Monday, 2 March 2015 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in February 2015: Dry with warm days across most districts

The statewide average rainfall during February was 87% below the historical average, making it the driest February for South Australia since 2009. Rainfall was very much below average across agricultural districts as well as through central and northern parts of pastoral districts. The persistence of high pressure systems across the Great Australian Bight resulted in the lack of rainfall throughout the month across much of the southern half of the state.

Both maximum and minimum temperatures were above average during the month, by 3.1 °C 1.2 °C respectively. Daytime temperatures were warmest in the central and northern districts, resulting in the statewide average mean maximum temperature being second warmest on record, after February 2007. Minimum temperatures were warmest across the northern half of the state, tending closer to average across some central locations.

  • Very dry across agricultural districts
  • Second warmest February days on record for South Australia
  • Nights near average across central districts

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Further information

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Extremes in February 2015
Hottest day 46.8 °C at Ceduna AMO on the 14th
Warmest days on average 39.8 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 22.8 °C at Neptune Island
Coldest day 15.2 °C at Mount Lofty on the 1st
Coldest night 4.6 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 24th
Coolest nights on average 12.4 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average 24.7 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night 31.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 23rd
Warmest on average overall 32.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall 19.6 °C at Cape Willoughby
Wettest overall 36.0 mm at Pinnaroo
Wettest day 13.6 mm at Kalamurina on the 7th
Strongest wind gust 83 km/h at Sellicks Hill (Mount Terrible Radar) on the 4th

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

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Record lowest February total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 0.2 = 0.2 in 2002 21 14.3

Lowest February total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
lower		Years since
lower		 Average for
February
Belair (State Flora Nursery) 0.2 0.0 in 1991 24 23.7
Cowell (Winter Springs) 0.2 0.0 in 1991 24 22.8
Meningie 0.6 0.0 in 1991 24 17.0
Quorn 1.6 0.0 in 1991 24 20.2
Aldgate 2.2 0.4 in 1991* 23 26.8
Kingston SE 0.2 0.0 in 1991* 22 17.8

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



Record highest February temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 44.4 on the 14th 44.2 on the 14th in 2004 23 26.0


Record highest February mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Loxton Research Centre 34.5 = 34.5 in 1997 30 31.3
Whyalla Aero 33.0 32.6 in 2004 28 29.5

Highest February mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		Years since
higher		 Average for
February
Keith 33.7 33.8 in 1983 32 29.8


Record highest February daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
February
Parafield Airport 30.7 on the 15th 30.3 on the 12th in 2014 59 16.4


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for February 2015
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2015		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
February
2015		 Mean for
February
2015		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
February
2015		 Total for
February
2015		 Average
for
February		 Rank of
February
2015		 Fraction of
February
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 37.8 +2.2 44.2 15th 22.3 +1.1 15.6 2nd 0 24.7 lowest 0%
Coober Pedy Airport 38.2 +2.9 43.6 15th 23.1 +1.5 17.0 2nd 0 14.2 lowest 0%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 37.3 +2.9 40.8 8th 22.2 +2.0 16.9 4th 4.2 34.2 average 12%
Marla Police Station 38.9 +2.9 42.5 15th 22.7 +1.3 17.8 12th 0 30.5 lowest 0%
Mount Ive 36.8   43.0 14th 18.0   4.6 3rd 0 14.1 lowest 0%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 38.1 +2.4 43.7 15th 20.8 +0.5 15.2 26th 0 19.9 v low 0%
Tarcoola Aero 38.7 +3.5 44.7 14th 20.0 +0.7 12.5 25th 0 25.0 v low 0%
Woomera Aerodrome 36.9 +3.2 44.0 15th 20.4 +1.0 15.1 2nd 0 19.9 lowest 0%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 34.6 +1.4 41.7 15th 19.0 -0.4 13.4 26th 0 39.0 lowest 0%
Leigh Creek Airport 37.5 +3.0 43.0 15th 21.7 +1.3 13.9 2nd 0.2 27.8 low 1%
Marree Aero 39.3 +2.5 44.1 15th 22.4 +0.1 16.8 2nd 5.0 31.5 low 16%
Moomba Airport 39.3 +2.6 43.5 9th 24.3 +0.8 18.7 1st 0.8 31.3 low 3%
Oodnadatta Airport 39.8 +3.2 44.5 9th 24.7 +2.4 17.3 3rd 0 31.7 lowest 0%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 29.8 +1.6 46.8 14th 14.8 -0.3 6.0 25th 0.6 14.1 low 4%
Cleve 29.9 +2.2 42.4 14th 17.7 +1.6 13.5 2nd 5.0 22.6 average 22%
Cleve Aerodrome 30.6 +2.1 43.1 14th 16.7 +0.3 11.8 25th 1.8 19.1 low 9%
Coulta (Coles Point) 29.1 +1.6 40.9 14th 15.7 +0.2 8.0 25th 0 13.3 lowest 0%
Cummins Aero 31.4   43.7 14th 16.1   9.2 25th 0.8
Elliston 26.5 +0.9 41.3 14th 16.2 +0.3 10.2 25th 0.6 13.4 low 4%
Kimba 34.2 +3.1 42.0 14th 17.1 +1.0 11.8 24th 0 21.2 lowest 0%
Kyancutta 35.9 +3.5 46.0 14th 15.3 +0.9 7.4 25th 1.8 16.2 low 11%
Minnipa Pirsa 35.3 +3.0 44.6 14th 16.2 0.0 9.3 25th 0.4 12.8 low 3%
Neptune Island 22.8 +0.5 31.1 15th 17.0 +0.4 14.5 2nd 0.2 14.0 v low 1%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 27.4 +1.4 44.4 14th 16.2 0.0 11.6 10th 0.2 14.3 lowest 1%
Nullarbor 29.2 +1.5 46.7 14th 16.6 +0.5 10.8 25th 6.2 13.7 average 45%
Port Augusta Aero 35.6 +2.4 44.8 15th 17.3 -1.8 11.5 11th 0 18.4 v low 0%
Streaky Bay     37.5 22nd 16.5 +0.4 11.0 25th 2.2 14.7 average 15%
Whyalla Aero 33.0 +3.5 43.3 14th 18.3 +0.5 12.7 6th 0 24.2 lowest 0%
Wudinna Aero 35.9 +3.3 45.2 14th 15.1 -0.4 6.1 25th 1.0 15.8 low 6%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 37.0 +3.6 42.6 14th 18.5 +0.5 11.5 25th 7.5 21.3 average 35%
Yongala 33.2 +3.1 38.5 15th 15.7 +2.3 8.5 2nd 0 21.3 lowest 0%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 35.2 +2.6 44.1 15th 15.6 +0.1 10.7 25th 1.4 27.2 low 5%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 32.3 +2.6 39.5 14th 15.3 +0.3 9.7 17th 0 26.1 lowest 0%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 34.9   43.0 14th 17.1   9.5 2nd 0
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 34.2 +2.3 42.8 14th 14.4 -0.2 8.4 5th 0 21.6 v low 0%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 26.4 +1.3 39.7 21st 17.6 +0.5 13.5 26th 0 17.9 lowest 0%
Kadina AWS 33.5   42.1 14th 14.9   8.4 17th 0 12.8 v low 0%
Maitland 31.4 +3.0 41.2 14th 17.3 +1.4 12.4 5th 0 22.3 lowest 0%
Minlaton Aero 31.0 +2.6 41.2 14th 16.4 +1.1 10.9 3rd 0 19.1 v low 0%
Stenhouse Bay 25.7 +0.8 38.3 14th 17.2 +0.1 14.6 5th 0 15.6 lowest 0%
Warooka 28.5 +1.4 39.6 14th 17.2 +1.2 12.2 5th 0 17.2 lowest 0%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 26.8 +2.4 35.4 14th 15.0 +0.7 11.2 5th 0 14.6 v low 0%
Cape Willoughby 22.9 +1.1 35.1 21st 16.3 0.0 13.6 1st 1.6 18.0 v low 9%
Kingscote Aero 27.7 +1.2 39.0 21st 14.3 +0.8 8.1 10th 0.4 16.2 v low 2%
Parndana Cfs AWS 27.5   40.1 14th 14.3   10.3 10th 0.8
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 32.7 +3.3 41.6 14th 18.1 +0.8 12.5 3rd 0.6 15.3 low 3%
Adelaide Airport 31.0 +2.9 40.9 14th 17.5 +1.4 11.6 10th 0 18.9 lowest 0%
Edinburgh RAAF 32.9 +2.9 41.4 14th 17.2 +0.6 11.1 10th 0 18.1 lowest 0%
Parafield Airport 33.0 +3.7 41.4 14th 16.9 +0.5 9.4 10th 0 18.9 lowest 0%
Roseworthy AWS 33.8 +2.6 42.0 14th 15.6 +0.8 8.1 17th 0 21.1 v low 0%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 32.3 +2.9 39.7 15th 14.9 +0.2 9.8 26th 0.2 26.8 v low 1%
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 33.4 +2.9 41.2 14th 16.2 +0.6 9.1 10th 1.6 18.7 low 9%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 26.4 +1.8 38.9 21st 16.0 +0.2 10.3 25th 0.8 15.3 low 5%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 28.0 +2.2 37.4 14th 15.3 +1.1 8.4 5th 1.8 24.0 low 8%
Mount Barker 29.8 +3.0 39.6 22nd 13.7 +1.8 8.0 10th 3.0 25.7 low 12%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 29.6 +2.6 37.2 14th 14.7 +0.5 7.9 5th 1.8 26.1 low 7%
Mount Lofty 26.9 +4.7 35.3 14th 13.6 +0.6 6.4 5th 1.6
Noarlunga 30.4 +2.7 40.0 14th 17.7 +0.8 12.1 5th 0 19.0 v low 0%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 25.5 +2.2 35.9 14th 14.7 +0.8 10.9 2nd 3.0 28.6 low 10%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 25.8 +1.7 39.0 21st 14.8 +0.2 8.3 10th 2.4 22.2 low 11%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 34.5 +3.2 43.1 15th 15.8 +1.3 10.9 1st 0.4 19.3 low 2%
Renmark Aero 35.4 +2.8 44.9 15th 16.6 +0.4 11.8 1st 1.4 22.9 low 6%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 32.1 +3.1 39.0 15th 15.2 +0.9 9.8 3rd 1.4 22.7 low 6%
Meningie 28.0 +1.6 39.2 22nd 14.9 +1.0 8.8 25th 0.6 17.0 v low 4%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 31.5   42.4 15th 14.0   8.8 6th 1.6 21.4 low 7%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 29.2 +1.7 39.4 22nd 15.0 +0.4 8.4 5th 0.4 22.2 v low 2%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 33.2 +2.7 42.2 15th 14.3 +0.2 9.2 25th 3.2 19.9 low 16%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 33.7 +3.9 41.0 22nd 14.8 +1.6 7.1 5th 3.0 20.2 low 15%
Keith (Munkora) 32.9 +2.7 41.2 22nd 13.2 +1.4 6.0 5th 3.8 11.6 average 33%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 33.9 +3.0 43.2 15th 14.2 +0.5 8.2 5th 0 12.0 v low 0%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 25.3 +0.7 36.4 14th 14.0 +0.4 9.2 25th 1.6 16.8 low 10%
Coonawarra 29.4 +1.9 39.1 21st 13.1 +1.3 5.5 25th 1.2 17.6 low 7%
Mount Gambier Aero 28.1 +2.9 40.3 21st 12.9 +1.2 6.0 24th 3.4 25.6 v low 13%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 31.3 +2.0 40.1 21st 12.4 +0.6 4.6 24th 0 19.1 v low 0%
Padthaway South 31.1 +2.5 40.0 21st 13.2 +0.9 5.7 25th 2.0 16.3 low 12%
Robe Airfield 26.0 +1.8 38.5 21st 13.4 +0.7 6.5 25th 2.0 22.3 low 9%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list 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. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

A Climate Summary is generally published on the first working day of each month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Monday 2 March 2015. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is used for temperature area averages.

Further information

Media
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