Friday, 1 March 2024 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in February 2024

Rainfall

  • Rainfall in February was below to very much below average in southern and western areas of South Australia but was above average in the far north-east of the state.
  • Numerous sites across central and southern areas of the state recorded no rain during February, equalling their previous records for the driest February.
  • Rainfall for South Australia as a whole was 49% below the February average (based on 1961–90).
  • On 4–5 February, ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily brought heavy rain to the far north-east of South Australia, with Moomba Airport recording a daily rainfall total of 62.0 mm, the site's third-wettest February day on record.

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures were above to very much above average across most of South Australia.
  • The mean maximum temperature for South Australia was 2.70 °C above average (based on 1961–90), the fifth-highest on record (since 1910) and highest since 2015.
  • On the 22nd, Ernabella (Pukatja) reached 42.9 °C, its highest February temperature on record.
  • Several sites had their highest February mean daily maximum temperature on record or their highest February mean daily maximum temperature since 2004.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were above to very much above average in the northern Pastoral districts but were cooler than average in the southern agricultural districts, including around Adelaide.
  • The mean minimum temperature for South Australia was 0.64 °C above average (based on 1961–90), which was the highest since 2018.
  • A few sites in southern districts had their lowest February mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.
  • The overall mean temperature for South Australia was 1.67 °C above average (based on 1961–90), making it the state's tenth-warmest February on record (since 1910) and warmest since 2015.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in February 2024
Hottest day 46.3 °C at Ceduna AMO on the 27th
Warmest days on average 39.3 °C at Marree Aero and Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 21.6 °C at Cape Willoughby
Coldest day 15.9 °C at Mount Lofty on the 23rd
Coldest night 3.4 °C at Coonawarra on the 15th
Coolest nights on average 10.7 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average 24.5 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 31.9 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 19th
Warmest on average overall 31.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall 17.8 °C at Robe
Wettest overall 106.2 mm at Moomba Airport
Wettest day 62.0 mm at Moomba Airport on the 5th
Strongest wind gust 94 km/h at Renmark Aero on the 13th

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 February temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Ernabella (Pukatja) 42.9 on the 22nd 42.1 on the 6th in 2009 27 34.6


Record highest February mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Coober Pedy Airport 38.4 38.3 in 2004 29 35.5
Mount Lofty 26.1 25.5 in 2018 23 22.5
Port Augusta Aero 36.0 = 36.0 in 2004 22 33.0

Highest February mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
February
Kyancutta 36.2 36.4 in 2004 32.4
Woomera Aerodrome 37.2 37.3 in 2004 33.7
Yongala 33.5 34.0 in 2004 30.1
Yunta Airstrip 34.6 34.9 in 2004 32.3


Lowest February mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
February
Streaky Bay 13.7 13.1 in 1964* 16.1
Ceduna AMO 13.0 12.5 in 2002 15.1
Mount Gambier Aero 11.2 =11.2 in 2004 11.8

* 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 February 2024
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2024		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
February
2024		 Mean for
February
2024		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
February
2024		 Total for
February
2024		 Average
for
February		 Rank of
February
2024		 Fraction of
February
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 38.0 +2.4 44.8 28th 22.4 +1.2 15.8 25th 3.5 21.7 average 16%
Coober Pedy Airport 38.4 +2.9 43.6 19th 22.2 +0.8 16.5 24th 0 14.3 lowest 0%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 37.4 +2.8 42.9 22nd 22.0 +1.8 15.9 8th 0 33.6 lowest 0%
Mount Ive 35.8   43.0 4th 16.2   12.0 25th 0 13.2 lowest 0%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 38.1 +2.5 43.9 28th 20.7 +0.6 13.7 25th 0 14.7 lowest 0%
Tarcoola Aero 38.1 +2.9 44.8 4th 17.6 -1.3 12.2 15th 0 20.0 lowest 0%
Woomera Aerodrome 37.2 +3.5 42.8 13th 20.0 +0.6 14.7 24th 0 18.6 lowest 0%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 37.4 +2.8 43.0 28th     15.6 25th 0.8 24.4 low 3%
Marree Aero 39.3 +2.2 45.0 28th 22.7 +0.8 16.0 7th 1.0 23.3 low 4%
Moomba Airport 37.2 +0.1 42.8 3rd 24.5 +0.9 18.8 25th 106.2 26.2 v high 405%
Oodnadatta Airport 39.3 +2.6 43.9 27th 24.0 +1.7 17.4 7th 17.6 29.4 average 60%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 28.2 -0.1 46.3 27th 13.0 -2.1 8.4 25th 0 13.7 lowest 0%
Cleve 29.7 +2.1 41.2 4th 17.0 +0.9 13.0 15th 0.1 22.1 v low 0%
Cleve Aerodrome 29.6 +1.3 42.3 4th 15.6 -0.6 11.8 15th 0 18.2 lowest 0%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 23.1   35.3 27th 13.8   11.6 9th 0.8
Cultana (Defence) 34.9   43.3 4th 17.2   13.2 15th 0
Cummins Aero 30.2 +1.2 40.7 27th 13.5 -1.6 6.5 6th 0 21.1 v low 0%
Elliston 25.7 0.0 40.0 27th 14.8 -1.1 10.0 6th 0 13.5 lowest 0%
Kimba 33.7 +2.6 42.0 4th 15.8 -0.2 10.8 6th 0 20.5 lowest 0%
Kyancutta 36.2 +3.8 45.0 4th 13.8 -0.6 8.2 15th 0 15.9 lowest 0%
Minnipa PIRSA 34.6 +2.5 43.4 4th 15.0 -0.9 10.8 6th 0 15.0 lowest 0%
Neptune Island 22.4 +0.2 24.9 20th 16.9 +0.2 14.7 15th 0.4 13.7 v low 3%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 26.2 +0.3 32.1 4th 15.1 -1.0 11.4 25th 0 15.5 lowest 0%
Nullarbor 28.7 +1.0 45.8 27th 15.0 -1.0 10.5 25th 0.4 14.1 low 3%
Port Augusta Aero 36.0 +3.0 44.8 4th 18.9 +0.1 12.0 25th 0 18.4 lowest 0%
Streaky Bay 30.0 +0.9 39.6 27th 13.7 -2.4 8.4 8th 0.1 14.5 low 1%
Whyalla Aero 31.8 +2.3 43.9 4th 17.5 -0.3 11.4 25th 0 21.9 lowest 0%
Wudinna Aero 35.3 +2.8 44.4 4th 13.6 -1.4 7.0 15th 0 14.3 lowest 0%
Upper North (district 19)
Yongala 33.5 +3.4 39.9 4th 14.7 +1.2 9.3 6th 0 20.7 lowest 0%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 35.1 +2.5 44.5 28th 14.8 -0.4 9.0 24th 2.6 19.7 low 13%
Yunta Airstrip 34.6 +2.3 42.8 28th 15.3 -0.4 7.6 25th 0 17.0 lowest 0%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 32.1 +2.5 39.6 4th 14.3 -0.5 8.5 2nd 0 23.3 lowest 0%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 34.7   43.9 4th 15.7   8.5 6th 0 14.0 v low 0%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 33.6 +1.8 42.5 4th 12.9 -1.4 7.0 15th 0 17.6 lowest 0%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 25.1 0.0 33.2 4th 16.7 -0.4 11.7 25th 0 17.0 lowest 0%
Kadina AWS 32.2 +1.7 42.7 4th 14.2 -0.9 8.8 25th 0 12.9 v low 0%
Minlaton Aero 29.7 +1.2 37.6 27th 14.7 -0.5 10.1 15th 0 17.4 lowest 0%
Stenhouse Bay 24.6 -0.1 32.7 27th 16.6 -0.4 14.8 15th 0.2 17.5 v low 1%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 24.9 +0.7 31.1 12th 13.8 -0.6 9.2 15th 0 16.4 lowest 0%
Cape Willoughby 21.6 -0.2 30.2 21st 16.4 +0.1 14.9 15th 0.2 18.2 v low 1%
Kingscote Aero 27.3 +0.9 34.6 3rd 12.3 -1.2 7.2 15th 0 18.1 lowest 0%
Parndana CFS AWS 26.7 +1.1 35.2 27th 12.5 -0.9 7.9 15th 1.0 20.5 v low 5%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 30.1 +1.6 39.6 4th 16.2 -0.6 10.5 15th 0 20.3 lowest 0%
Adelaide Airport 28.5 +0.5 37.6 4th 16.4 +0.2 12.1 6th 0 18.3 lowest 0%
Edinburgh RAAF 31.1 +1.2 42.4 4th 15.8 -0.8 9.8 6th 0 17.4 lowest 0%
Parafield Airport 31.5 +2.1 41.5 4th 15.6 -0.8 9.8 7th 0 18.4 lowest 0%
Roseworthy AWS 32.5 +1.5 43.4 4th 14.0 -0.7 6.2 6th 0 17.8 lowest 0%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 31.4 +2.1 40.8 4th 14.5 +0.1 5.0 6th 0 22.8 lowest 0%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 24.6 0.0 39.2 21st 15.5 -0.3 10.4 15th 0.6 16.1 v low 4%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 26.8 +1.2 36.5 4th 14.0 -0.1 9.9 15th 1.4 23.5 v low 6%
Mount Barker 28.9 +2.1 37.5 21st 12.7 +0.7 7.9 15th 0.4 25.6 v low 2%
Mount Crawford AWS 28.2 +1.3 37.8 4th 14.3 +0.3 8.0 15th 0.2 24.1 v low 1%
Mount Lofty 26.1 +3.6 33.8 4th 13.3 +0.5 6.6 15th 0.2 34.1 v low 1%
Noarlunga 28.9 +1.3 37.4 4th 16.7 -0.1 11.5 6th 0 17.9 lowest 0%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 24.1 +0.9 34.0 21st 13.5 -0.4 10.6 15th 1.4 29.2 v low 5%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 24.6 +0.4 37.9 21st 13.3 -1.2 8.4 25th 0.6 22.9 v low 3%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 34.1 +2.7 43.2 28th 15.1 +0.6 7.8 25th 0 17.2 lowest 0%
Renmark Aero 35.0 +2.4 45.4 28th 15.8 -0.2 7.3 25th 2.4 17.3 low 14%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 30.8 +1.7 39.8 4th 15.4 +1.1 9.5 6th 0 22.0 lowest 0%
Murray Bridge 31.3 +2.0 41.8 4th 14.5 -0.2 9.9 25th 0.3 18.4 v low 2%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 30.9 +1.4 41.7 4th 13.4 -0.7 6.9 25th 0 17.1 v low 0%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 28.4 +1.1 39.8 21st 13.3 -1.2 7.8 15th 0 19.9 lowest 0%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 31.4 +1.6 41.0 4th 12.5 -0.7 7.0 6th 0 19.9 lowest 0%
Keith (Munkora) 31.7 +1.7 42.4 4th 10.9 -0.9 4.9 6th 0 12.7 lowest 0%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 32.4 +1.6 41.6 28th 12.9 -0.6 6.8 6th 0 13.1 lowest 0%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 23.6 -0.8 36.0 21st 12.3 -1.4 7.6 25th 0 16.8 lowest 0%
Coonawarra 28.8 +1.4 38.0 4th 10.9 -0.9 3.4 15th 0 18.2 lowest 0%
Mount Gambier Aero 27.2 +1.9 37.5 21st 11.2 -0.6 4.2 15th 0.6 26.4 v low 2%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 29.8 +0.8 39.4 4th 10.7 -1.1 4.0 15th 0 18.8 lowest 0%
Padthaway South 30.0 +1.5 39.1 4th 11.0 -1.2 4.6 15th 0 17.2 lowest 0%
Robe 22.6 0.0 33.5 21st 13.0 -0.7 7.6 15th 0.7 18.8 v low 4%
Robe Airfield 24.2 0.0 36.7 21st 11.5 -1.4 3.7 15th 0.4 21.6 v low 2%

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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Friday 1 March 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.

Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Climate