.2 28th 11.4 -0.3 4.8 12th 26.6 18.6 high 143%
Leigh Creek Airport 26.3 -1.0 36.1 28th 12.6 -0.1 7.2 2nd 20.8 16.0 average 130%
Marree Aero 29.2 -1.0 38.9 28th 14.1 0.0 8.1 2nd 9.2 9.1 average 101%
Moomba Airport 30.3 -0.6 41.0 27th 15.4 -0.4 8.4 12th 11.6 9.4 high 123%
Oodnadatta Airport 30.9 +0.4 43.3 27th 15.6 +0.3 9.8 16th 7.0 13.3 average 53%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 24.7 +0.7 38.7 26th 9.8 -0.2 1.6 8th 14.8 24.9 average 59%
Cleve 21.9 -0.5 33.0 26th 10.0 -0.3 5.5 7th 31.0 36.1 average 86%
Cleve Aerodrome 22.1 -1.1 33.5 26th 8.9 -1.2 5.2 17th 22.8 28.7 average 79%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 19.9   33.0 26th 10.9   6.4 17th 50.8
Cultana (Defence) 25.3   37.0 28th 10.6   5.7 11th 9.2
Cummins Aero 21.8 -1.7 35.1 26th 7.1 -1.0 -1.0 7th 47.8 24.9 high 192%
Elliston 22.8 +1.0 36.9 26th 11.3 +0.1 2.9 8th 35.5 29.9 average 119%
Kimba 23.7 -0.4 32.5 26th 9.2 0.0 4.2 12th 28.6 30.1 average 95%
Kyancutta     33.4 19th 7.4 -1.0 -0.5 11th 16.4 25.6 average 64%
Minnipa PIRSA 24.5 -0.9 35.3 26th 9.4 -0.9 3.8 11th 26.2 21.8 average 120%
Neptune Island 17.2 -0.3 21.4 27th 12.2 -0.2 9.4 13th 58.4 26.3 v high 222%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 20.0 -1.0 29.4 26th 9.3 -0.3 3.7 7th 66.2 28.0 v high 236%
Nullarbor 24.7 -0.1 39.3 19th 9.7 -0.8 3.6 11th 18.2 17.9 average 102%
Port Augusta Aero 26.4 -0.9 38.6 28th 11.1 -0.8 4.7 5th 10.6 16.8 average 63%
Streaky Bay 23.7 +0.6 33.4 26th 10.6 -0.9 5.0 11th 25.1 25.8 average 97%
Whyalla Aero 24.0 -0.2 35.7 28th 10.6 -0.2 4.5 12th 15.2 22.6 average 67%
Wudinna Aero 25.5 -0.7 36.1 26th 7.9 -1.0 -1.2 11th 15.2 20.3 average 75%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 24.8 -1.2 35.4 28th 10.3 +0.3 4.0 5th 22.8 24.2 average 94%
Yongala 21.8 -0.2 34.0 28th 6.2 0.0 0.5 7th 16.7 32.7 average 51%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 24.8 -1.1 35.5 28th 7.7 -1.1 0.5 12th 24.0 21.8 average 110%
Yunta Airstrip 23.7 -1.7 34.9 28th 8.6 -0.8 1.8 8th 48.6 19.6 high 248%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 20.1 -1.2 30.8 28th 7.1 -0.8 1.2 30th 36.0 43.6 average 83%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 24.5   32.4 28th 9.1   2.0 11th 18.8
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 24.2 -0.4 34.8 28th 6.3 -0.9 -0.3 11th 19.6 26.0 average 75%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 19.3 -1.2 27.2 27th 10.5 -0.3 2.5 8th 38.6 28.8 high 134%
Kadina AWS 22.7 -1.6 31.7 28th 8.2 -0.2 1.8 8th 13.4 22.3 average 60%
Minlaton Aero 21.5 -1.2 31.4 26th 8.9 -0.5 2.1 7th 46.6 25.6 high 182%
Stenhouse Bay 18.9 -1.2 30.1 26th 11.0 -0.7 6.1 8th 44.2 29.5 high 150%
Warooka     29.0 26th 9.8 -0.4 4.9 10th 41.5 35.0 average 119%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 16.7 -1.5 23.9 26th 9.7 -0.4 5.7 10th 55.8 29.5 v high 189%
Cape Willoughby 16.8 -0.9 24.5 26th 11.4 -0.1 8.2 7th 57.4 41.1 high 140%
Kingscote Aero 18.9 -1.4 27.1 26th 6.9 -0.3 1.0 25th 43.8 30.0 high 146%
Parndana CFS AWS 17.2 -1.8 24.4 26th 7.8 -0.6 3.7 25th 65.2 33.7 v high 193%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 21.1 -0.3 29.5 26th 10.4 -0.8 6.1 11th 61.8 44.2 high 140%
Adelaide Airport 20.6 -0.6 29.5 26th 10.4 -0.4 6.0 8th 42.2 35.8 average 118%
Edinburgh RAAF 21.8 -0.6 30.8 26th 9.8 -0.3 2.9 11th 64.8 37.1 high 175%
Parafield Airport 22.0 -0.1 30.5 26th 9.5 -0.7 1.4 11th 57.8 40.1 high 144%
Roseworthy AWS 22.4 -1.4 31.7 26th 6.9 -0.9 -0.5 11th 54.6 32.0 high 171%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 19.8 -1.7 27.3 28th 7.1 -1.2 0.6 11th 56.4 36.2 high 156%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 19.4 -1.8 29.4 27th 10.3 -0.6 6.2 12th 39.6 27.6 average 143%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 17.3 -1.6 25.8 26th 8.1 -1.2 4.5 11th 63.2 52.3 high 121%
Mount Barker 19.6 0.0 25.6 27th 7.3 0.0 2.5 12th 62.2 65.6 average 95%
Mount Crawford AWS 16.7 -1.7 23.9 26th 7.2 -1.3 3.2 11th 76.6 47.1 high 163%
Mount Lofty 15.2 -0.1 23.1 26th 6.6 -0.9 3.0 11th 94.6 65.6 high 144%
Noarlunga 20.5 -1.0 29.6 26th 10.6 -1.0 6.4 8th 52.6 32.6 average 161%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 15.8 -1.2 24.5 26th 8.4 -0.6 5.2 25th 108.8 61.2 high 178%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 19.2 -1.5 28.7 27th 7.6 -1.4 3.4 8th 66.2 38.9 high 170%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 23.6 -0.9 33.0 28th 7.8 -0.7 2.1 11th 27.4 23.8 average 115%
Renmark Aero 24.3 -1.2 34.9 28th 8.2 -0.9 2.4 17th 9.0 23.5 average 38%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 20.0 -1.0 33.0 28th 7.2 -0.9 2.3 7th 41.5 39.3 average 106%
Meningie 20.3 -0.5 29.1 26th 8.9 -0.6 3.5 12th 48.2 38.5 average 125%
Murray Bridge 22.1 -1.0 29.7 26th 8.4 -0.7 4.1 8th 34.9 32.9 average 106%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 21.8 -2.3 30.4 26th 6.2 -1.4 0.0 12th 35.6 18.8 high 189%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 19.8 -1.9 28.4 27th 7.9 -1.0 3.2 12th 53.8 34.2 high 157%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 20.8 -1.0 29.5 27th 6.7 -1.5 -0.8 11th 49.9 41.1 average 121%
Keith (Munkora) 21.3 -1.4 29.6 27th 4.6 -1.5 -3.6 11th 27.0 26.6 average 102%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 17.7 -1.0 25.2 26th 8.4 -0.8 3.3 12th 38.6 32.2 average 120%
Coonawarra 18.4 -1.2 29.2 27th 6.6 -0.7 1.1 10th 63.8 45.1 high 141%
Mount Gambier Aero 17.6 -0.5 28.3 27th 6.8 -0.4 1.4 14th 83.4 60.4 high 138%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 18.9 -1.8 28.8 27th 6.1 -0.9 -1.6 11th 76.2 39.0 high 195%
Padthaway South 19.3 -1.6 28.9 27th 6.3 -1.4 -0.9 11th 77.2 38.5 v high 201%
Robe 17.2 -0.5 24.2 26th 9.7 -0.6 4.9 12th 53.9 43.9 high 123%
Robe Airfield 17.4 -1.6 25.9 27th 7.9 -0.7 3.1 14th 52.6 34.2 average 154%

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 9 am on Wednesday 3 November 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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