Tuesday, 3 May 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in April 2022: Above average rainfall with warmer days and nights

Rainfall was above average across central and north-east parts with large parts having totals for the month in the highest 10% of historical observations since 1900, but it was drier than average across south-east coastal and adjacent agricultural areas. Daytime temperatures were above average across much of the state, though areas in the far south-west and parts of the east experienced daytime temperatures closer to average. Night-time temperatures were warmer than average across most of the state with large parts of the eastern half of the state having night-time temperatures in the highest 10% of historical observations since 1910.

Above average rainfall for most areas, but below average along the south-east coast

  • Rainfall in April was above average across central, eastern and north-east parts of the of the state with large areas reporting totals for the month in the highest 10% of historical observations since 1900.
  • South-east coastal areas and adjacent agricultural areas including much of the Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island recorded below average rainfall for April.
  • State-wide, April rainfall was 30.1% above average.
  • Much of the rainfall recorded in April was in the last week of the month with widespread heavy rainfall being recorded between the 25th and 27th and some sites recording their highest April daily rainfall on record.
  • The heavy rainfall at the end of the month resulted in large areas reporting three to four times their long-term monthly average rainfall for April and some sites having either their highest total April rainfall on record or highest total April rainfall for at least 20 years.

Warmer days and nights for most of South Australia

  • Daytime temperatures were warmer than average across most of the state, though closer to average across parts of the east and far south-west.
  • Across the state as a whole, the mean maximum temperature was 1.62 °C above average resulting in the warmest April daytime temperature since 2019.
  • Night-time temperatures were also warmer than average for most of South Australia, with much of the eastern half of the state reporting night-time temperatures in the highest 10% of historical observations since 1910.
  • The mean minimum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 1.90 °C above average and were the 8th warmest in the historical observations since 1910 with several locations recording their highest April mean daily minimum temperature on record.
  • Both daytime and night-time temperatures were persistently above average for much of the first half of April that also saw Ernabella (Pukatja) record its highest April daily maximum temperature and its warmest April night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in April 2022
Hottest day 40.7 °C at Nullarbor on the 13th
Warmest days on average 30.3 °C at Moomba Airport
30.3 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 18.3 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 13.1 °C at Mount Lofty on the 18th
Coldest night 0.8 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 13th
Coolest nights on average 9.2 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average 17.0 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 24.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 12th
24.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 14th
24.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 17th
Warmest on average overall 23.7 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall 14.3 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 86.2 mm at Penong
Wettest day 68.6 mm at Woomera Aerodrome on the 26th
Strongest wind gust 81 km/h at Sellicks Hill (Mount Terrible Radar) on the 1st

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 April daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Woomera Aerodrome 68.6 on the 26th 46.2 on the 28th in 1963 74
Mount Ive 37.8 on the 26th 33.8 on the 10th in 2014 51
Moomba Airport 36.4 on the 26th 30.2 on the 12th in 2000 27
Gammon Ranges (Moolawatana) 63.2 on the 26th 19.2 on the 10th in 2014 24
Marree (Callanna) 44.0 on the 25th 28.0 on the 11th in 2000 24
Marree Aero 45.2 on the 26th 40.0 on the 11th in 2000 24
Elliston (Three Lakes) 27.0 on the 25th 22.0 on the 15th in 2004 21


Record highest April total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Woomera Aerodrome 72.6 68.8 in 1963 74 12.8
Moomba Airport 38.2 37.6 in 2020 27 8.9
Gammon Ranges (Moolawatana) 65.4 29.0 in 2014 24 9.9
Marree (Callanna) 48.0 47.5 in 2014 24 12.3

Highest April total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
April
Ceduna AMO 54.4 99.2 in 1983 20.1
Penong 86.2 120.8 in 1983* 22.7
Elliston 53.6 59.8 in 1992* 27.3
Marree Aero 47.2 48.8 in 2000 10.2
Strathearn 57.2 75.0 in 2000 13.1

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



Record highest April temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Ernabella (Pukatja) 37.1 on the 12th 37.0 on the 4th in 2012 24 27.3


Record highest April daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Ernabella (Pukatja) 23.7 on the 13th 23.4 on the 2nd in 2012 24 13.4


Record highest April mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Adelaide Airport 14.3 14.0 in 2018 67 11.9
Edinburgh RAAF 14.2 13.8 in 2010 49 11.7
Loxton Research Centre 11.8 11.5 in 2010 37 8.6
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 14.2 14.1 in 2007 30 12.2
Edithburgh 15.0 14.7 in 2007 29 13.0
Clare High School 11.0 = 11.0 in 2018 28 9.1
Kingscote Aero 11.0 10.6 in 2018 27 8.8
Renmark Aero 12.3 12.0 in 2010 26 9.2
Nuriootpa PIRSA 11.5 11.2 in 2010 25 9.1
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 11.3 10.9 in 2010 23 8.5
Port Augusta Aero 14.3 = 14.3 in 2018 20 12.9

Highest April mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
April
Parafield Airport 14.0 15.0 in 1941* 11.8

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



Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for April 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
April
2022		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
April
2022		 Mean for
April
2022		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
April
2022		 Total for
April
2022		 Average
for
April		 Rank of
April
2022		 Fraction of
April
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 28.3 +0.9 36.0 12th 15.7 +1.6 9.5 2nd 47.9 16.4 high 292%
Coober Pedy Airport 28.2 +1.0 37.3 12th 15.9 +1.5 9.5 19th 14.6 13.4 high 109%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 28.4 +1.1 37.1 12th 13.7 +0.3 8.0 3rd 3.6 14.6 average 25%
Mount Ive 26.4   34.0 13th       60.3 16.5 v high 365%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 28.1 +0.8 36.2 12th 14.3 +1.5 8.0 20th 49.2 17.3 high 284%
Tarcoola Aero 27.9 +0.6 37.7 12th 13.7 +1.4 7.4 19th 36.2 13.1 high 276%
Woomera Aerodrome 27.1 +1.4 34.7 12th 15.0 +1.8 10.0 19th 72.6 12.8 highest 567%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 27.2 +0.8 34.6 11th 14.8 +1.8 6.6 20th 29.2 14.5 high 201%
Marree Aero 29.5 +0.5 36.1 12th 15.5 +1.3 8.3 20th 47.2 10.2 v high 463%
Moomba Airport 30.3 +1.0 37.0 11th 17.0 +1.3 10.8 20th 38.2 8.9 highest 429%
Oodnadatta Airport 30.3 +1.7 39.5 12th 16.7 +2.2 9.9 20th 1.6 11.1 average 14%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 24.8 +0.5 36.9 12th 12.0 +1.2 2.9 4th 54.4 20.1 v high 271%
Cleve 23.5 +0.7 31.5 10th 14.2 +1.8 10.0 23rd 25.8 28.6 average 90%
Cleve Aerodrome 23.5 +0.1 32.3 10th 13.6 +1.2 9.0 23rd 17.0 25.0 average 68%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 21.7   29.0 16th 14.4   10.5 4th 22.6
Cultana (Defence) 25.6   33.4 10th 13.9   8.4 23rd 23.6
Cummins Aero 23.7 -0.3 32.0 16th 12.6 +2.2 5.8 4th 19.0 26.6 average 71%
Elliston 23.6 +1.1 31.6 9th 13.9 +1.6 8.0 3rd 53.6 27.3 v high 196%
Kimba 24.3 +0.2 32.4 13th 12.8 +1.5 9.2 30th 27.6 22.6 average 122%
Kyancutta 26.6 +1.1 35.0 13th 11.5 +2.0 4.4 23rd 31.0 19.4 high 160%
Minnipa PIRSA 25.0 -0.1 34.0 13th 13.1 +0.9 7.2 23rd 32.4 16.5 high 196%
Neptune Island 20.0 +0.4 23.2 28th 15.9 +0.8 13.2 19th 17.2 29.5 average 58%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 22.1 -0.3 29.2 9th 14.2 +2.0 7.7 4th 27.2 21.0 high 130%
Nullarbor 25.3 +0.4 40.7 13th 12.7 +1.0 6.1 4th 10.4 22.2 average 47%
Port Augusta Aero 27.1 +0.3 34.3 10th 14.3 +1.4 8.3 23rd 35.8 20.3 high 176%
Streaky Bay 24.6 +0.7 32.2 13th 13.6 +0.8 8.5 23rd 37.6 23.7 high 159%
Whyalla Aero 24.2 +0.2 33.3 10th 13.7 +1.8 8.9 30th 49.4 21.5 high 230%
Wudinna Aero 26.1 +0.6 34.7 13th 12.0 +1.8 3.9 3rd 34.8 17.0 high 205%
Upper North (district 19)
Yongala 23.3 +1.3 30.3 10th 10.2 +2.9 2.5 23rd 6.0 25.0 low 24%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 25.0 0.0 32.7 10th 11.3 +2.8 4.2 23rd 31.8 20.5 high 155%
Yunta Airstrip 24.7 +0.1 30.9 10th 11.0 +1.8 3.6 23rd 33.0 11.7 high 282%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 23.2 +1.4 29.9 10th 11.0 +1.9 4.9 4th 8.4 37.4 low 22%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 26.7   33.3 10th 12.6   7.7 21st 4.0
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 25.7 +0.9 32.4 10th 11.0 +1.5 5.4 23rd 7.4 24.8 low 30%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 21.8 +0.5 30.1 28th 15.0 +2.0 9.6 20th 6.4 24.9 low 26%
Kadina AWS 24.5 +0.4 31.1 10th 12.7 +2.3 7.5 23rd 10.8 24.6 average 44%
Minlaton Aero 23.5 +0.2 30.1 16th 13.4 +1.6 8.4 19th 8.6 25.8 low 33%
Stenhouse Bay 21.2 +0.1 28.6 9th 15.5 +1.4 12.4 4th 29.4 27.1 average 108%
Warooka     27.4 8th 14.1 +1.5 9.2 19th 7.7 32.6 low 24%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 19.9 +0.1 23.9 24th 13.8 +1.2 10.1 19th 20.0 37.8 low 53%
Cape Willoughby 19.0 -0.2 24.0 28th 15.0 +0.8 12.0 30th 6.2 38.8 v low 16%
Kingscote Aero 22.3 +0.5 26.1 28th 11.0 +2.2 4.7 19th 10.8 25.4 low 43%
Parndana CFS AWS 21.5 +0.4 27.3 16th 11.6 +0.9 6.4 19th 11.8 34.3 v low 34%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 24.0 +1.8 31.0 10th 14.8 +2.0 9.8 5th 8.2 43.7 v low 19%
Adelaide Airport 23.4 +1.1 30.5 10th 14.3 +2.4 9.5 5th 14.8 34.1 low 43%
Edinburgh RAAF 24.2 +1.0 31.1 10th 14.2 +2.5 8.7 4th 21.4 30.2 average 71%
Parafield Airport 24.7 +1.8 31.0 10th 14.0 +2.2 8.2 5th 12.2 37.8 low 32%
Roseworthy AWS 24.9 +0.7 32.7 10th 12.4 +1.9 3.6 23rd 6.8 29.9 v low 23%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 22.6 +0.6 30.4 10th 11.5 +2.4 5.1 4th 9.8 34.1 low 29%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 21.7 -0.1 30.8 10th 13.3 +0.9 8.1 13th 20.0 28.0 average 71%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 20.3 +0.5 26.7 10th 12.0 +0.7 7.6 23rd 23.8 55.4 low 43%
Mount Crawford AWS 20.3 +0.9 27.6 10th 11.1 +0.5 6.3 23rd 24.4 43.1 average 57%
Mount Lofty 18.3 +2.0 24.7 16th 10.3 +0.4 5.3 23rd 22.0 58.0 low 38%
Noarlunga 23.2 +0.8 29.7 10th 14.5 +0.8 9.8 23rd 14.2 32.6 low 44%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 18.9 +0.6 25.2 16th 12.1 +0.8 8.7 5th 22.6 55.0 low 41%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 21.3 -0.3 29.6 10th 11.8 +1.4 4.0 5th 16.2 35.2 low 46%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 24.3 +0.3 32.0 10th 11.8 +3.2 5.2 14th 18.8 18.3 average 103%
Renmark Aero 24.6 0.0 32.4 10th 12.3 +3.1 5.4 14th 23.6 17.8 average 133%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 21.3 -0.2 29.4 10th 11.6 +1.7 7.5 23rd 22.5 33.0 average 68%
Murray Bridge 24.3 +0.7 33.2 10th 12.1 +1.7 6.8 5th 31.9 28.9 average 110%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 23.8 +0.3 32.3 10th 11.2 +1.8 5.2 5th 29.6 26.0 average 114%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.8 +0.3 31.3 10th 11.7 +1.1 5.9 13th 16.0 27.8 average 58%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 23.8 +1.2 31.8 10th 11.0 +1.7 3.8 13th 11.4 32.4 low 35%
Keith (Munkora) 23.7 +0.4 32.6 10th 10.1 +1.9 2.3 13th 12.2 23.5 average 52%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 23.3 -0.1 32.0 10th 11.2 +2.1 5.2 13th 3.8 23.5 low 16%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 21.1 +1.1 25.6 24th 11.6 +0.8 5.7 13th 13.4 31.3 low 43%
Coonawarra 22.2 +1.1 29.4 10th 9.7 +1.9 0.9 13th 14.0 34.6 low 40%
Mount Gambier Aero 21.6 +2.0 27.8 10th 9.7 +0.9 2.6 13th 22.4 53.6 low 42%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 22.7 +0.7 31.2 10th 9.2 +1.0 0.8 13th 12.4 26.6 v low 47%
Padthaway South 22.9 +0.9 31.9 10th 9.8 +1.6 1.9 13th 12.4 28.1 v low 44%
Robe 20.1 +1.2 24.5 24th 12.2 +0.6 7.2 13th 16.7 45.8 low 36%
Robe Airfield 21.5 +1.0 26.9 28th 10.5 +0.9 1.5 13th 13.6 38.1 v low 36%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following 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 11 am on Tuesday 3 May 2022. 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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