Monday, 1 June 2009 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in autumn 2009
A drier but cooler Autumn.

Summary

  • Autumn rainfall was generally slightly below average, apart from areas above average in much of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and patches through the Western agricultural and south-western pastoral districts.
  • Autumn temperatures were generally near to slightly below average, particularly in the west of the state.

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

Despite being near average for rainfall totals, the rain fell mainly in a few events, with much of March and April seeing only minor rainfall from early March until the end of April, with another large event near the end of May.

Totals have been generally slightly below average across much of South Australia this autumn, typically 60 to 80% of average, apart from the Mount Lofty Ranges and adjacent areas, and the far western agricultural areas, and the south-western pastoral areas, which saw rainfall above average.

Areas of above average totals in the west were quite patchy due to the rainfall coming from the combination of several events that were not widespread, but were up to twice the average in some locations!!

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall was generally below average across the eastern and northern pastoral districts, and above average in the southwest. Rainfall totals were very patchy but typically from 30 to 50 mm.

The highest autumn rainfall total was 103.9 mm at Tarcoola (Lake Everard) in the far North, when the average for that location would normally be 43.1 mm.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals were generally a little below average, apart from the Mount Lofty Ranges and adjacent areas through Adelaide and down the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the far western agricultural areas west of Kyancutta, which tended above average.

Rainfall totals were typically 30 to 80 mm across northern and eastern agricultural areas, with totals reaching 100 to 150 mm generally around Adelaide and in the lower southeast, with totals between 200 and 300 mm generally through the Mount Lofty Ranges. The highest total for the state was 346.6 mm at Woodhouse in the Adelaide Hills near Piccadilly, about 160 mm of which fell across 4 consecutive days in late April!!

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

Temperature

Generally temperatures were slightly cooler than average, particularly in the western and southern parts of the state, with days particularly being cooler than usual. Both autumn maximum and minimum temperatures were widely within 1°C of average.

The hottest autumn day was 45.2°C recorded at Moomba Airport on the 3rd March. The coldest daily maximum was at Ernabella on the 30th May when 8.4°C was recorded, a new record lowest May maximum temperature for that location!! The lowest overnight minimum temperature recorded was at Naracoorte Aerodrome on the 30th May when −0.7°C was recorded.

Moomba Airport had the warmest autumn mean maximum temperature of 29.2°C. The lowest mean maximum autumn temperature was 18.1°C at Parawa on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The warmest nights on average across autumn were recorded at Moomba Airport in the Far North district with 15.9°C, while the coldest nights on average were recorded at Coonawarra in the Lower South East averaging 7.8°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.

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		 45.2°C at Moomba Airport on 3 Mar
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 29.2°C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 18.1°C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 8.4°C at Ernabella (Pukatja) on 30 May
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 −0.7°C at Naracoorte Aerodrome on 30 May
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 7.8°C at Coonawarra
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 15.9°C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 30.2°C at Moomba Airport on 3 Mar
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 346.6 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse)
Highest wind gust
 102 km/h at Neptune Island on 25 Apr

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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 autumn 2009
Maximum temperatures
for autumn
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for autumn
(°C)		 Rainfall
for autumn
(millimetres)
Mean for
autumn
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
autumn
2009		 Mean for
autumn
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
autumn
2009		 Total for
autumn
2009		 Average
for
autumn		 Rank of
autumn
2009		 Fraction of
autumn
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 27.2 −0.2 43.5 2 Mar 14.5 +0.4 6.8 30 May 22.6 42.3 average 53%
Coober Pedy Airport 26.2   43.9 2 Mar 14.1   4.0 31 May 47.0
Ernabella 25.8   39.6 1 Mar 12.7   1.8 11 May 93.4
Nonning 24.3 −0.5 34.9 2 Apr 11.6 +0.9 5.6 31 May 46.9 53.1 average 88%
Roxby Downs 26.7   43.2 2 Mar 13.2   4.1 10 May 24.4
Tarcoola Aero 26.3   40.3 2 Mar 12.4   1.8 31 May 53.6
Woomera Aerodrome 25.5 0.0 40.3 2 Mar 13.4 +0.3 6.1 30 May 34.8 42.7 average 81%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 25.5 +0.4 37.5 3 Mar 11.8 +0.4 0.0 31 Mar 34.4 60.7 average 57%
Leigh Creek Airport 26.3 0.0 38.8 2 Mar 13.7 +0.7 4.5 28 May 39.6 40.5 average 98%
Marree Aero 28.3   44.3 2 Mar 14.5   5.2 28 May 31.6
Marree Comparison 28.9 +0.5 44.3 2 Mar 14.4 +1.0 5.5 28 May 32.5 38.4 average 85%
Moomba Airport 29.2   45.2 3 Mar 15.9   7.1 14 May 5.4
Oodnadatta Airport 28.5 0.0 44.6 2 Mar 14.7 +0.3 5.8 27 May 29.6 36.0 average 82%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 23.6 −0.3 39.0 1 Apr 10.7 −0.1 −0.5 31 May 72.4 68.1 average 106%
Cleve 22.4 −0.2 36.0 21 Mar 12.3 0.0 6.3 27 May 52.8 89.5 low 59%
Cleve Aerodrome 22.5   36.6 21 Mar 11.7   6.0 26 May 37.2 82.6 low 45%
Coulta 21.8   35.6 1 Apr 12.0   5.0 27 May 77.8
Cummins Aero 23.0   36.7 1 Apr 10.4   2.9 27 May 125.0
Elliston 22.4 +0.4 35.8 1 Apr 12.4 +0.2 4.0 26 May 107.0 94.5 average 113%
Kimba 23.2 −0.6 34.5 1 Apr 11.3 +0.1 5.8 29 May 73.6 73.6 average 100%
Kyancutta 24.9 −0.6 37.1 1 Apr 9.5 −0.2 0.5 30 May 88.1 65.4 high 135%
Minnipa DPI 23.3   34.7 31 Mar 11.8   5.8 30 May 120.0
Neptune Island 19.7 +0.3 27.4 21 Mar 15.3 +0.5 11.0 26 Apr 83.6 105.3 average 79%
North Shields 21.6   37.6 21 Mar 12.4   7.0 27 May 78.8
Nullarbor 23.1 −1.2 36.0 31 Mar 11.7 +0.2 3.8 31 May 98.6 73.8 high 134%
Port Augusta Aero 25.6   37.3 21 Mar 13.4   5.4 20 May 54.2
Streaky Bay 23.7 0.0 37.5 1 Apr 12.8 0.0 2.0 30 May 90.5 83.3 average 109%
Whyalla Aero 23.2 −0.8 36.4 21 Mar 12.2 +0.2 5.4 13 May 45.4 61.0 average 74%
Wudinna Aero 24.3   36.3 1 Apr 9.7   0.8 30 May 93.6
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 24.7 −0.6 36.0 21 Mar 11.3 +0.3 3.0 30 May 33.0 66.3 low 50%
Yongala 21.9 −0.2 33.6 2 Apr 8.5 +1.0 −0.4 29 May 57.0 75.9 average 75%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 24.5   37.5 21 Mar 9.1   −0.1 30 May 23.5
Yunta Airstrip 23.4   35.0 3 Mar 9.2   1.2 5 May 44.4
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 21.3   32.8 2 Apr 9.6   2.2 27 May 124.8
Port Pirie Aerodrome 24.7   36.9 21 Mar 11.5   4.5 29 May 70.3
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 24.8 −0.1 35.5 1 Apr 13.5 +0.3 6.0 29 May 70.2 83.6 average 84%
Snowtown 23.9   35.8 21 Mar 9.2   2.8 30 May 81.4
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 20.7   38.0 21 Mar 13.5   7.7 3 May 85.2
Kadina AWS 23.6   36.2 21 Mar 10.0   2.8 29 May 79.0
Maitland 22.0 −0.1 34.4 21 Mar 12.5 +0.3 5.8 29 May 138.0 122.3 average 113%
Minlaton Aero 22.7   37.9 21 Mar 11.5   5.4 29 May 78.4
Stenhouse Bay 20.8   36.4 21 Mar 14.4   9.9 25 May 105.8
Warooka 21.8 0.0 33.5 31 Mar 12.9 +0.4 7.2 29 May 88.4 103.5 average 85%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 19.1   28.6 1 Apr 12.6   8.0 29 May 124.6
Cape Willoughby 18.9 0.0 30.1 21 Mar 14.5 +0.4 8.8 26 Apr 119.0 122.4 average 97%
Kingscote Aero 21.8   34.4 21 Mar 9.3   3.2 31 May 93.4
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 22.4 −0.2 35.0 21 Mar 12.9 +0.3 5.2 30 May 151.6 125.5 average 121%
Adelaide Airport 21.9 −0.2 36.4 21 Mar 12.3 +0.4 4.1 30 May 120.0 110.0 average 109%
Edinburgh RAAF 22.7 −0.3 36.7 21 Mar 12.0 +0.3 2.8 30 May 103.2 98.1 average 105%
Parafield Airport 22.9 +0.2 37.0 21 Mar 11.6 −0.3 2.9 30 May 145.0 108.8 high 133%
Roseworthy AWS 23.4   36.9 21 Mar 10.6   2.5 30 May 82.4
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 21.4   33.9 2 Apr 9.7   1.7 29 May 103.6
Rosedale 22.9 −0.1 35.7 2 Apr 10.5 −0.3 1.5 30 May 101.7 109.3 average 93%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 20.5   36.4 21 Mar 12.1   6.4 30 May 106.4
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 19.4   33.7 21 Mar 11.0   5.2 30 May 184.8
Mount Barker 21.5 +1.0 33.6 21 Mar 9.0 +0.5 3.0 3 May 167.4 177.7 average 94%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 19.0   31.7 2 Apr 10.4   3.8 30 May 167.6
Noarlunga 21.5   34.8 21 Mar 13.3   6.4 29 May 139.8
Parawa 18.1   31.6 21 Mar 11.5   6.2 30 May 190.2
Victor Harbor 20.6   35.4 21 Mar 10.8   4.3 31 May 113.2
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 24.0 +0.2 37.5 21 Mar 9.4 +0.6 2.8 16 Apr 29.5 49.7 average 59%
Renmark Aero 24.2   38.5 21 Mar 9.9   1.8 30 May 43.6
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 21.3 0.0 34.8 2 Apr 10.1 +0.3 3.7 30 May 82.4 98.5 average 84%
Meningie 21.4 +0.1 32.9 21 Mar 10.8 +0.1 4.5 29 May 145.3 113.8 high 128%
Murray Bridge 22.7   36.5 2 Apr 9.7   3.4 22 Apr 66.2
Murray Bridge Comparison 23.6 +0.3 37.0 2 Apr 10.5 +0.1 5.1 3 May 68.5 83.5 average 82%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 21.6   34.9 2 Apr 10.9   3.9 29 May 89.8
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 22.9   35.6 21 Mar 9.5   3.2 30 May 51.0 76.3 average 67%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 22.1 −0.5 36.4 21 Mar 9.1 −0.4 0.5 29 May 79.8 106.3 average 75%
Keith 22.4   37.1 21 Mar 8.1   0.0 30 May 80.0
Lameroo 22.8   37.2 21 Mar 9.2   3.8 10 Apr 74.0
Lameroo Comparison 22.9 −0.1 34.9 2 Apr 9.9 +0.7 3.9 29 May 76.7 85.2 average 90%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 19.6   31.0 1 Apr 10.8   4.7 30 Apr 132.6
Coonawarra 20.9 −0.1 35.4 21 Mar 7.8 −0.3 0.2 30 Apr 108.0 116.0 average 93%
Mount Gambier Aero 19.7 +0.2 34.9 21 Mar 9.1 +0.3 1.9 13 Apr 143.8 160.9 average 89%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 21.4   35.7 21 Mar 7.9   −0.7 30 May 82.2
Padthaway South 21.3   36.1 21 Mar 8.4   0.0 30 May 96.4
Robe Airfield 20.0   32.2 21 Mar 9.4   1.7 12 Apr 144.2
Robe Comparison 19.1 +0.3 29.1 1 Apr 11.5 0.0 5.6 2 May 158.0 146.1 average 108%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Monday 1 June 2009. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages 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 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.

Further information

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