Wednesday, 2 December 2009 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in spring 2009

Dry and warm Spring, with a return to average for the finish.

  • 2009 saw the record warmest spring nights for South Australia as a whole, since the area averaged records for temperature begin in 1950. this Spring was also the record warmest for the South Australian agricultural areas as an average of the daytime and overnight temperatures, over the same period.
  • Many locations had warmest spring temperatures when averaged across the whole season including Robe, Mount Gambier Meningie and Adelaide Airport. Several locations had record warmest spring daily maximum temperatures, including Maree, Ceduna, Woomera, Yongala, Streaky Bay, Elliston, Eudunda, Kimba, Hawker and several sites in the Adelaide region.
  • There was large variability in temperatures through the season, with warm September days and a record warmest November by a large margin, resulting in well above average temperatures for the season as a whole, despite a cool October.
  • Rainfall was generally near average across the agricultural districts tending above average across the pastoral areas of South Australia.

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Spring 2009 rainfall, when averaged across the South Australian agricultural areas as a whole, has been the 25th driest in the area averaged record which goes back to 1900, and was the wettest spring since 2005.

Spring rainfall totals over South Australia were generally near average in the agricultural areas, but tending above average in the pastoral areas. This was made up of generally above average rainfall in September, below average in October and generally well above average November rainfall after a dry first 3 weeks of the month.

Rainfall totals in the Pastoral areas were very variable but generally ranging from 50 to 100mm. Erudina in the North East Pastoral district recorded 154.6mm as the highest reading in the Pastoral districts. Totals in the agricultural areas were generally between 100 to 200mm, with totals widely exceeding 200mm about the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges, and several locations exceeding 300mm. Much of the western agricultural districts saw totals in the 50 to 100mm range. The highest rainfall total for this spring, in the state, was 317.6mm at Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills.

Some sites had their highest total spring rainfall for at least 25 years.
See a map of rainfall deciles.

Temperature

Across Spring as a whole, temperatures were generally well above average. Record warmest spring nights were recorded for the state as a whole, since the area averaged temperature records begin in 1950, being 1.7°C above the average. The previous record warmest spring nights occurred in 1997 being 1.6°C above the average. The season saw highly variable temperatures, with September nights and November as a whole being very much warmer than average, being moderated slightly by cooler conditions in October.

For the South Australian agricultural areas, this spring was the warmest on record in the area average temperature records back to 1950, as an average of the daytime and overnight temperatures.

Maximum temperature

Mean maximum temperatures over the pastoral districts of the state were generally 1 to 2 °C warmer than normal, and ranged from 25.9 at Yunta in the Northeast Pastoral district to 31.2°C at Oodnadatta Airport in the North West Pastoral district. The highest recorded maximum temperature for this period was on the 18th November, and was 47.4°C at Marree, a spring record for that location.

Mean maximum temperatures over the agricultural districts of the state were mostly 1.5 to 2.5 °C above normal and ranged from 18.6°C at Parawa on the Fleurieu Peninsula to 27.6°C at Port Augusta Aero in the Western Agricultural district. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the agricultural areas for Spring was 46.5°C at Ceduna on the 19th November, with the lowest being 9.2°C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on the 25th September.

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

Minimum temperature

Mean minimum temperatures over the pastoral districts were generally 1 to 2 °C above average, ranging from 10.8°C at both Gluepot and Yunta in the Northeast Pastoral district to 16.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport in the Far North district. The warmest recorded minimum temperature was 31.1°C at Moomba Airport on the 20th November.

Over the agricultural districts mean minimum temperatures were also generally up to 1°C above average ranging from 7.4°C at Keith in the Upper South East district to 13.7 °C at Port Pirie in the Western Agricultural district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for spring 2009 was –2.3°C recorded at Yongala on the 14th September.

Some sites had their warmest spring night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
Some sites had their highest spring mean daily minimum temperature on record.
Some sites had their highest spring mean daily minimum temperature for at least 25 years.

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 in spring 2009
Hottest day 47.4 °C at Marree Comparison on 18 Nov
Warmest days on average 31.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average 18.6 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day 9.2 °C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on 25 Sep
Coldest night -2.3 °C at Yongala on 14 Sep
Coolest nights on average 7.4 °C at Keith (Munkora)
Warmest nights on average 16.3 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night 31.1 °C at Moomba Airport on 20 Nov
Wettest overall 317.6 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse)
Highest wind gust 117 km/h at Cape Willoughby on 11 Sep
117 km/h at Oodnadatta Airport on 19 Sep
117 km/h at Cape Willoughby on 19 Nov

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Highest total spring rainfall for at least 25 years
Total rainfall
for spring 2009 (mm) 		Most recent higher
for spring		 Years since
higher		 Average for
spring
Erudina 154.6 204.8 in 1920 89 45.5


Record highest spring temperature
Highest temperature
in spring 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Marree Comparison 47.4 on 18 Nov 46.1 on 30 Nov 1982 71 29.4
Ceduna AMO 46.5 on 19 Nov 45.9 on 25 Nov 1997 69 23.7
Woomera Aerodrome 44.9 on 19 Nov 44.4 on 29 Nov 2006 61 26.1
Adelaide Airport 43.1 on 19 Nov 41.9 on 30 Nov 1962 55 20.9
Parafield Airport 44.1 on 19 Nov = 44.1 on 30 Nov 1993 53 21.8
Yongala 41.8 on 18 Nov 40.8 on 30 Nov 1993 53 21.8
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 44.0 on 15 Nov 42.8 on 30 Nov 1962 52 24.5
Streaky Bay 42.9 on 14 Nov 42.8 on 29 Nov 1962 52 22.8
Elliston 44.0 on 19 Nov 43.3 on 29 Nov 2006 48 21.3
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 44.0 on 19 Nov 43.8 on 30 Nov 1993 48 21.9
Eudunda 41.5 on 19 Nov 40.6 on 24 Nov 1982 45 20.6
Meningie 41.1 on 19 Nov 40.9 on 25 Nov 1997 44 20.5
Kimba 43.5 on 19 Nov 43.2 on 25 Nov 1997 43 23.7
Andamooka 45.1 on 16 Nov 44.2 on 25 Nov 1991 41 28.1
Edinburgh RAAF 44.5 on 19 Nov 44.3 on 30 Nov 1993 38 22.1
Hawker 44.0 on 18 Nov 41.5 on 28 Nov 2006 38 25.5
Adelaide (Kent Town) 43.0 on 19 Nov 42.0 on 30 Nov 1993 33 21.9
Arkaroola 44.4 on 18 Nov 43.5 on 30 Nov 1982 32 26.6
Leigh Creek Airport 45.2 on 18 Nov 43.7 on 29 Nov 2006 26 26.7
Loxton Research Centre 43.0 on 18 Nov 42.4 on 25 Nov 1997 26 24.0
Whyalla Aero 45.5 on 19 Nov 44.6 on 25 Nov 1997 25 23.9


Record highest spring mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for spring 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Robe Comparison 19.4 19.1 in 1888 125 17.6
Streaky Bay 25.2 = 25.2 in 2007 82 22.8
Mount Gambier Aero 20.1 19.9 in 2006 67 18.0
Adelaide Airport 23.5 23.4 in 2007 54 20.9
Warooka 22.1 = 22.1 in 2006 49 20.6
Neptune Island 18.8 18.6 in 2006 47 17.6
Meningie 22.3 22.0 in 2006 43 20.5
Cape Willoughby 19.0 18.9 in 2006 42 17.5
Edinburgh RAAF 24.8 = 24.8 in 2006 36 22.1


Record highest spring daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in spring 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Streaky Bay 25.9 on 15 Nov 25.6 on 30 Nov 1962 52 11.5
Neptune Island 20.7 on 14 Nov 19.5 on 27 Nov 2004 48 12.4
Cape Willoughby 22.3 on 10 Nov 22.0 on 1 Nov 1987 43 11.5
Arkaroola 30.3 on 20 Nov 30.0 on 28 Nov 2006 32 11.5


Record highest spring mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for spring 2009 (°C) 		Previous highest
for spring		 Years of
record		 Average for
spring
Lameroo Comparison 10.0 9.8 in 2000 94 7.9
Streaky Bay 13.2 13.0 in 2000 82 11.5
Cleve 12.2 11.9 in 2000 68 10.3
Woomera Aerodrome 14.2 14.0 in 2000 60 12.3
Warooka 11.6 11.4 in 2000 48 10.2
Eudunda 9.6 = 9.6 in 2000 44 8.2
Cape Willoughby 12.9 12.7 in 2000 42 11.5
Andamooka 15.2 15.1 in 2000 39 13.6
Nonning 11.7 11.5 in 2000 38 9.7
Edinburgh RAAF 11.5 = 11.5 in 2000 36 10.2
Hawker 12.4 11.8 in 2000 34 9.9
Adelaide (Kent Town) 13.3 13.2 in 2000 32 11.7
Maitland 11.9 11.6 in 2006 29 10.0
Leigh Creek Airport 14.3 14.1 in 1997 25 12.6
Loxton Research Centre 10.6 10.3 in 2000 25 8.5

Highest spring mean daily minimum temperature for at least 25 years
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for spring 2009 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for spring		 Years since
higher		 Average for
spring
Ceduna AMO 11.5 11.9 in 1965 44 10.0


Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for spring 2009
Maximum temperatures
for spring
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for spring
(°C)		 Rainfall
for spring
(millimetres)
Mean for
spring
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
spring
2009		 Mean for
spring
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
spring
2009		 Total for
spring
2009		 Average
for
spring		 Rank of
spring
2009		 Fraction of
spring
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 29.3 +1.2 45.1 16 Nov 15.2 +1.6 6.8 27 Sep 55.8 47.3 average 118%
Coober Pedy Airport 29.0   44.4 19 Nov 15.2   5.2 4 Sep 69.4
Ernabella (Pukatja) 29.4   41.8 17 Nov 14.4   2.7 8 Sep 66.2
Marla Police Station 30.4 +0.5 44.0 17 Nov 14.2 0.0 4.6 9 Sep 64.4 50.8 average 127%
Nonning 26.4 +1.4 43.5 19 Nov 11.7 +2.0 0.5 5 Sep 99.1 64.4 high 154%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 28.5   45.0 19 Nov 14.4   4.7 5 Sep 2.6
Tarcoola Aero 28.7   45.6 19 Nov 12.9   1.3 5 Sep 82.4
Woomera Aerodrome 28.0 +1.9 44.9 19 Nov 14.2 +1.9 5.0 27 Sep 71.4 47.9 high 149%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 27.6 +1.0 44.4 18 Nov 13.6 +2.1 3.0 5 Sep 78.7 51.0 high 154%
Leigh Creek Airport 28.1 +1.4 45.2 18 Nov 14.3 +1.8 3.6 5 Sep 104.8 52.6 v high 199%
Marree Aero 30.3   46.8 18 Nov 15.1   5.6 1 Sep 49.2
Marree Comparison 30.9 +1.5 47.4 18 Nov 15.0 +1.8 5.7 5 Sep 55.2 35.1 high 157%
Moomba Airport 31.2   46.9 18 Nov 16.1   6.4 9 Sep 38.4
Oodnadatta Airport 31.1 +0.9 45.2 19 Nov 16.3 +1.3 6.0 5 Sep 85.6 35.4 v high 242%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 25.6 +1.9 46.5 19 Nov 11.5 +1.5 0.0 5 Sep 49.6 73.2 average 68%
Cleve 23.6 +1.4 43.1 19 Nov 12.2 +1.9 4.1 14 Sep 99.6 105.8 average 94%
Cleve Aerodrome 23.8   44.1 19 Nov 11.4   1.8 14 Sep 86.4 85.9 average 101%
Coulta (Coles Point) 22.3   42.6 19 Nov 11.4   3.5 14 Sep 78.0
Cummins Aero 23.5   45.1 19 Nov 9.7   0.9 15 Sep 122.6
Elliston 23.2 +1.9 44.0 19 Nov 12.5 +1.4 3.5 14 Sep 102.4 89.3 high 115%
Kimba 24.9 +1.2 43.5 19 Nov     3.5 16 Oct 107.0 90.5 average 118%
Kyancutta 26.6 +1.5 45.6 19 Nov 9.6 +1.2 0.4 14 Sep 70.2 79.3 average 89%
Minnipa DPI 26.0   45.4 19 Nov 11.1   2.2 4 Oct 69.4
Neptune Island 18.8 +1.3 31.2 19 Nov 13.5 +1.1 7.9 26 Sep 89.6 90.9 average 99%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 21.6   43.4 19 Nov 10.5   3.8 14 Sep 83.4
Nullarbor 25.0 +0.8 44.4 14 Nov 11.2 +1.1 2.3 8 Sep 32.2 52.6 average 61%
Port Augusta Aero 27.6   46.3 19 Nov 13.3   2.7 5 Sep 103.0
Streaky Bay 25.2 +2.4 42.9 14 Nov 13.2 +1.7 6.0 7 Oct 83.4 80.5 average 104%
Whyalla Aero 25.1 +1.2 45.5 19 Nov 12.1 +1.4 3.0 5 Sep 111.8 71.3 high 157%
Wudinna Aero 26.8   46.0 19 Nov 9.9   -0.7 14 Sep 67.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 26.5 +1.0 44.0 18 Nov 12.4 +2.5 1.0 5 Sep 132.2 75.4 high 175%
Yongala 23.2 +1.4 41.8 18 Nov 7.6 +1.2 -2.3 14 Sep 202.2 100.3 v high 202%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 26.8   45.0 18 Nov 10.8   -1.0 10 Sep 97.3
Yunta Airstrip 25.9   43.5 18 Nov 10.8   0.0 9 Sep 68.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 22.1   40.6 19 Nov 9.5   0.2 14 Sep 176.0
Port Pirie Aerodrome 26.1   44.0 19 Nov 11.4   1.8 9 Sep 128.7
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 26.3 +1.8 44.0 15 Nov 13.7 +1.7 6.0 9 Sep 118.2 92.4 high 128%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 25.5   44.8 19 Nov 8.7   -1.0 9 Sep 153.2
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 21.3   41.0 19 Nov 11.2   2.4 14 Sep 103.4
Kadina AWS 25.1   44.6 19 Nov 9.4   -1.4 14 Sep 137.4
Maitland 23.2 +1.9 41.9 19 Nov 11.9 +1.9 4.0 28 Sep 149.0 121.8 high 122%
Minlaton Aero 23.6   44.3 19 Nov 10.6   1.7 7 Oct 98.6
Stenhouse Bay 20.8   39.1 19 Nov 12.5   6.3 10 Sep 103.4
Warooka 22.1 +1.5 40.4 19 Nov 11.6 +1.4 5.0 14 Sep 98.4 104.1 average 95%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 19.4   36.2 14 Nov 11.7   5.6 8 Oct 125.8
Cape Willoughby 19.0 +1.5 35.8 12 Nov 12.9 +1.3 6.7 26 Sep 120.6 127.0 average 95%
Kingscote Aero 21.8   38.8 15 Nov 8.5   0.6 10 Sep 101.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 24.1 +2.2 43.0 19 Nov 13.3 +1.7 4.8 10 Sep 123.6 136.3 average 91%
Adelaide Airport 23.5 +2.5 43.1 19 Nov 12.5 +1.8 3.6 15 Sep 103.2 109.7 average 94%
Edinburgh RAAF 24.8 +2.6 44.5 19 Nov 11.5 +1.2 1.6 7 Oct 96.8 112.7 average 86%
Parafield Airport 24.8 +3.0 44.1 19 Nov 11.5 +1.2 1.8 10 Sep 115.8 113.7 average 102%
Roseworthy AWS 25.3   44.9 19 Nov     -0.8 8 Oct 46.8
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 22.4   41.5 19 Nov 9.5   0.4 14 Sep 145.6
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 21.5   38.6 12 Nov 11.7   3.1 15 Sep 118.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 20.2   39.3 19 Nov 10.6   3.2 26 Sep 201.6
Mount Barker 22.0 +2.6 39.5 19 Nov 8.7 +1.4 0.5 10 Sep 238.8 192.5 high 124%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 19.8   39.7 19 Nov 10.1   2.5 26 Sep 239.4
Noarlunga 22.8   41.8 19 Nov 12.9   5.0 9 Oct 94.4
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 18.6   38.4 19 Nov 10.3   4.6 26 Sep 243.6
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 21.2   41.3 19 Nov 9.9   1.3 10 Sep 167.6
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 26.1 +2.1 43.0 18 Nov 10.6 +2.1 -0.3 10 Sep 98.4 74.3 high 132%
Renmark Aero 26.6   44.6 18 Nov 11.3   -0.9 10 Sep 90.0
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 22.7 +2.0 41.5 19 Nov 9.6 +1.4 2.2 10 Sep 193.1 119.3 v high 162%
Meningie 22.3 +1.8 41.1 19 Nov 10.8 +1.2 2.4 8 Oct 164.0 114.9 high 143%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 24.6   43.4 19 Nov 8.6   -1.9 15 Sep 114.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 25.2 +2.5 43.0 19 Nov 10.3 +1.1 1.6 15 Sep 130.1 95.7 high 136%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.8   42.4 19 Nov 9.9   1.9 8 Oct 149.8
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 24.8   42.0 19 Nov 9.8   1.1 15 Sep 142.9 91.9 v high 155%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 23.6 +1.9 40.5 19 Nov 9.5 +1.1 -1.0 7 Oct 132.0 125.4 average 105%
Keith (Munkora) 23.7   41.9 19 Nov 7.4   -1.9 8 Oct 125.4
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 24.5   41.6 19 Nov 9.0   -0.3 7 Oct 146.6
Lameroo Comparison 24.6 +1.9 41.2 11 Nov 10.0 +2.1 1.3 7 Oct 136.1 106.1 high 128%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 19.2   37.2 19 Nov 10.3   4.2 7 Oct 139.8
Coonawarra 21.1 +1.6 35.6 11 Nov 8.7 +1.4 1.6 9 Oct 170.6 144.0 high 118%
Mount Gambier Aero 20.1 +2.1 35.0 11 Nov 8.7 +1.5 2.0 9 Oct 246.2 181.6 high 136%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 22.0   38.4 11 Nov 8.2   -0.9 9 Oct 163.6
Padthaway South 22.0   38.0 19 Nov 9.1   0.3 7 Oct 150.8
Robe Airfield 19.9   35.4 19 Nov 9.9   2.3 15 Sep 160.2
Robe Comparison 19.4 +1.8 34.4 19 Nov 11.7 +1.4 5.6 9 Oct 149.0 133.8 average 111%

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Seasonal Climate Summary is prepared to list 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. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 pm on Wednesday 2 December 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