Monday, 1 March 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0
South Australia in February 2021: wet in the west, cool days
Rainfall in February was above to very much above average in the Northwest Pastoral district and along the southern coasts, but was below average across parts of the state's east. Both daytime and night-time temperatures were cooler than average across large parts of the state, with below average monthly temperatures extending from from western districts to the Murraylands. It was South Australia's overall coolest February since 2012.
Wet in the west, dry in the east
- Rainfall in February was above to very much above average in the Northwest Pastoral district and along the southern coasts, but below average in parts of the eastern Pastoral and central districts.
- Rainfall for South Australia as a whole was 8% above average.
- The wettest site in the state was Ernabella (Pukatja), which recorded 141.6 mm for the month, including 109.4 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 12th.
- A low pressure trough and cold front brought heavy rain to parts of outback South Australia on the 11th and 12th, with flooding affecting transport in the Pastoral districts.
Coolest February since 2012
- Daytime temperatures in February were below average over much of South Australia, with the far north-east the only region with above average mean maximum temperatures.
- The mean maximum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 0.52 °C below average, the lowest since 2012.
- Early in the month, several sites had their coldest February day on record.
- On the 24th and 25th, Marree Aero and Clare High School respectively had their lowest February temperature on record.
- Low-intensity heatwave conditions affected the southern half of South Australia during the third week of February, with locally severe heatwave conditions on the Eyre Peninsula.
- The highest temperature recorded during February was 43.7 °C at Port Augusta Aero on the 11th.
- Night-time temperatures were below average across many central and eastern districts, but close to average elsewhere.
- The state's mean minimum temperature was 0.69 °C below average, the lowest since 2012.
- The lowest temperature recorded during the month was 3.5 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 24th.
- Heatwave conditions affected the state at times and on the 19th, Wudinna Aero had its warmest February night on record
- The overall mean temperature for South Australia as a whole was 0.60 °C below average, the lowest since 2012.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in February 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
43.7 °C at Port Augusta Aero on the 11th |
| Warmest days on average |
36.4 °C at Moomba Airport |
| Coolest days on average |
21.3 °C at Cape Willoughby |
| Coldest day |
13.2 °C at Mount Lofty on the 5th |
| Coldest night |
3.2 °C at Keith (Munkora) on the 25th |
| Coolest nights on average |
10.7 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome |
| Warmest nights on average |
22.8 °C at Moomba Airport |
| Warmest night |
31.8 °C at Moomba Airport on the 12th |
| Warmest on average overall |
29.6 °C at Moomba Airport |
| Coolest on average overall |
17.0 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Wettest overall |
141.6 mm at Ernabella (Pukatja) |
| Wettest day |
109.4 mm at Ernabella (Pukatja) on the 12th |
| Strongest wind gust |
115 km/h at Neptune Island on the 5th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
|
|
|
| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
|
|
|
| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
|
|
|
Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record lowest February daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for February |
|||
| Coober Pedy Airport | 18.2 | on the 12th | = 18.2 | on the 6th in 2011 | 27 | 35.5 |
| Stenhouse Bay | 17.4 | on the 4th | 17.7 | on the 27th in 1996 | 26 | 24.8 |
| Minnipa PIRSA | 17.7 | on the 4th | 17.9 | on the 29th in 2012 | 25 | 32.3 |
| Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 15.4 | on the 5th | 15.5 | on the 29th in 2012 | 23 | 25.7 |
| Record highest February daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for February |
|||
| Wudinna Aero | 29.2 | on the 19th | 29.0 | on the 19th in 2000 | 22 | 15.1 |
| Record lowest February temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for February |
|||
| Clare High School | 5.1 | on the 25th | 5.8 | on the 14th in 2019 | 27 | 14.9 |
| Marree Aero | 12.7 | on the 24th | 13.1 | on the 29th in 2008 | 23 | 22.1 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for February 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for February 2021 |
Diff from average |
Highest for February 2021 |
Mean for February 2021 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for February 2021 |
Total for February 2021 |
Average for February |
Rank of February 2021 |
Fraction of February average |
|||
| Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
| Andamooka | 33.9 | -1.7 | 41.5 | 11th | 20.0 | -1.2 | 14.3 | 5th | 8.0 | 22.7 | average | 35% |
| Coober Pedy Airport | 33.4 | -2.1 | 41.5 | 10th | 19.2 | -2.3 | 13.2 | 5th | 47.4 | 15.4 | high | 308% |
| Ernabella (Pukatja) | 32.5 | -2.3 | 38.4 | 9th | 19.7 | -0.7 | 13.4 | 25th | 141.6 | 32.0 | high | 443% |
| Mount Ive | 31.4 | 40.5 | 10th | 8.4 | 13.5 | average | 62% | |||||
| Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 33.6 | -2.2 | 42.2 | 20th | 18.8 | -1.4 | 12.8 | 5th | 10.0 | 16.5 | average | 61% |
| Tarcoola Aero | 33.5 | -1.8 | 42.0 | 10th | 17.1 | -2.0 | 10.7 | 25th | 3.2 | 22.2 | average | 14% |
| Woomera Aerodrome | 32.7 | -1.1 | 40.8 | 20th | 18.0 | -1.4 | 12.3 | 5th | 0 | 19.3 | lowest | 0% |
| Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
| Arkaroola | 31.5 | -1.8 | 40.1 | 11th | 18.8 | -0.6 | 12.5 | 27th | 3.8 | 37.5 | average | 10% |
| Leigh Creek Airport | 32.6 | -2.1 | 41.6 | 11th | 18.7 | -1.7 | 13.7 | 5th | 18.2 | 26.3 | average | 69% |
| Marree Aero | 35.7 | -1.4 | 43.6 | 11th | 19.9 | -2.2 | 12.7 | 24th | 6.4 | 25.3 | average | 25% |
| Moomba Airport | 36.4 | -0.7 | 42.6 | 11th | 22.8 | -0.9 | 15.0 | 6th | 1.0 | 24.2 | average | 4% |
| Oodnadatta Airport | 36.0 | -0.7 | 42.2 | 10th | 21.1 | -1.2 | 15.0 | 25th | 22.0 | 29.5 | average | 75% |
| Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
| Ceduna AMO | 27.1 | -1.2 | 42.5 | 10th | 15.1 | 0.0 | 8.7 | 27th | 13.4 | 14.0 | average | 96% |
| Cleve | 26.5 | -1.2 | 38.2 | 17th | 16.2 | +0.1 | 10.5 | 5th | 21.8 | 22.4 | average | 97% |
| Cleve Aerodrome | 27.1 | -1.3 | 39.3 | 18th | 15.6 | -0.6 | 10.6 | 5th | 18.2 | 18.7 | average | 97% |
| Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) | 24.2 | 37.1 | 18th | 15.3 | 10.9 | 24th | 33.8 | |||||
| Cultana (Defence) | 31.0 | 40.8 | 11th | 16.6 | 10.6 | 5th | 0.6 | |||||
| Cummins Aero | 27.8 | -1.4 | 40.6 | 18th | 13.9 | -1.3 | 5.8 | 25th | 36.0 | 22.7 | high | 159% |
| Elliston | 26.0 | +0.3 | 41.4 | 18th | 15.9 | 0.0 | 10.4 | 25th | 28.4 | 13.7 | high | 207% |
| Kimba | 29.5 | -1.6 | 40.0 | 10th | 14.1 | -1.9 | 8.0 | 5th | 13.2 | 20.8 | average | 63% |
| Kyancutta | 31.8 | -0.6 | 42.2 | 10th | 14.4 | 0.0 | 8.0 | 24th | 12.9 | 16.1 | average | 80% |
| Minnipa PIRSA | 29.9 | -2.4 | 40.6 | 10th | 15.1 | -0.9 | 9.8 | 24th | 16.2 | 14.7 | average | 110% |
| Neptune Island | 21.6 | -0.6 | 29.3 | 17th | 16.3 | -0.4 | 13.7 | 5th | 25.0 | 14.1 | high | 177% |
| North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 24.6 | -1.3 | 36.3 | 18th | 15.1 | -1.1 | 9.8 | 25th | 23.2 | 15.8 | high | 147% |
| Nullarbor | 26.7 | -1.1 | 43.5 | 10th | 15.4 | -0.6 | 10.3 | 5th | 8.8 | 14.5 | average | 61% |
| Port Augusta Aero | 32.1 | -1.0 | 43.7 | 11th | 18.0 | -0.8 | 10.8 | 5th | 0.6 | 17.9 | low | 3% |
| Streaky Bay | 27.0 | -2.1 | 40.2 | 10th | 15.2 | -0.9 | 10.3 | 25th | 19.3 | 14.8 | high | 130% |
| Whyalla Aero | 28.8 | -0.8 | 41.4 | 11th | 16.9 | -0.9 | 11.4 | 5th | 2.4 | 23.1 | low | 10% |
| Wudinna Aero | 31.0 | -1.7 | 41.4 | 10th | 14.5 | -0.6 | 6.7 | 24th | 15.6 | 14.6 | average | 107% |
| Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
| Yongala | 30.1 | 0.0 | 37.7 | 11th | 13.1 | -0.3 | 6.0 | 23rd | 1.6 | 21.1 | low | 8% |
| Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
| Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 31.3 | -1.4 | 40.9 | 11th | 13.8 | -1.5 | 7.8 | 23rd | 4.0 | 21.8 | average | 18% |
| Yunta Airstrip | 30.6 | -1.8 | 39.4 | 11th | 14.5 | -1.4 | 9.0 | 25th | 0 | 19.2 | lowest | 0% |
| Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
| Clare High School | 28.2 | -1.5 | 37.1 | 11th | 13.2 | -1.7 | 5.1 | 25th | 10.6 | 25.3 | average | 42% |
| Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS | 31.1 | 40.8 | 11th | 15.9 | 8.7 | 25th | 4.2 | |||||
| Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 30.3 | -1.6 | 39.4 | 17th | 13.4 | -1.0 | 6.8 | 25th | 7.6 | 19.3 | average | 39% |
| Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
| Edithburgh | 24.9 | -0.2 | 38.8 | 11th | 16.5 | -0.6 | 9.6 | 5th | 18.2 | 18.1 | average | 101% |
| Kadina AWS | 28.6 | -2.2 | 37.4 | 17th | 14.8 | -0.3 | 9.3 | 24th | 23.0 | 13.8 | high | 167% |
| Minlaton Aero | 27.3 | -1.3 | 37.1 | 17th | 14.8 | -0.4 | 8.9 | 25th | 31.8 | 18.9 | high | 168% |
| Stenhouse Bay | 23.8 | -1.0 | 38.9 | 18th | 16.4 | -0.7 | 12.3 | 5th | 40.6 | 18.8 | high | 216% |
| Warooka | 25.9 | -1.1 | 37.6 | 17th | 15.7 | -0.3 | 10.5 | 25th | 39.0 | 17.5 | high | 223% |
| Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Borda | 22.5 | -1.9 | 33.3 | 17th | 14.4 | 0.0 | 10.5 | 23rd | 49.6 | 18.8 | high | 264% |
| Cape Willoughby | 21.3 | -0.5 | 34.0 | 18th | 16.1 | -0.2 | 12.4 | 5th | 28.0 | 18.4 | high | 152% |
| Kingscote Aero | 24.9 | -1.6 | 36.3 | 17th | 12.5 | -1.1 | 6.3 | 25th | 45.8 | 19.3 | high | 237% |
| Parndana CFS AWS | 24.4 | 37.2 | 17th | 12.9 | 8.1 | 23rd | 55.4 | 24.4 | high | 227% | ||
| Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
| Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) | 27.1 | -1.4 | 37.9 | 17th | 16.0 | -0.9 | 10.7 | 25th | 25.8 | 20.6 | high | 125% |
| Adelaide Airport | 26.3 | -1.8 | 38.0 | 18th | 16.0 | -0.2 | 11.6 | 25th | 18.6 | 18.8 | average | 99% |
| Edinburgh RAAF | 28.2 | -1.8 | 38.7 | 11th | 15.7 | -0.9 | 9.1 | 25th | 20.4 | 18.0 | average | 113% |
| Parafield Airport | 28.5 | -0.9 | 39.0 | 17th | 15.1 | -1.3 | 9.0 | 25th | 26.8 | 18.8 | high | 143% |
| Roseworthy AWS | 29.3 | -1.8 | 40.8 | 11th | 13.4 | -1.4 | 5.6 | 25th | 16.2 | 19.6 | average | 83% |
| County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
| Nuriootpa PIRSA | 27.5 | -1.9 | 37.7 | 11th | 12.7 | -1.8 | 5.0 | 25th | 20.4 | 24.8 | average | 82% |
| Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
| Hindmarsh Island AWS | 24.6 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 17th | 15.3 | -0.5 | 10.9 | 8th | 18.4 | 17.4 | average | 106% |
| Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 23.7 | -2.0 | 35.3 | 17th | 13.1 | -1.1 | 9.3 | 25th | 50.6 | 25.3 | high | 200% |
| Mount Barker | 26.0 | -0.8 | 36.1 | 17th | 12.2 | +0.2 | 6.8 | 25th | 34.6 | 25.9 | high | 134% |
| Mount Crawford AWS | 24.8 | -2.2 | 34.3 | 19th | 12.5 | -1.6 | 7.2 | 24th | 33.6 | 25.8 | high | 130% |
| Mount Lofty | 22.4 | -0.1 | 33.0 | 17th | 11.6 | -1.3 | 6.4 | 24th | 38.8* | 39.4 | ||
| Noarlunga | 26.5 | -1.2 | 36.8 | 18th | 16.0 | -0.9 | 10.4 | 25th | 39.8 | 19.7 | high | 202% |
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 21.9 | -1.4 | 34.3 | 18th | 13.5 | -0.4 | 9.9 | 25th | 32.2 | 30.8 | average | 105% |
| Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 24.3 | +0.1 | 37.6 | 18th | 13.6 | -1.0 | 8.7 | 25th | 35.2 | 25.0 | high | 141% |
| Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
| Loxton Research Centre | 30.4 | -1.0 | 40.3 | 11th | 13.6 | -1.0 | 9.5 | 24th | 3.0 | 18.0 | average | 17% |
| Renmark Aero | 31.0 | -1.7 | 41.9 | 11th | 14.6 | -1.5 | 10.2 | 24th | 2.6 | 18.9 | average | 14% |
| Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
| Eudunda | 28.1 | -1.0 | 38.1 | 11th | 7.8 | 5th | 10.8 | 22.3 | average | 48% | ||
| Meningie | 25.4 | -0.9 | 38.0 | 17th | 13.9 | -0.1 | 8.4 | 27th | 26.0 | 17.4 | high | 149% |
| Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 27.8 | -1.9 | 39.0 | 19th | 13.2 | -1.1 | 9.5 | 25th | 13.8 | 18.9 | average | 73% |
| Strathalbyn Racecourse | 26.1 | -1.3 | 38.3 | 17th | 13.5 | -1.1 | 8.6 | 25th | 26.0 | 21.7 | average | 120% |
| Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
| Keith | 28.6 | -1.3 | 38.2 | 17th | 12.3 | -0.9 | 5.8 | 8th | 34.8 | 20.3 | high | 171% |
| Keith (Munkora) | 28.9 | -1.2 | 39.0 | 11th | 11.2 | -0.7 | 3.2 | 25th | 30.8 | 14.3 | v high | 215% |
| Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 29.5 | -1.5 | 39.2 | 19th | 12.1 | -1.6 | 5.9 | 25th | 20.8 | 14.9 | average | 140% |
| Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 23.3 | -1.1 | 35.4 | 17th | 13.2 | -0.5 | 8.4 | 24th | 32.0 | 17.8 | high | 180% |
| Coonawarra | 26.8 | -0.7 | 36.6 | 19th | 11.1 | -0.8 | 3.9 | 24th | 28.2 | 18.4 | high | 153% |
| Mount Gambier Aero | 25.0 | -0.3 | 36.8 | 17th | 11.6 | -0.2 | 6.3 | 25th | 28.4 | 26.6 | average | 107% |
| Naracoorte Aerodrome | 28.0 | -1.2 | 38.4 | 11th | 10.7 | -1.2 | 3.5 | 24th | 33.4 | 18.9 | high | 177% |
| Padthaway South | 27.6 | -1.0 | 37.8 | 11th | 11.7 | -0.7 | 5.4 | 23rd | 50.4 | 18.4 | v high | 274% |
| Robe | 22.3 | -0.3 | 33.4 | 18th | 14.0 | +0.3 | 8.3 | 24th | 37.7 | 19.0 | high | 198% |
| Robe Airfield | 23.6 | -0.7 | 34.5 | 18th | 12.5 | -0.4 | 4.4 | 24th | 41.6 | 23.6 | high | 176% |
* note: a blocked rain gauge at Mount Lofty around the 6th means the monthly rainfall total is under-reported.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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 10 am on Monday 1 March 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
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
