Thursday, 1 June 2023 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0
South Australia in May 2023
Rainfall
- Rainfall in May was below to very much below average throughout most of the northern Pastoral districts.
- Monthly rainfall totals were closer to average in southern and eastern Agricultural districts.
- For South Australia as a whole, rainfall in May was 66% below average (based on 1961–1990), the lowest in May since 2006.
Temperature
- Mean maximum temperatures were generally close to average across most of South Australia, though were below average in parts of the South East districts and in the far north-east of the state.
- For South Australia as a whole, the mean maximum temperature was 0.09 °C below average (based on 1961–1990).
- Hawker had its lowest May mean daily maximum temperature since 1968 and its lowest May mean temperature on record.
- Mean minimum temperatures were below to very much below average throughout most of the Pastoral districts, including a area of lowest of record east of Arkaroola.
- Mean minimum temperatures were closer to average in some southern and eastern Agricultural districts.
- For South Australia as a whole, the mean minimum temperature was 1.60 °C below average (based on 1961–1990), the lowest since 2020.
- Minnipa PIRSA and Padthaway South had their lowest May temperature on record.
- Kimba had its lowest May mean daily minimum temperature since 1985.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in May 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
29.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 25th |
| Warmest days on average |
22.9 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
| Coolest days on average |
11.8 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Coldest day |
8.9 °C at Mount Lofty on the 17th |
| Coldest night |
-2.7 °C at Padthaway South on the 17th |
| Coolest nights on average |
4.1 °C at Yongala |
| Warmest nights on average |
13.7 °C at Neptune Island |
| Warmest night |
16.1 °C at Neptune Island on the 14th |
| Warmest on average overall |
15.6 °C at Andamooka
and Neptune Island |
| Coolest on average overall |
9.5 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Wettest overall |
182.6 mm at Ashton |
| Wettest day |
46.8 mm at Wirrabara Forest on the 26th |
| Strongest wind gust |
87 km/h at Neptune Island on the 25th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
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| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Lowest May mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for May |
|||
| Hawker | 17.9 | 15.9 | in 1968* | 20.0 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
| Record lowest May temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Minnipa PIRSA | 3.4 | on the 26th | 3.8 | on the 30th in 2019 | 27 | 9.8 |
| Padthaway South | -2.7 | on the 17th | -1.8 | on the 30th in 2006 | 24 | 7.1 |
| Lowest May mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for May |
|||
| Kimba | 7.1 | 6.5 | in 1985 | 8.4 | |
| Record lowest May mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
||
| Hawker | 11.5 | 11.6 | in 2006 | 48 | 13.6 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for May 2023 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for May 2023 |
Diff from average |
Highest for May 2023 |
Mean for May 2023 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for May 2023 |
Total for May 2023 |
Average for May |
Rank of May 2023 |
Fraction of May average |
|||
| Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
| Andamooka | 22.1 | -0.2 | 25.4 | 25th | 9.0 | -1.0 | 5.1 | 24th | 0 | 14.8 | lowest | 0% |
| Coober Pedy Airport | 21.1 | -0.9 | 24.6 | 31st | 8.3 | -1.7 | 4.5 | 19th | 0 | 9.6 | lowest | 0% |
| Ernabella (Pukatja) | 20.6 | -1.2 | 25.2 | 2nd | 6.2 | -2.1 | 0.4 | 28th | 0 | 13.4 | lowest | 0% |
| Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 21.7 | -0.5 | 25.5 | 15th | 6.0 | -2.2 | 2.5 | 27th | 0 | 8.3 | lowest | 0% |
| Tarcoola Aero | 21.4 | -0.9 | 25.4 | 15th | 6.4 | -1.7 | 1.2 | 26th | 0.8 | 10.8 | low | 7% |
| Woomera Aerodrome | 20.6 | 0.0 | 25.3 | 15th | 8.4 | -1.0 | 4.8 | 26th | 1.8 | 17.3 | low | 10% |
| Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
| Leigh Creek Airport | 20.4 | -0.6 | 24.8 | 25th | 6.8 | -2.0 | 2.2 | 19th | 2.2 | 15.9 | low | 14% |
| Marree Aero | 22.8 | -0.4 | 27.3 | 25th | 6.9 | -2.3 | 2.1 | 27th | 0 | 7.4 | lowest | 0% |
| Moomba Airport | 22.7 | -1.0 | 27.4 | 25th | 8.1 | -2.6 | 3.3 | 28th | 0 | 9.0 | lowest | 0% |
| Oodnadatta Airport | 22.9 | -0.4 | 29.0 | 25th | 7.5 | -2.3 | 3.4 | 28th | 0 | 11.9 | lowest | 0% |
| Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
| Ceduna AMO | 20.2 | -0.7 | 25.8 | 31st | 8.2 | -0.4 | 1.7 | 7th | 23.6 | 32.3 | average | 73% |
| Cleve | 18.2 | -0.8 | 23.9 | 14th | 9.6 | -0.5 | 6.3 | 18th | 41.0 | 40.2 | average | 102% |
| Cleve Aerodrome | 18.0 | -1.3 | 23.4 | 14th | 9.8 | -0.5 | 6.1 | 18th | 31.2 | 36.2 | average | 86% |
| Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) | 18.5 | 22.8 | 15th | 11.8 | 7.6 | 19th | 48.8 | |||||
| Cultana (Defence) | 19.8 | 24.4 | 14th | 8.7 | 4.5 | 7th | 8.8 | |||||
| Cummins Aero | 18.7 | -0.9 | 24.2 | 14th | 7.2 | -1.2 | 0.8 | 7th | 36.4 | 43.4 | average | 84% |
| Elliston | 19.4 | -0.1 | 24.1 | 14th | 10.3 | -0.1 | 4.4 | 19th | 42.8 | 52.2 | average | 82% |
| Kimba | 18.4 | -0.9 | 24.2 | 15th | 7.1 | -1.3 | 2.5 | 26th | 23.8 | 35.0 | average | 68% |
| Kyancutta | 20.9 | -0.2 | 25.9 | 15th | 5.8 | -1.6 | -0.6 | 7th | 14.6 | 31.5 | low | 46% |
| Minnipa PIRSA | 19.6 | -0.5 | 24.4 | 15th | 8.5 | -1.3 | 3.4 | 26th | 12.6 | 28.3 | v low | 45% |
| Neptune Island | 17.6 | -0.2 | 20.6 | 15th | 13.7 | -0.1 | 10.0 | 6th | 44.4 | 53.3 | average | 83% |
| North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 18.8 | -0.7 | 23.6 | 15th | 9.5 | -0.9 | 5.4 | 7th | 23.4 | 42.9 | low | 55% |
| Nullarbor | 21.2 | -0.3 | 27.2 | 31st | 8.3 | -0.6 | 3.7 | 9th | 7.6 | 29.4 | low | 26% |
| Port Augusta Aero | 21.0 | -0.5 | 26.3 | 14th | 7.7 | -0.9 | 2.7 | 19th | 6.4 | 16.8 | low | 38% |
| Streaky Bay | 19.8 | -0.3 | 23.8 | 14th | 10.8 | -0.1 | 6.4 | 7th | 31.0 | 46.3 | average | 67% |
| Whyalla Aero | 19.7 | -0.8 | 24.2 | 2nd | 7.7 | -1.1 | 3.4 | 18th | 6.6 | 22.8 | v low | 29% |
| Wudinna Aero | 20.4 | -0.4 | 24.9 | 15th | 7.4 | -1.1 | 0.2 | 7th | 23.4 | 23.5 | average | 100% |
| Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
| Hawker | 17.9 | -2.1 | 23.1 | 15th | 5.3 | -1.9 | -1.4 | 19th | 9.5 | 29.9 | low | 32% |
| Yongala | 16.6 | -0.5 | 22.5 | 15th | 4.1 | -0.6 | -2.2 | 19th | 19.8 | 34.4 | average | 58% |
| Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
| Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 20.2 | -0.3 | 25.5 | 15th | 5.2 | -0.9 | -2.5 | 18th | 11.6 | 18.0 | low | 64% |
| Yunta Airstrip | 19.0 | -0.3 | 24.5 | 14th | 4.2 | -1.6 | -2.1 | 23rd | 4.0 | 11.0 | low | 36% |
| Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
| Clare High School | 15.6 | -1.5 | 22.4 | 14th | 5.7 | -0.8 | -1.0 | 19th | 68.0 | 53.8 | average | 126% |
| Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS | 19.8 | 25.5 | 14th | 8.1 | 1.9 | 7th | 33.4 | |||||
| Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 19.0 | -0.9 | 25.8 | 14th | 6.6 | -0.7 | 0.0 | 18th | 31.4 | 35.6 | average | 88% |
| Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
| Edithburgh | 18.3 | -0.2 | 21.6 | 31st | 10.1 | -0.6 | 5.2 | 19th | 35.4 | 44.7 | average | 79% |
| Kadina AWS | 18.5 | -0.9 | 23.0 | 14th | 8.0 | -0.3 | 1.2 | 19th | 34.0 | 37.8 | average | 90% |
| Minlaton Aero | 18.7 | -0.7 | 23.5 | 14th | 9.1 | -0.8 | 3.4 | 7th | 55.8 | 41.4 | high | 135% |
| Stenhouse Bay | 18.2 | -0.4 | 24.1 | 14th | 12.0 | 0.0 | 8.5 | 11th | 53.8 | 53.0 | average | 102% |
| Warooka | 18.3 | -0.2 | 22.7 | 15th | 10.3 | -0.2 | 6.0 | 7th | 37.1 | 53.9 | average | 69% |
| Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Borda | 16.3 | -0.6 | 19.3 | 15th | 11.0 | -0.3 | 6.9 | 7th | 72.2 | 69.7 | average | 104% |
| Cape Willoughby | 16.6 | -0.4 | 20.9 | 14th | 12.2 | -0.4 | 9.5 | 26th | 52.4 | 61.2 | average | 86% |
| Kingscote Aero | 17.9 | -0.7 | 21.9 | 15th | 7.6 | -0.3 | 1.5 | 15th | 33.8 | 48.9 | low | 69% |
| Parndana CFS AWS | 16.2 | -0.9 | 19.7 | 14th | 8.3 | -0.9 | 3.5 | 7th | 58.2 | 65.8 | average | 88% |
| Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
| Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) | 17.9 | -0.7 | 25.2 | 14th | 10.0 | -0.4 | 4.6 | 7th | 72.4 | 67.9 | average | 107% |
| Adelaide Airport | 17.5 | -1.1 | 23.8 | 14th | 9.8 | +0.1 | 3.9 | 7th | 63.0 | 53.5 | average | 118% |
| Edinburgh RAAF | 18.0 | -1.2 | 25.1 | 14th | 8.7 | -0.5 | 2.6 | 7th | 69.4 | 46.6 | high | 149% |
| Parafield Airport | 18.4 | -0.6 | 25.4 | 14th | 8.6 | -0.7 | 1.7 | 7th | 59.8 | 48.0 | high | 125% |
| Roseworthy AWS | 18.4 | -1.3 | 25.8 | 14th | 7.9 | -0.7 | 0.7 | 18th | 66.8 | 40.6 | high | 165% |
| County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
| Nuriootpa PIRSA | 16.3 | -1.1 | 22.7 | 14th | 5.7 | -1.2 | -1.6 | 18th | 59.2 | 49.3 | high | 120% |
| Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
| Hindmarsh Island AWS | 17.4 | -1.1 | 22.9 | 14th | 11.0 | +0.5 | 7.6 | 7th | 72.8 | 45.9 | high | 159% |
| Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 14.4 | -1.5 | 21.0 | 14th | 9.0 | -0.3 | 4.7 | 7th | 104.4 | 87.8 | average | 119% |
| Mount Barker | 16.1 | -0.5 | 23.0 | 15th | 7.6 | +0.8 | 2.2 | 18th | 87.0 | 87.4 | average | 100% |
| Mount Crawford AWS | 13.5 | -1.4 | 20.4 | 14th | 8.1 | -0.5 | 3.7 | 7th | 98.4 | 70.9 | high | 139% |
| Mount Lofty | 11.8 | -0.5 | 18.5 | 14th | 7.2 | -0.5 | 3.0 | 7th | 139.2 | 111.8 | average | 125% |
| Noarlunga | 17.4 | -1.0 | 23.3 | 14th | 10.7 | -0.8 | 5.8 | 7th | 62.6 | 55.4 | average | 113% |
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 14.3 | -0.6 | 20.0 | 14th | 9.4 | -0.2 | 6.4 | 11th | 120.8 | 98.9 | average | 122% |
| Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 17.7 | -0.9 | 22.8 | 15th | 9.3 | +0.6 | 4.1 | 13th | 70.8 | 63.3 | average | 112% |
| Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
| Loxton Research Centre | 19.2 | -0.4 | 24.9 | 15th | 5.7 | -0.8 | -0.6 | 19th | 13.8 | 23.1 | average | 60% |
| Renmark Aero | 19.5 | -0.5 | 24.9 | 14th | 5.1 | -1.5 | -2.2 | 18th | 17.6 | 16.9 | average | 104% |
| Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
| Eudunda | 15.4 | -1.5 | 22.2 | 15th | 8.2 | +0.6 | 3.8 | 7th | ||||
| Meningie | 17.7 | -0.6 | 23.0 | 15th | 10.5 | +1.6 | 2.2 | 17th | 83.4 | 55.1 | high | 151% |
| Murray Bridge | 19.0 | -0.6 | 25.6 | 15th | 8.4 | +0.4 | 3.9 | 18th | 32.4 | 35.2 | average | 92% |
| Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 18.5 | -0.7 | 24.6 | 15th | 7.4 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 18th | 31.0 | 31.3 | average | 99% |
| Strathalbyn Racecourse | 17.4 | -1.1 | 23.1 | 14th | 9.2 | +0.1 | 4.1 | 18th | 62.6 | 45.5 | high | 138% |
| Murray Mallee (district 25A) | ||||||||||||
| Karoonda | 18.5 | -0.6 | 24.5 | 16th | 7.3 | +0.2 | 1.6 | 11th | 23.5 | 35.0 | average | 67% |
| Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
| Keith | 17.3 | -1.1 | 23.2 | 15th | 7.4 | -0.4 | -0.6 | 17th | 58.4 | 52.0 | average | 112% |
| Keith (Munkora) | 17.2 | -1.5 | 22.8 | 15th | 6.1 | -0.9 | -1.7 | 17th | 58.8 | 41.7 | high | 141% |
| Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 17.7 | -1.0 | 24.1 | 15th | 5.8 | -1.3 | -0.2 | 7th | 30.0 | 29.7 | average | 101% |
| Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 16.4 | -0.5 | 19.0 | 15th | 10.4 | +0.9 | 5.0 | 7th | 49.8 | 55.6 | average | 90% |
| Coonawarra | 16.2 | -1.0 | 20.6 | 15th | 6.5 | -0.5 | -0.5 | 7th | 48.4 | 55.8 | average | 87% |
| Mount Gambier Aero | 16.1 | 0.0 | 20.6 | 15th | 7.9 | +0.5 | 1.3 | 13th | 59.4 | 73.0 | average | 81% |
| Naracoorte Aerodrome | 16.4 | -1.3 | 20.7 | 15th | 7.1 | -0.2 | -2.2 | 17th | 46.6 | 43.0 | average | 108% |
| Padthaway South | 16.5 | -1.1 | 20.9 | 15th | 6.7 | -0.4 | -2.7 | 17th | 57.8 | 46.0 | high | 126% |
| Robe | 16.1 | -0.3 | 18.4 | 15th | 11.1 | +0.9 | 7.1 | 7th | 89.2 | 73.7 | average | 121% |
| Robe Airfield | 16.4 | -1.0 | 19.9 | 14th | 9.7 | +1.0 | 1.6 | 13th | 73.4 | 68.6 | average | 107% |
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 1 pm on Thursday 1 June 2023. 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.
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
