Friday, 1 September 2023 - Monthly Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0
South Australia in August 2023
Rainfall
- Rainfall totals for August were below to very much below average (based on 1961–1990) across most areas of South Australia's northern, southern, and eastern districts.
- Rainfall for South Australia as a whole was 57% below the August average (based on 1961–1990).
- Heavy rain on the 17th contributed to Blyth having its highest total August rainfall since 1996.
Temperature
- South Australia as a whole had its overall third-warmest August on record and warmest since 2009 based on mean temperature.
- Daytime temperatures for August were above to very much above average (based on 1961–1990) throughout South Australia.
- The mean maximum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 3.50 °C above average, the fourth-highest in August on record (since 1910) and warmest since 2009.
- On the 28th, Streaky Bay had its highest August temperature on record.
- Several sites had their highest August mean daily maximum temperature on record or their highest August mean daily maximum temperature since 1982.
- Night-time temperatures for winter were above average to highest on record across many areas of the state, but close to average or below average in some central and eastern agricultural or southern Pastoral districts.
- The mean minimum temperature for South Australia as a whole was 1.99 °C above average, the second-highest in August on record (since 1910) and warmest since 2009.
- Cleve and Wudinna Aero had their lowest August temperature on record.
- On the 4th, Meningie and Nuriootpa PIRSA had their warmest August night on record.
- Robe and Ernabella (Pukatja) equalled their highest August mean daily minimum temperature on record.
- A few sites had their highest August mean temperature on record or their highest August mean temperature for at least 20 years.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in August 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
33.4 °C at Tarcoola Aero on the 29th |
| Warmest days on average |
26.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
| Coolest days on average |
12.2 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Coldest day |
7.8 °C at Mount Lofty on the 5th |
| Coldest night |
-4.0 °C at Kyancutta on the 7th -4.0 °C at Wudinna Aero on the 7th -4.0 °C at Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) on the 8th |
| Coolest nights on average |
2.9 °C at Yongala |
| Warmest nights on average |
12.0 °C at Neptune Island |
| Warmest night |
16.6 °C at Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) on the 4th 16.6 °C at Moomba Airport on the 16th |
| Warmest on average overall |
18.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport |
| Coolest on average overall |
9.3 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Wettest overall |
99.2 mm at Ashton |
| Wettest day |
31.0 mm at Blyth on the 17th |
| Strongest wind gust |
102 km/h at Neptune Island on the 21st |
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
| Highest August total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for August |
|||
| Blyth | 63.2 | 96.0 | in 1996* | 48.8 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record highest August temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
|||
| Streaky Bay | 28.5 | on the 28th | 28.0 | on the 24th in 1982 | 65 | 17.6 |
| Record highest August mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
||
| Moomba Airport | 25.9 | = 25.9 | in 2009 | 28 | 22.5 |
| Marree Aero | 24.4 | 24.2 | in 2013 | 25 | 21.8 |
| Yunta Airstrip | 19.9 | 19.7 | in 2007 | 25 | 17.6 |
| Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 20.8 | = 20.8 | in 2007 | 24 | 18.9 |
| Tarcoola Aero | 23.3 | = 23.3 | in 2009 | 24 | 21.2 |
| Mount Lofty | 12.2 | = 12.2 | in 1998 | 22 | 10.0 |
| Highest August mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for August |
|||
| Woomera Aerodrome | 21.9 | 23.1 | in 1982 | 19.0 | |
| Leigh Creek Airport | 22.1 | 22.9 | in 1982* | 19.2 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record highest August daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
|||
| Meningie | 14.5 | on the 4th | 14.1 | on the 16th in 2001 | 57 | 7.2 |
| Nuriootpa PIRSA | 13.4 | on the 4th | = 13.4 | on the 25th in 1999 | 28 | 5.0 |
| Record lowest August temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
|||
| Cleve | 0.6 | on the 8th | 1.2 | on the 9th in 1999 | 65 | 7.4 |
| Wudinna Aero | -4.0 | on the 7th | -3.0 | on the 4th in 1999 | 25 | 5.6 |
| Record highest August mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
||
| Robe | 10.2 | = 10.2 | in 2021 | 137 | 8.5 |
| Ernabella (Pukatja) | 8.6 | = 8.6 | in 2020 | 26 | 6.1 |
| Record highest August mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
||
| Clare High School | 10.5 | = 10.5 | in 2009 | 29 | 9.3 |
| Marree Aero | 16.4 | 16.3 | in 2009 | 25 | 14.2 |
| Highest August mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for August |
|||
| Leigh Creek Airport | 14.9 | 15.1 | in 1982* | 12.6 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for August 2023 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for August 2023 |
Diff from average |
Highest for August 2023 |
Mean for August 2023 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for August 2023 |
Total for August 2023 |
Average for August |
Rank of August 2023 |
Fraction of August average |
|||
| Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
| Andamooka | 22.8 | +2.1 | 29.6 | 29th | 8.4 | +1.2 | 3.0 | 7th | 5.8 | 12.1 | average | 48% |
| Coober Pedy Airport | 23.6 | +2.5 | 32.7 | 29th | 9.5 | +1.9 | 2.9 | 7th | 2.0 | 6.6 | average | 30% |
| Ernabella (Pukatja) | 24.4 | +3.3 | 29.1 | 14th | 8.6 | +2.5 | 3.9 | 2nd | 0 | 6.1 | lowest | 0% |
| Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 22.4 | +1.6 | 29.2 | 26th | 6.8 | +1.2 | 0.2 | 8th | 5.6 | 8.8 | average | 64% |
| Tarcoola Aero | 23.3 | +2.1 | 33.4 | 29th | 6.9 | +1.2 | -0.8 | 7th | 9.2 | 12.2 | average | 75% |
| Woomera Aerodrome | 21.9 | +2.9 | 30.5 | 29th | 8.1 | +1.3 | 3.3 | 6th | 7.4 | 12.8 | average | 58% |
| Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
| Arkaroola | 21.8 | +2.7 | 28.6 | 29th | 4.8 | +0.2 | -1.1 | 8th | 4.3 | 14.2 | average | 30% |
| Leigh Creek Airport | 22.1 | +2.9 | 28.0 | 29th | 7.7 | +1.6 | 3.9 | 11th | 6.6 | 14.7 | average | 45% |
| Marree Aero | 24.4 | +2.6 | 29.4 | 3rd | 8.2 | +1.7 | 1.8 | 7th | 0.2 | 6.6 | low | 3% |
| Moomba Airport | 25.9 | +3.4 | 30.9 | 13th | 10.2 | +2.3 | 6.4 | 24th | 1.0 | 5.2 | average | 19% |
| Oodnadatta Airport | 26.0 | +3.7 | 33.3 | 13th | 10.4 | +3.0 | 3.1 | 7th | 0.2 | 8.0 | low | 3% |
| Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
| Ceduna AMO | 21.2 | +2.5 | 31.5 | 28th | 7.3 | +1.1 | -1.6 | 6th | 9.4 | 34.1 | low | 28% |
| Cleve | 19.3 | +2.6 | 27.0 | 30th | 7.4 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 8th | 26.6 | 48.2 | low | 55% |
| Cleve Aerodrome | 18.5 | +1.8 | 27.3 | 29th | 7.5 | +0.1 | 2.5 | 7th | 25.4 | 43.5 | low | 58% |
| Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) | 17.0 | 22.3 | 28th | 9.6 | 4.8 | 7th | 28.8 | |||||
| Cultana (Defence) | 20.7 | 29.5 | 29th | 8.0 | 3.0 | 7th | 13.8 | |||||
| Cummins Aero | 17.8 | +1.2 | 24.2 | 3rd | 5.1 | 0.0 | -0.2 | 8th | 18.8 | 60.2 | v low | 31% |
| Elliston | 19.2 | +1.9 | 25.0 | 3rd | 8.4 | +0.1 | 2.9 | 6th | 25.6 | 59.2 | low | 43% |
| Kimba | 19.0 | +2.0 | 27.2 | 29th | 6.4 | +0.9 | 0.8 | 7th | 28.4 | 41.5 | low | 68% |
| Kyancutta | 21.2 | +2.5 | 30.2 | 28th | 4.3 | -0.6 | -4.0 | 7th | 15.7 | 38.8 | low | 40% |
| Minnipa PIRSA | 20.0 | +2.3 | 28.6 | 28th | 7.4 | +0.7 | 1.8 | 6th | 23.0 | 38.1 | low | 60% |
| Neptune Island | 16.3 | +1.0 | 20.9 | 3rd | 12.0 | +0.8 | 9.7 | 5th | 36.8 | 61.2 | low | 60% |
| North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 17.3 | +0.5 | 24.8 | 3rd | 7.3 | +0.2 | 2.3 | 8th | 5.4 | 50.8 | v low | 11% |
| Nullarbor | 21.7 | +1.9 | 32.2 | 28th | 7.6 | +1.7 | 1.2 | 7th | 21.0 | 24.3 | average | 86% |
| Port Augusta Aero | 21.6 | +1.6 | 30.3 | 29th | 6.7 | +1.3 | -0.3 | 8th | 14.6 | 15.2 | average | 96% |
| Streaky Bay | 19.5 | +1.9 | 28.5 | 28th | 7.8 | -1.0 | 2.5 | 6th | 20.6 | 49.5 | low | 42% |
| Whyalla Aero | 19.2 | +0.7 | 29.9 | 29th | 6.4 | +0.5 | -0.2 | 7th | 26.0 | 21.4 | average | 121% |
| Wudinna Aero | 20.9 | +2.3 | 29.9 | 28th | 4.9 | -0.7 | -4.0 | 7th | 16.0 | 34.7 | low | 46% |
| Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
| Hawker | 19.7 | +1.9 | 26.3 | 28th | 5.3 | +1.0 | -1.0 | 23rd | 7.9 | 31.1 | low | 25% |
| Yongala | 17.3 | +2.8 | 25.4 | 29th | 2.9 | +0.3 | -2.4 | 11th | 17.2 | 42.4 | low | 41% |
| Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
| Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 20.8 | +1.9 | 29.0 | 29th | 3.6 | -0.7 | -4.0 | 8th | 9.2 | 18.8 | low | 49% |
| Yunta Airstrip | 19.9 | +2.3 | 26.5 | 29th | 3.6 | -0.4 | -3.9 | 8th | 8.2 | 12.1 | average | 68% |
| Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
| Clare High School | 15.9 | +1.8 | 24.3 | 29th | 5.1 | +0.7 | -0.7 | 11th | 51.2 | 66.3 | average | 77% |
| Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS | 19.9 | 28.0 | 29th | 4.9 | -0.9 | 8th | 20.0 | |||||
| Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 18.0 | +1.2 | 26.1 | 29th | 4.2 | -0.1 | -1.8 | 8th | 48.6 | 43.8 | average | 111% |
| Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
| Edithburgh | 16.7 | +0.9 | 26.9 | 29th | 7.6 | +0.3 | 2.5 | 15th | 22.4 | 48.1 | low | 47% |
| Kadina AWS | 18.1 | +1.1 | 26.8 | 29th | 5.0 | 0.0 | -1.1 | 8th | 25.4 | 31.7 | average | 80% |
| Minlaton Aero | 17.2 | +0.9 | 24.7 | 29th | 7.3 | +0.5 | 2.7 | 31st | 22.8 | 44.2 | low | 52% |
| Stenhouse Bay | 17.0 | +0.8 | 22.4 | 3rd | 9.6 | +0.2 | 5.4 | 8th | 22.6 | 62.0 | low | 36% |
| Warooka | 16.4 | +0.7 | 20.5 | 25th | 7.8 | +0.1 | 3.8 | 6th | 18.5 | 59.0 | v low | 31% |
| Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Borda | 14.9 | +0.3 | 19.0 | 29th | 9.4 | +0.3 | 5.5 | 6th | 43.4 | 71.5 | low | 61% |
| Cape Willoughby | 15.5 | +1.0 | 21.2 | 29th | 10.6 | +0.9 | 8.4 | 31st | 33.2 | 73.7 | v low | 45% |
| Kingscote Aero | 16.5 | +0.5 | 23.1 | 29th | 6.2 | +0.4 | 0.1 | 8th | 32.8 | 57.4 | low | 57% |
| Parndana CFS AWS | 19.7 | 3rd | 6.7 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 6th | 46.8 | 84.6 | low | 55% | ||
| Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
| Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) | 17.5 | +1.4 | 26.4 | 29th | 9.1 | +1.1 | 3.6 | 8th | 38.8 | 61.3 | low | 63% |
| Adelaide Airport | 17.1 | +1.1 | 25.4 | 29th | 8.5 | +0.9 | 2.4 | 8th | 38.4 | 50.5 | average | 76% |
| Edinburgh RAAF | 17.6 | +1.1 | 26.6 | 29th | 7.3 | +0.8 | 1.9 | 8th | 49.2 | 49.7 | average | 99% |
| Parafield Airport | 18.2 | +1.9 | 27.6 | 29th | 7.0 | +0.3 | 1.6 | 8th | 40.2 | 53.2 | average | 76% |
| Roseworthy AWS | 17.7 | +1.3 | 26.6 | 29th | 6.2 | +0.9 | 1.5 | 8th | 22.2 | 45.0 | low | 49% |
| County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
| Nuriootpa PIRSA | 15.9 | +1.2 | 24.6 | 29th | 5.3 | +0.3 | -0.7 | 11th | 32.0 | 57.7 | low | 55% |
| Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
| Hindmarsh Island AWS | 17.0 | +0.6 | 26.6 | 29th | 8.4 | +0.1 | 3.4 | 15th | 39.6 | 48.4 | average | 82% |
| Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 14.3 | +0.8 | 23.6 | 29th | 7.4 | +0.5 | 4.4 | 7th | 77.8 | 92.9 | average | 84% |
| Mount Barker | 16.1 | +1.8 | 24.5 | 29th | 6.3 | +1.3 | 0.1 | 8th | 69.4 | 102.6 | low | 68% |
| Mount Crawford AWS | 13.7 | +1.4 | 22.2 | 29th | 7.1 | +1.0 | 3.2 | 7th | 49.2 | 87.7 | low | 56% |
| Mount Lofty | 12.2 | +2.2 | 21.1 | 29th | 6.3 | +1.1 | 3.0 | 18th | 87.0 | 135.5 | v low | 64% |
| Noarlunga | 16.8 | +1.0 | 24.3 | 29th | 9.2 | +0.3 | 5.4 | 7th | 40.4 | 54.6 | low | 74% |
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 13.0 | +0.5 | 19.2 | 3rd | 7.3 | +0.3 | 4.4 | 7th | 31.2 | 100.7 | v low | 31% |
| Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 17.0 | +0.6 | 25.3 | 29th | 6.4 | -0.4 | 0.0 | 8th | 42.2 | 73.6 | low | 57% |
| Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
| Loxton Research Centre | 18.9 | +1.3 | 27.6 | 29th | 4.5 | 0.0 | -2.5 | 8th | 15.2 | 26.2 | average | 58% |
| Renmark Aero | 19.8 | +1.3 | 29.4 | 29th | 3.5 | -1.0 | -3.9 | 8th | 13.0 | 21.0 | low | 62% |
| Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
| Eudunda | 15.6 | +1.2 | 25.5 | 29th | 6.7 | +1.4 | 3.6 | 15th | 24.2 | 55.5 | low | 44% |
| Murray Bridge | 19.3 | +1.7 | 28.1 | 29th | 6.1 | +0.2 | 0.2 | 16th | 30.7 | 36.9 | average | 83% |
| Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 18.2 | +1.1 | 28.0 | 29th | 4.8 | +0.3 | -2.8 | 8th | 30.2 | 29.4 | average | 103% |
| Strathalbyn Racecourse | 16.9 | +0.8 | 26.2 | 29th | 6.7 | +0.1 | 0.8 | 8th | 39.8 | 52.4 | average | 76% |
| Murray Mallee (district 25A) | ||||||||||||
| Karoonda | 24.3 | 3rd | 5.1 | +0.1 | -0.5 | 8th | 29.7 | 37.7 | average | 79% | ||
| Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
| Keith | 17.6 | +1.4 | 24.8 | 29th | 5.8 | -0.1 | -0.4 | 15th | 30.0 | 58.2 | low | 52% |
| Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 16.6 | +0.4 | 24.2 | 29th | 5.1 | +0.6 | -0.3 | 15th | 43.6 | 33.9 | high | 129% |
| Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 15.6 | +1.0 | 19.6 | 29th | 7.9 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 16th | 33.6 | 70.1 | low | 48% |
| Coonawarra | 16.0 | +1.2 | 22.5 | 29th | 5.8 | +0.4 | -1.6 | 8th | 39.6 | 80.0 | v low | 50% |
| Mount Gambier Aero | 15.6 | +1.4 | 20.9 | 29th | 6.1 | +0.6 | -1.1 | 14th | 50.6 | 95.5 | v low | 53% |
| Naracoorte Aerodrome | 16.1 | +0.8 | 20.7 | 3rd | 5.9 | +0.4 | -0.5 | 8th | 26.2 | 68.6 | v low | 38% |
| Padthaway South | 16.2 | +0.8 | 23.5 | 29th | 5.9 | +0.1 | -0.7 | 15th | 45.4 | 69.6 | low | 65% |
| Robe | 15.3 | +1.0 | 18.5 | 3rd | 10.2 | +1.7 | 6.7 | 8th | 34.3 | 85.8 | v low | 40% |
| Robe Airfield | 15.8 | +0.6 | 20.9 | 29th | 7.1 | -0.1 | -0.4 | 14th | 36.6 | 88.0 | low | 42% |
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 12 pm on Friday 1 September 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
