Tuesday, 4 December 2007 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in Spring 2007
A warm Spring with a wet finish.

Summary

Rainfall in South Australia was patchy with many areas below average despite widespread above average November rainfall. Temperatures were significantly above average with some Spring records.

Jump to:  Extremes  Maps  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Rainfall

Spring rainfall totals over South Australia were mostly below average to very much below average with some stations recording lowest totals on record.

The Pastoral Districts reported totals that were generally below average apart from some parts of the far northwest.

In the Agricultural areas rainfall was patchy being near or above average over many areas, particularly the Mid North and Flinders districts, parts of Yorke Peninsula and southern coastal areas, but below average to very much below average over remaining areas.

Rainfall totals in the Pastoral areas were generally 15 to 30 mm, with higher totals over 100 mm in the southeast. Braemar recorded 149 mm, the highest in the Pastoral districts.

Totals in the Agricultural areas were generally between 50mm and 100mm, apart from the Mt Lofty Ranges, parts of the Flinders Ranges, and the Lower South East district where totals were generally in excess of 100 mm.

The highest rainfall for this Spring was 227 mm at Mount Gambier Aero, where the average Spring sees totals of 182 mm.

Table 1 gives Spring rainfall for selected stations and Map 1 shows rainfall deciles for Spring.

Some sites had their lowest total spring rainfall on record.

See a map of total rainfall. See a map of rainfall deciles.

Some sites had their highest spring mean daily maximum temperature on record.

See a map of mean maximum temperatures. See a map of maximum temperature anomalies.

Some sites had their lowest spring temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest spring mean daily minimum temperature on record.

See a map of mean minimum temperatures. See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

Temperatures

Maximum Temperatures.

Mean maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts of the state were generally 2 to 3 °C warmer than normal and ranged from 26.0°C at Yunta in the Northeast district to 31.8°C at Oodnadatta Airport in the Northwest. The highest recorded maximum temperature for this period was on the 30th November of 43.5 °C at Marla. It was the warmest Spring on record for several locations, chiefly in the Western Agricultural Districts. These were for Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Nullarbor, Whyalla Aero and also Maitland on Yorke Peninsula, Loxton in the Riverland, and Adelaide Airport.

Mean maximum temperatures over the agricultural districts of the state were mostly 1.5 to 3 °C above normal remaining 1 to 2°C above normal in the Southeast districts. Mean maximum temperatures ranged from 17.8°C at Parawa on the Fleurieu Peninsula to 28.4°C at Port Augusta Aero in the Western Agricultural district. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the agricultural areas for Spring was 42.5°C at Renmark on the 29th November.

Minimum Temperatures.

Mean minimum temperatures over the pastoral districts were generally up to 1°C above average ranging from 9.6°C at Gluepot in the Northeast Pastoral district to 16.4°C at Marree in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for Spring 2007 in the pastoral areas was -2.5°C recorded at Yunta on 5th September. The warmest recorded minimum temperature was 28.4 °C at Coober Pedy Airport on the 19th November. Marree recorded it's warmest Spring in 68 years of records, breaking the previous record in 1997 by 1.1°C.

Over the agricultural districts mean minimum temperatures were also generally up to 1°C above average ranging from 6.7 °C at Keith in the Upper South East district to 13.3 °C at Port Augusta in the Western Agricultural district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for Spring 2007 in the agricultural areas was -3.1 °C at Murray Bridge Aerodrome on 5th September. The warmest recorded minimum temperature was 26.6 °C at Minnipa on 21 October 2007.

Temperature statistics for all stations are presented in the tables below.

Adelaide Weather

Rainfall

Spring rainfall in the metropolitan area was below average. Adelaide's (Kent Town) recorded 78.6 mm, while the normal rainfall for spring for the Kent Town site is 141.9 mm. Last year 51.6 mm was recorded for spring.

Temperature

The mean maximum temperature, recorded at the South Australian Regional Office (Kent Town), for spring 2007 was 24.0°C, which is 2.2°C above the average spring mean maximum of 21.8°C. It is also the fourth highest spring mean maximum temperature. The mean maximum for spring last year was 23.0°C. The Adelaide Airport recorded its highest spring mean maximum temperature of 23.4°C, 0.2°C higher than the previous record attained in 2006. The Parafield Airport recorded the warmest days on average with 24.8°C with the coolest days on average of 22.7°C at Noarlunga.

The mean minimum temperature for spring 2007 was 12.5°C at the South Australian Regional Office (Kent Town), which is 0.9°C above the average spring mean minimum of 11.6°C. Last spring the mean minimum was 12.1°C. The coolest nights on average, 11.0°C, were recorded at Edinburgh whilst the warmest nights on average were at the Kent Town site of 12.5°C

Further information

South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au

Extremes

Hottest day
Highest temperature		 43.5 °C at Marla Police Station on 30 Nov
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 31.8 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 17.8 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 10.4 °C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on 11 Sep
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 -3.1 °C at Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) on 5 Sep
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 6.7 °C at Keith (Munkora)
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 16.4 °C at Marree Comparison
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 28.4 °C at Coober Pedy Airport on 19 Nov
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 227 mm at Mount Gambier Aero
Highest wind gust
 124 km/h at Cleve Aerodrome on 20 Nov

Jump to:  Extremes  Maps  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Records

Record lowest total spring rainfall
Total rainfall
for spring 2007 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Normal for
spring
Andamooka 4.0 6.2 in 1967 43 47.4
Adelaide (Magill Secure Care Centre) 52.8 54.6 in 1982 34 160.7
Blackwood (Wittunga) 63.8 71.1 in 1982 29 173.2
Heathfield Works Depot 134.6 145.4 in 1987 21 256.9


Record highest spring mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for spring 2007 (°C) 		Previous highest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Normal for
spring
Streaky Bay 25.3 25.2 in 2006 81 22.8
Ceduna AMO 26.7 25.8 in 1944 67 23.6
Adelaide Airport 23.4 23.2 in 2006 53 20.9
Maitland 23.6 23.5 in 2006 27 21.1
Loxton Research Centre 26.2 26.0 in 2006 24 23.8
Whyalla Aero 25.7 = 25.7 in 1988 23 23.8
Nullarbor 25.9 25.5 in 2006 20 24.1


Record highest spring mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for spring 2007 (°C) 		Previous highest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Normal for
spring
Marree Comparison 16.4 15.3 in 1997 68 13.2


Record lowest spring temperature
Lowest temperature
in spring 2007 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Normal for
spring
Ceduna AMO -1.2 on 1 Sep -1.1 on 10 Sep 1952 67 9.9


Jump to:  Extremes  Maps  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Summaries

 In the following table, certain key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to identify.

Summary statistics for spring 2007
Maximum temperatures
for spring
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for spring
(°C)		 Rainfall
for spring
(millimetres)
Mean for
spring
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Highest for
spring
2007		 Mean for
spring
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Lowest for
spring
2007		 Total for
spring
2007		 Normal
for
spring		 Rank of
spring
2007		 Fraction of
spring
normal
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 29.9 +1.8 41.6 20 Nov 14.6 +1.0 4.2 5 Sep 4.0 47.4 lowest 8%
Coober Pedy Airport 30.1 41.0 19 Nov 14.6 5.2 11 Sep 23.0
Ernabella 30.1 41.4 30 Nov 14.5 5.1 27 Sep 61.4
Nonning 27.4 +2.4 41.0 19 Nov 10.3 +0.7 1.3 21 Sep 31.8 64.3 low 49%
Roxby Downs 29.6 41.9 20 Nov 13.1 0.0 5 Sep 4.2
Tarcoola Aero 30.0 42.7 19 Nov 12.0 1.7 20 Sep 5.2
Woomera Aerodrome 28.8 +2.7 41.7 19 Nov 13.5 +1.2 5.8 5 Sep 15.6 47.6 low 33%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 28.7 +2.1 40.7 20 Nov 13.5 +1.0 4.9 21 Sep 24.6 51.1 low 48%
Marree Aero 30.7 42.6 20 Nov 14.4 4.7 5 Sep 3.8
Marree Comparison 31.2 +1.8 42.5 19 Nov 16.4 +3.1 5.3 5 Sep 3.2 34.9 very low 9%
Moomba Airport 31.0 40.8 20 Nov 15.7 6.2 12 Sep 5.8
Oodnadatta Airport 31.8 +1.6 42.3 30 Nov 16.0 +1.0 3.9 5 Sep 9.8 34.4 low 28%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 26.7 +3.1 41.1 20 Oct 9.8 -0.1 -1.2 1 Sep 37.0 74.1 low 50%
Cleve 24.2 +2.1 36.6 16 Nov 11.4 +1.1 3.5 29 Oct 52.0 106.3 low 49%
Cleve Aerodrome 24.5 36.8 21 Oct 10.6 1.8 1 Sep 50.4 87.4 low 58%
Coulta 22.8 34.4 18 Nov 10.1 2.6 1 Sep 57.6
Cummins Aero 24.6 37.5 18 Nov 8.6 -1.5 2 Sep 73.6
Elliston 23.0 +1.7 35.0 20 Oct 11.2 +0.1 1.6 1 Sep 80.1 89.5 normal 89%
Kyancutta 27.8 +2.6 39.8 18 Nov 8.9 +0.5 -1.4 4 Sep 19.9 79.9 very low 25%
Neptune Island 18.4 +0.9 27.6 16 Nov 13.1 +0.7 8.1 29 Oct 87.2 91.5 normal 95%
North Shields 22.2 37.6 16 Nov 9.8 2.5 5 Sep 73.6
Nullarbor 25.9 +1.8 42.2 20 Oct 9.8 -0.2 1.1 1 Sep 24.0 52.9 low 45%
Port Augusta Aero 28.4 42.1 19 Nov 12.6 2.4 12 Sep 55.0
Streaky Bay 25.3 +2.5 38.6 29 Nov 12.5 +1.1 4.9 4 Sep 55.2 80.7 low 68%
Whyalla Aero 25.7 +1.9 39.4 21 Oct 11.5 +0.7 0.9 5 Sep 55.0 72.7 normal 76%
Wudinna Aero 27.6 40.0 18 Nov 9.1 -0.4 5 Sep 27.4
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 27.4 +1.9 40.3 19 Nov 11.2 +1.3 1.3 1 Sep 30.1 74.9 low 40%
Yongala 24.2 +2.4 37.8 20 Nov 7.7 +1.3 -2.2 1 Sep 98.4 99.8 normal 99%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 27.0 41.6 19 Nov 9.6 -2.0 1 Sep 65.2
Yunta Airstrip 26.0 38.6 19 Nov 9.7 -2.5 5 Sep 75.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 23.0 35.9 19 Nov 8.9 -0.7 1 Sep 101.6
Port Pirie Aerodrome 26.5 38.5 21 Oct 11.5 2.0 1 Sep 82.2
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 26.7 +2.3 38.5 21 Oct 13.3 +1.4 3.0 5 Sep 80.8 92.6 normal 87%
Snowtown 26.0 38.8 21 Oct 7.8 -2.5 5 Sep 70.6
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 20.9 35.1 21 Oct 11.0 1.6 1 Sep 103.0
Kadina AWS 25.3 38.2 16 Nov 9.0 -2.3 5 Sep 63.8
Maitland 23.6 +2.5 36.7 16 Nov 11.1 +1.2 4.2 1 Sep 89.6 120.3 low 74%
Minlaton Aero 23.5 36.1 16 Nov 10.1 1.9 4 Sep 91.6
Stenhouse Bay 20.8 32.4 21 Oct 11.9 4.9 12 Sep 67.4
Warooka 21.7 +1.1 33.5 15 Nov 10.9 +0.7 4.8 5 Sep 117.6 104.8 normal 112%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Willoughby 18.4 +1.0 29.4 16 Nov 12.2 +0.7 7.8 20 Sep 117.0 127.5 normal 92%
Kingscote Aero 21.6 37.0 16 Nov 7.6 -2.0 5 Sep 68.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 24.0 +2.2 37.1 16 Nov 12.5 +0.9 5.0 2 Sep 77.2 139.9 low 55%
Adelaide Airport 23.4 +2.5 36.5 16 Nov 11.7 +1.0 1.7 5 Sep 75.4 111.4 low 68%
Edinburgh RAAF 24.5 +2.5 38.1 21 Oct 11.0 +0.8 0.4 5 Sep 77.6 114.0 low 68%
Parafield Airport 24.8 +3.1 37.9 21 Oct 11.2 +0.9 0.2 5 Sep 63.0 114.9 very low 55%
Roseworthy AWS 40.3 19 Nov 8.2 -2.4 5 Sep 59.8
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 23.1 38.4 19 Nov 9.1 -1.0 1 Sep 83.8
Rosedale 24.8 +3.0 39.5 19 Nov 9.4 +0.7 0.0 2 Sep 77.8 126.9 low 61%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 21.0 35.0 21 Oct 11.3 1.4 5 Sep 112.8
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 19.8 32.8 19 Nov 9.7 3.7 4 Sep 127.4
Mount Barker 21.7 +2.4 35.4 19 Nov 8.1 +0.9 -0.1 15 Sep 110.4 193.0 very low 57%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 20.1 35.0 19 Nov 9.2 1.9 4 Sep 134.8
Noarlunga 22.7 35.5 16 Nov 12.2 5.6 15 Sep 93.8
Parawa 17.8 30.6 16 Nov 9.5 4.5 4 Sep 183.4
Victor Harbor 20.5 35.2 16 Nov 9.7 0.4 5 Sep 167.6
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 26.2 +2.3 41.5 19 Nov 9.1 +0.6 -1.0 1 Sep 52.8 74.7 normal 71%
Renmark Aero 27.0 42.5 19 Nov 9.6 -1.4 1 Sep 59.6
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 23.2 +2.7 38.1 19 Nov 9.2 +1.1 1.3 1 Sep 83.0 119.2 low 70%
Meningie 21.7 +1.3 36.0 16 Nov 10.1 +0.5 2.0 4 Sep 107.4 115.1 normal 93%
Murray Bridge 24.5 41.2 19 Nov 8.0 -3.1 5 Sep 58.4
Murray Bridge Comparison 25.0 +2.4 40.5 19 Nov 9.6 +0.4 0.5 2 Sep 72.3 95.9 normal 75%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.4 36.2 16 Nov 9.6 0.4 5 Sep 99.2
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 25.0 39.7 19 Nov 9.1 1.0 15 Oct 67.0 91.9 low 73%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 23.5 +1.9 38.4 19 Nov 8.9 +0.6 -0.4 4 Sep 93.9 126.2 low 74%
Keith 23.8 40.7 19 Nov 6.7 -2.9 4 Sep 98.8
Lameroo 24.8 40.9 19 Nov 8.2 -0.7 15 Sep 53.2
Lameroo Comparison 25.2 +2.5 40.4 19 Nov 9.2 +1.3 0.5 15 Sep 44.2 106.4 very low 42%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 19.3 32.8 16 Nov 9.3 1.7 5 Sep 151.2
Mount Gambier Aero 19.1 +1.1 31.8 16 Nov 8.2 +1.0 0.8 20 Oct 226.8 181.7 high 125%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 21.6 36.0 19 Nov 7.2 -2.3 4 Sep 167.8
Padthaway South 21.7 36.2 21 Oct 8.4 -0.3 4 Sep 134.0
Robe Airfield 19.2 31.8 16 Nov 8.9 -1.0 17 Oct 168.8
Robe Comparison 18.5 +0.9 30.7 16 Nov 10.8 +0.6 4.1 17 Oct 182.2 134.1 high 136%

Jump to:  Extremes  Maps  Records  Summaries  Notes  the top

Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Tuesday 4 December 2007. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Normals 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 20 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of "normal" 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, normal in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Further information

South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au