South Australia in January 2024

Rainfall

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in January were above the very much above average in the northern Pastoral districts of South Australia, but were close to average in the southern agricultural districts.
  • South Australia's mean maximum temperature was 2.24 °C above average (based on 1961–1990), the highest in January since 2019.
  • On the 25th, Marree Aero recorded 48.5 °C, its highest January temperature on record.
  • In southern areas of the state, numerous sites had their lowest January mean daily maximum temperature since at least 2004.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in January were above to very much above average across most of South Australia away from some southern central areas. Minimum temperatures were particularly warm in the state's north.
  • South Australia's mean minimum temperature was 2.37 °C above average (based on 1961–1990), the equal-ninth-highest on record (since 1910) and highest since 2019.
  • Some sites in southern agricultural districts had their lowest January mean daily minimum temperature since 2004. By contrast, in the state's north, the mean minimum temperature at Oodnadatta was 3.1 °C above average, the highest at the site since 2011.
  • A number of sites across the state's south had their lowest January mean temperature since 2004.

Extremes in January 2024
Hottest day 48.5 °C at Marree Aero on the 25th
Warmest days on average 40.8 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 19.9 °C at Cape Willoughby
Coldest day 16.0 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) on the 8th
Coldest night 5.9 °C at Coonawarra on the 22nd
and Nuriootpa PIRSA on the 27th
Coolest nights on average 12.6 °C at Mount Lofty and Parndana CFS AWS
Warmest nights on average 26.5 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 33.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 24th
Warmest on average overall 33.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall 17.5 °C at Cape Willoughby
Wettest overall 115.9 mm at Strathearn
Wettest day 64.0 mm at Mount Schank (Jethia) on the 7th
Strongest wind gust 137 km/h at Moomba Airport 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 January daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Adelaide Airport 35.8 on the 26th 34.4 on the 22nd in 1997 69
Berri 43.4 on the 17th 41.0 on the 22nd in 1979 63
Strathearn 40.4 on the 6th 35.0 on the 10th in 2015 35
Moomba Airport 63.2 on the 5th 43.4 on the 25th in 2001 29
Belair 39.6 on the 26th 34.0 on the 26th in 2021 27
Adelaide (Keswick) 28.4 on the 26th 28.2 on the 26th in 2021 23
Beaumont 31.8 on the 26th 23.2 on the 30th in 2016 23
Crafers West 46.2 on the 26th 36.6 on the 30th in 2016 23
Longwood Alert 43.8 on the 26th 36.8 on the 26th in 2021 23
Belair (St Johns) 35.6 on the 26th 34.0 on the 26th in 2021 22
Balhannah (Gumbooya) 33.8 on the 26th 28.8 on the 27th in 2022 21
Long Ridge (Greenhill) 32.8 on the 26th 28.2 on the 30th in 2016 21
Rosslyn Park (Seaview) 27.8 on the 7th 26.0 on the 26th in 2021 21



Record highest January total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Goolwa Barrage 43.8 43.3 in 2017 36 17.3
Strathearn 115.9 82.0 in 1998 35 20.7
Strathalbyn Racecourse 55.2 36.8 in 2017 28 19.3
Adelaide (Keswick) 54.6 45.8 in 2016 23 22.8
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 52.0 47.6 in 2007 23 23.1
Hindmarsh Island AWS 44.4 40.0 in 2007 21 18.3
Rosslyn Park (Seaview) 64.4 60.0 in 2016 21 28.1
Willalooka (Nioka) 57.8 57.6 in 2011 21 22.5

Highest January total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Adelaide Airport 57.2 62.3 in 1963 18.7
Cooke Plains 56.2 68.9 in 1972 16.3
North Adelaide 55.9 64.6 in 1977 21.7
Strathalbyn 49.6 58.4 in 1996 20.4
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 61.2 80.1 in 1963* 20.4

* note: January 2024 was wetter than the wettest January at the old Adelaide (Kent Town) station, which recorded 52.8 mm in January 2016




Record highest January temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Marree Aero 48.5 on the 25th 48.3 on the 5th in 2013 26 38.8



Lowest January mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
January
Cape Willoughby 19.9 19.7 in 1992 21.8
Edithburgh 23.7 22.7 in 2004 25.5
Hindmarsh Island AWS 23.0 21.4 in 2004 25.6
Kingscote Aero 25.3 23.9 in 2004 26.7
Neptune Island 21.3 20.4 in 2004 22.1
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 24.7 24.0 in 2004 26.2
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 22.3 19.5 in 2004 23.8
Stenhouse Bay 23.9 21.9 in 2004 25.1
Strathalbyn Racecourse 25.9 23.7 in 2004 28.0
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 23.0 21.6 in 2004 25.2



Lowest January mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
January
Cape Willoughby 15.2 =15.2 in 2004 16.0
Elliston 15.2 13.8 in 2004 15.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 13.1 11.2 in 2004 13.9
Stenhouse Bay 16.0 15.0 in 2004 16.8



Lowest January mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
January
Cape Willoughby 17.5 17.1 in 1996 18.9
Edithburgh 19.8 18.9 in 2004 21.2
Hindmarsh Island AWS 19.2 17.9 in 2004 20.9
Kingscote Aero 19.3 17.4 in 2004 20.1
Neptune Island 18.7 17.8 in 2004 19.2
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 20.1 19.2 in 2004 21.0
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 17.7 15.4 in 2004 18.8
Stenhouse Bay 20.0 18.5 in 2004 21.0
Strathalbyn Racecourse 20.1 18.4 in 2004 21.4
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 18.5 17.6 in 2004 20.0



Summary statistics for January 2024
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2024
Diff
from
average
Highest for
January
2024
Mean for
January
2024
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
January
2024
Total for
January
2024
Average
for
January
Rank of
January
2024
Fraction of
January
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 38.0 +1.4 46.3 25th 23.2 +1.7 16.0 18th 73.9 20.4 v high 362%
Coober Pedy Airport 37.8 +1.1 45.7 23rd 23.4 +1.2 17.5 18th 19.2 14.8 high 130%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 37.9 +2.6 42.6 24th 23.5 +2.3 18.5 9th 27.0 32.2 average 84%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 37.6 +0.6 45.7 25th 22.3 +1.0 15.7 18th 42.8 17.1 high 250%
Tarcoola Aero 36.6 +0.1 47.1 23rd 20.3 +0.6 12.5 18th 37.4 15.9 high 235%
Woomera Aerodrome 36.2 +1.6 46.0 23rd 21.1 +1.5 14.2 18th 14.2 18.1 average 78%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 35.5 +1.0 44.9 25th 20.8 +0.5 15.5 18th 24.6 35.0 average 70%
Leigh Creek Airport 37.8 +2.0 46.6 25th 22.8 +1.8 16.6 28th 14.8 25.1 average 59%
Marree Aero 40.3 +1.5 48.5 25th 24.1 +1.0 17.6 19th 10.8 19.1 average 57%
Moomba Airport 40.4 +1.5 48.1 25th 26.5 +1.6 22.6 1st 79.6 19.7 v high 404%
Oodnadatta Airport 40.8 +2.8 48.3 24th 26.2 +3.1 21.0 1st 17.6 24.1 average 73%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 28.4 -0.2 46.6 23rd 16.0 +0.7 7.8 19th 15.2 13.2 average 115%
Cleve 27.7 -0.6 44.0 23rd     13.2 27th 21.8 16.9 high 129%
Cleve Aerodrome 27.5 -1.5 44.5 23rd 16.0 -0.1 12.0 27th 18.0 17.2 average 105%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 22.9   36.5 12th 14.4   11.2 10th 25.0
Cultana (Defence) 32.5   44.1 23rd 17.8   13.0 18th 54.6
Cummins Aero 29.1 -1.1 40.9 23rd 14.8 -0.3 8.4 27th 39.0 21.3 high 183%
Elliston 26.1 +0.1 38.5 23rd 15.2 -0.6 9.8 18th 64.2 11.3 v high 568%
Kyancutta 33.9 +0.8 47.2 23rd 15.4 +0.9 8.7 18th 29.8 14.9 high 200%
Minnipa PIRSA 32.6 -0.3 45.8 23rd 15.8 -0.2 8.4 18th 20.8 13.5 high 154%
Neptune Island 21.3 -0.8 27.4 23rd 16.1 -0.2 13.7 19th 17.2 13.0 high 132%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 24.7 -1.5 40.6 23rd 15.5 -0.3 10.6 27th 59.6 19.6 v high 304%
Nullarbor 27.8 -0.1 41.7 12th 16.2 +0.2 9.1 19th 13.8 12.8 high 108%
Port Augusta Aero 33.9 -0.2 45.5 23rd 20.0 +0.5 15.1 18th 38.8 15.3 high 254%
Streaky Bay 29.4 +0.1 44.2 23rd 14.8 -1.3 9.1 18th 39.2 12.2 v high 321%
Whyalla Aero 29.5 -0.7 44.9 23rd 18.4 +0.6 13.7 19th 29.4 20.6 high 143%
Wudinna Aero 33.1 -0.3 46.8 23rd 15.5 -0.1 7.9 27th 20.6 15.1 average 136%
Upper North (district 19)
Yongala 32.2 +1.3 41.5 23rd 16.5 +2.8 9.3 31st 49.2 23.0 high 214%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 34.2 +0.2 43.0 23rd 16.5 +0.6 9.0 18th 19.0 17.8 average 107%
Yunta Airstrip 33.9 0.0 40.9 25th 17.4 +0.7 10.1 18th 69.6 23.2 v high 300%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 30.8 +0.5 41.3 23rd 15.3 +0.4 7.0 18th 8.0 22.0 low 36%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 33.6   44.9 23rd 17.4   8.6 18th 13.6 17.2 average 79%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 32.2 -0.6 44.0 23rd 14.5 -0.1 7.4 18th 33.4 18.1 high 185%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 23.7 -1.8 39.1 23rd 15.9 -0.9 11.2 10th 41.8 15.4 v high 271%
Kadina AWS 31.0 -0.8 43.1 23rd 15.5 -0.2 9.4 18th 19.2 19.6 average 98%
Minlaton Aero 28.9 -0.8 39.2 12th 15.0 -0.4 9.8 27th 23.6 15.3 high 154%
Stenhouse Bay 23.9 -1.2 35.6 23rd 16.0 -0.8 12.0 10th 24.4 16.6 high 147%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 23.9 -0.7 34.2 12th 13.8 -0.7 9.1 19th 4.6 18.5 low 25%
Cape Willoughby 19.9 -1.9 33.6 23rd 15.2 -0.8 13.2 27th 38.0 18.7 high 203%
Kingscote Aero 25.3 -1.4 40.1 23rd 13.3 -0.1 8.0 27th 14.4 15.7 average 92%
Parndana CFS AWS 24.6 -2.1 39.8 23rd 12.6 -1.0 8.1 10th 13.0 19.2 average 68%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 29.3 +0.7 41.2 23rd 17.0 +0.4 9.5 19th 61.2 20.4 v high 300%
Adelaide Airport 28.0 -0.2 40.1 23rd 17.0 +0.8 10.4 19th 57.2 18.7 v high 306%
Edinburgh RAAF 30.5 +0.3 42.2 23rd 16.8 +0.2 10.0 19th 21.1
Parafield Airport 30.9 +1.0 42.1 23rd 16.5 +0.1 10.1 19th 33.6 21.4 high 157%
Roseworthy AWS 31.2 -0.7 43.4 23rd 15.2 +0.3 7.1 31st 22.6 18.5 average 122%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 30.5 +0.3 41.6 23rd 15.3 +0.7 5.9 27th 29.6 16.5 high 179%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 23.0 -2.6 40.0 23rd 15.4 -0.8 11.8 19th 44.4 18.3 highest 243%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 24.9 -1.3 37.3 23rd 13.4 -0.9 9.2 18th 58.4 29.5 high 198%
Mount Barker 27.5 +0.2 38.7 23rd 13.4 +1.4 9.4 1st 60.4 26.3 v high 230%
Mount Crawford AWS 27.1 -0.6 37.8 23rd 13.6 -0.4 7.8 19th 42.8 25.3 high 169%
Mount Lofty 24.8 +2.0 34.8 23rd 12.6 +0.1 7.2 19th 76.2 41.0 high 186%
Noarlunga 28.0 -0.8 40.0 23rd 16.5 -0.7 11.7 18th 36.4 17.6 v high 207%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 22.3 -1.5 34.8 23rd 13.1 -0.8 9.2 19th 37.6 29.6 high 127%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 23.0 -2.2 39.4 23rd 14.0 -0.8 9.9 1st 52.0 23.1 highest 225%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 33.1 +0.9 40.7 12th 16.5 +1.6 9.6 19th 21.8 18.2 average 120%
Renmark Aero 33.7 -0.1 42.2 23rd 16.9 +0.4 9.8 19th 41.4 18.9 high 219%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 29.9 +0.5 40.4 23rd 14.5 +0.4 8.5 19th 28.2 22.0 high 128%
Murray Bridge 29.0 -0.4 43.0 23rd 15.2 +0.4 9.5 19th 40.9 16.6 v high 246%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 28.7 -1.9 42.4 23rd 14.3 -0.2 7.7 19th 38.2 15.7 high 243%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 25.9 -2.1 40.6 23rd 14.2 -0.6 10.3 19th 55.2 19.3 highest 286%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda     42.5 23rd 15.0 +0.5 9.1 19th 39.0 17.8 high 219%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 30.1 -0.1 40.2 23rd 14.3 +1.0 8.4 19th 53.8 19.4 v high 277%
Keith (Munkora) 30.3 -0.8 41.0 23rd 13.4 +1.0 6.1 19th 41.8 20.1 high 208%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 31.3 -1.1 40.3 23rd 14.6 +0.3 8.2 19th 21.6 24.4 average 89%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 23.9 -0.9 32.4 12th 13.8 +0.1 10.4 22nd 3.6 17.8 low 20%
Coonawarra 27.6 0.0 37.4 23rd 13.7 +1.9 5.9 22nd 22.4 26.3 average 85%
Mount Gambier Aero 26.2 +0.7 36.9 23rd 13.2 +1.9 8.3 31st 42.2 27.0 high 156%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 28.0 -1.9 37.8 23rd 13.3 +1.5 6.6 22nd 59.8 22.3 high 268%
Padthaway South 28.5 -0.9 38.8 23rd 13.5 +1.0 6.6 22nd 59.4 23.7 high 251%
Robe 22.5 0.0 30.9 23rd 13.9 +0.2 9.4 15th 8.3 20.3 average 41%
Robe Airfield 24.7 +0.1 35.1 23rd 13.6 +0.6 8.1 11th 4.6 19.8 low 23%

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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Thursday 1 February 2024. 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.


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Climate