Monday, 1 September 2008 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in winter 2008
A Reasonably Normal Winter.

Summary

• Winter rainfall was generally mixed, ranging between below average to above average.
• Winter temperatures started above average in June but cooled to below average during August.

An archive of previous seasonal summaries for South Australia is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.

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Rainfall

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall varied from below average to above average over the pastoral districts with the far north east of the state receiving very much above average rainfall. Rainfall totals tended to be between 10 and 50 mm. More than 50 mm was gratefully received in the far northeast near Birdsville.

The highest winter rainfall total was 72 mm at Gluepot Reserve in the Northeast district whilst the lowest was at Coober Pedy with only 7 mm during winter!

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals were generally near average, apart from areas in the Northern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and the Lower South East districts where rainfall totals were below average, but there were some isolated areas with above average rainfall for winter.

Much of the northern agricultural areas received between 50 and 200 mm rainfall with totals in the 200 to 300 mm range being recorded in the southern coastal regions. More than 300 mm were received on the western half of Kangaroo Island. The highest rainfall total of 489 mm was recorded at Woodhouse in the Mount Lofty Ranges whilst Waikerie in the Upper Murray Valley only recorded 41 mm.

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

Temperature

The mean maximum temperature over the majority of the state was cooler than the long-term average, within 1°C of the long-term normal, with parts of the western areas of the state were slightly warmer than average. The mean minimum temperature was mostly slightly above the winter mean with isolated pockets that were only marginally below the long-term minimum temperature mean.

The hottest winter day was 30.6°C recorded at the Oodnadatta Airport on the 31st July. The coldest daily maximum was at Mount Crawford on the 7th of July when a maximum of 6.2°C was recorded. The lowest daily minimum temperature recorded was at Yunta on the 24th July when −5.8°C was recorded. The warmest overnight minimum temperature was recorded at Arkaroola on the 30th August, 17.6°C.

Oodnadatta Airport had the warmest winter mean maximum temperature of 20.2°C. The lowest mean maximum winter temperature was 10.8°C at Mount Crawford.

The warmest nights on average across winter were recorded on Neptune Island with 11.7°C, while the coldest nights on average were recorded at Yongala in the Far North, averaging just 2.6°C for the season.

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

Wind

A small, but intense low-pressure system tracked east from the Great Australian Bight waters, along the south coast of Kangaroo Island during the evening and night on 13th July. Severe north to northwest winds on the northeast flank of this low affected Kangaroo Island and southern Yorke Peninsula, with gusts of 90−93 km/h reported at Cape Borda and Edithburgh. However, the strongest observed winds occurred at Cape Willoughby at the eastern end of Kangaroo Island, where northerly winds were sustained at 90−95 km/h for about two hours, with gusts to 110−120 km/h. Remarkably, damage was minimal.

Further information

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

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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	30.6°C at Oodnadatta Airport on 31 Jul
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	20.2°C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	10.8°C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	6.2°C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on 7 Jul
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−5.8°C at Yunta Airstrip on 24 Jul
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	2.6°C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	11.7°C at Neptune Island
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	17.6°C at Arkaroola on 30 Aug
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	489.4 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse)
Highest wind gust	120 km/h at Renmark Aero on 23 Aug

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Summaries

In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for winter 2008
	Maximum temperatures for winter (°C)				Minimum temperatures for winter (°C)				Rainfall for winter (millimetres)
	Mean for winter 2008	Diff from normal	Highest for winter 2008		Mean for winter 2008	Diff from normal	Lowest for winter 2008		Total for winter 2008	Normal for winter	Rank of winter 2008	Fraction of winter normal
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka	18.7	−0.5	25.2	19 Jul	6.6	−0.1	−0.7	25 Jul	26.0	41.6	average	63%
Coober Pedy Airport	18.7		26.3	29 Aug	6.3		1.1	24 Jul	9.0
Ernabella	18.5		28.7	31 Jul	5.0		−5.2	25 Jul	17.8
Nonning	16.8	−0.4	21.9	29 Jun	4.2	−0.1	−4.5	25 Jul	46.4	77.6	low	60%
Roxby Downs	18.2		25.5	19 Jul	5.1		−3.3	25 Jul	12.4
Tarcoola Aero	18.9		25.9	29 Jun	3.9		−3.1	7 Aug	25.4
Woomera Aerodrome	17.5	−0.2	23.4	30 Aug	6.2	−0.2	0.7	25 Jul	21.0	45.1	low	47%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport	17.2	−0.3	22.7	19 Jul	5.5	+0.1	−1.2	8 Aug	32.8	51.5	average	64%
Marree Aero	19.2		27.9	31 Jul	6.0		0.5	8 Aug	26.6
Marree Comparison	19.5	−0.5	27.4	31 Jul	6.2	+0.5	0.6	25 Jul	39.0	32.9	average	119%
Moomba Airport	19.8		30.3	31 Jul	6.8		1.1	9 Aug	26.8
Oodnadatta Airport	20.2	−0.3	30.6	31 Jul	6.1	−0.5	−1.1	24 Jul	38.6	31.1	average	124%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO	18.4	+0.3	25.3	25 Jun	5.9	−0.2	−1.4	28 Jul	64.8	109.6	low	59%
Cleve	15.6	−0.3	22.2	1 Jun	7.3	−0.2	2.8	24 Jul	148.6	140.4	average	106%
Cleve Aerodrome	15.4		22.0	1 Jun	7.2		1.9	24 Aug	120.2	130.8	average	92%
Coulta	15.7		20.6	1 Jun	7.7		1.3	25 Jul	165.6
Cummins Aero	15.7		22.3	1 Jun	5.2		−1.0	28 Jul	166.8
Elliston	17.1	+0.2	22.5	1 Jun	8.3	+0.1	1.0	23 Jul	191.6	201.9	average	95%
Kimba	15.4	−0.8	21.5	1 Jun	5.2	−0.2	−0.8	25 Jul	130.4	123.0	average	106%
Kyancutta	17.5	−0.4	23.7	1 Jun	4.1	−0.9	−2.5	23 Aug	87.4	117.9	average	74%
Minnipa DPI	16.4		22.4	2 Jun	6.5		0.4	22 Aug	79.0
Neptune Island	15.3	−0.2	19.5	1 Jun	11.7	+0.2	7.1	21 Aug	202.0	205.7	average	98%
North Shields	15.9		21.9	2 Jun	7.6		3.5	25 Jul	198.2
Nullarbor	18.4	−0.5	25.8	28 Jun	5.8	+0.2	0.2	7 Aug	57.8	81.9	low	71%
Port Augusta Aero	17.8		23.7	30 Aug	5.9		−2.4	25 Jul	46.4
Streaky Bay	17.3	+0.3	23.6	1 Jun	9.0	+0.2	2.9	26 Aug	158.5	173.2	average	92%
Whyalla Aero	17.0	−0.6	22.8	30 Aug	5.8	+0.2	−1.8	24 Jul	65.7	70.3	average	93%
Wudinna Aero	17.1		23.2	1 Jun	5.5		−1.7	23 Aug	88.0
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker	15.7	−1.1	22.0	19 Jul	4.2	0.0	−2.1	28 Jul	76.9	105.0	average	73%
Yongala	13.0	−0.7	19.4	2 Jun	2.6	+0.1	−4.0	25 Jul	85.6	122.6	low	70%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve	16.6		21.5	31 Jul	4.2		−5.0	22 Aug	71.6
Yunta Airstrip	15.3		20.9	19 Jul	3.1		−5.8	24 Jul	47.2
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School	12.7		19.0	2 Jun	4.3		−2.2	28 Jul	221.6
Port Pirie Aerodrome	16.4		23.0	30 Aug	5.8		−2.7	28 Jul	105.8
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison	16.9	−0.3	22.0	30 Aug	8.5	+0.4	1.0	28 Jul	137.5	109.4	high	126%
Snowtown	15.3		22.1	1 Jun	4.7		−2.3	24 Jul	133.6
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh	15.4		19.0	31 Jul	7.6		0.4	24 Jul	114.4
Kadina AWS	15.6		20.5	3 Jun	5.0		−2.8	28 Jul	103.4
Maitland	14.8	−0.2	21.6	1 Jun	7.5	+0.2	2.1	28 Jul	163.7	195.6	low	84%
Minlaton Aero	15.5		21.6	1 Jun	7.0		−0.3	28 Jul	131.2
Stenhouse Bay	15.4		21.3	1 Jun	9.6		3.4	24 Jul	212.2
Warooka	15.3	−0.2	21.0	1 Jun	8.0	+0.1	2.8	24 Jul	137.6	189.4	low	73%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda	14.2		17.8	4 Jun	9.6		5.5	22 Aug	303.2
Cape Willoughby	14.4	−0.1	19.2	1 Jun	10.1	+0.1	6.0	9 Aug	227.0	231.0	average	98%
Kingscote Aero	15.5		19.6	1 Jun	6.3		−0.6	28 Aug	192.2
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide	15.5	−0.5	22.0	1 Jun	7.7	−0.2	0.7	28 Jul	182.4	222.3	low	82%
Adelaide Airport	15.4	−0.2	20.5	2 Jun	7.4	0.0	−0.1	24 Jul	133.2	165.2	low	81%
Edinburgh RAAF	15.4	−0.4	20.6	1 Jun	6.4	0.0	−1.2	24 Jul	130.2	156.0	average	83%
Parafield Airport	15.6	−0.1	21.2	1 Jun	6.3	−0.5	−1.9	28 Jul	117.4	167.7	low	70%
Roseworthy AWS	15.5		20.7	1 Jun	5.5		−1.6	28 Jul	140.8
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural	13.2		18.8	29 Jun	4.5		−2.6	28 Jul	148.0
Rosedale	14.9	−0.5	20.8	2 Jun	5.5	−0.4	−2.5	28 Jul	193.2	172.4	average	112%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS	15.2		20.5	1 Jun	8.2		−0.1	24 Jul	182.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve	12.4		19.5	1 Jun	6.5		1.5	24 Jul	372.8
Mount Barker	13.8	+0.2	20.8	2 Jun	4.9	0.0	−1.9	24 Jul	313.6	307.4	average	102%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower	10.8		17.1	1 Jun	4.4		−2.3	15 Jun	288.0
Noarlunga	14.7		19.3	2 Jun	8.5		2.4	28 Jul	160.2
Parawa	11.9		17.0	1 Jun	7.1		2.6	24 Jul	415.0
Victor Harbor	15.4		19.2	2 Jun	7.2		−0.3	24 Jul	267.3
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre	16.2	−0.3	21.4	31 Jul	4.6	+0.3	−2.5	24 Jul	75.2	81.8	average	92%
Renmark Aero	16.4		20.9	29 Jun	4.3		−4.2	24 Jul	77.0
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda	13.0	−0.7	18.5	2 Jun	5.2	−0.1	0.6	22 Aug	164.0	159.1	average	103%
Meningie	15.2	−0.3	20.0	2 Jun	7.2	+0.3	1.7	24 Jul	225.0	179.3	high	125%
Murray Bridge	15.5		20.8	1 Jun	5.5		−4.2	24 Jul	92.2
Murray Bridge Comparison	16.4	−0.4	21.8	2 Jun	5.9	+0.1	−1.6	24 Jul	121.9	109.8	high	111%
Strathalbyn Racecourse	15.0		21.0	1 Jun	6.8		0.7	24 Jul	198.6
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda	15.6		21.5	31 Jul	5.2		−1.4	24 Jul	114.0	108.0	average	106%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith	15.0	−0.6	20.0	2 Jun	5.4	−0.4	−1.2	28 Jul	168.1	164.9	average	102%
Keith	15.0		19.8	2 Jun	4.7		−2.2	28 Jul	152.6
Lameroo	15.0		20.2	1 Jun	4.5		−1.1	22 Aug	88.4
Lameroo Comparison	15.5	−0.2	21.2	1 Jun	5.1	+0.4	−0.1	22 Aug	81.2	126.8	low	64%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa	14.0		17.8	3 Jun	7.9		1.5	16 Jun	295.0
Coonawarra	14.2	−0.2	19.5	2 Jun	5.2	−0.1	−1.9	23 Jul	182.5	230.6	low	79%
Mount Gambier Aero	13.5	−0.2	18.8	2 Jun	5.9	+0.5	−0.4	28 Jul	258.0	275.4	average	94%
Naracoorte Aerodrome	14.3		20.0	2 Jun	5.2		−2.9	28 Jul	104.4
Padthaway South	14.5		19.7	2 Jun	5.4		−1.7	23 Jul	170.6
Robe Airfield	14.6		18.6	2 Jun	7.0		−0.5	16 Jun	292.2
Robe Comparison	14.0	0.0	17.9	3 Jun	9.0	+0.6	3.9	28 Jul	278.0	285.2	average	97%

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Notes

Further information

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

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