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


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

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


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




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%

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.


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Climate