Monday, 2 June 2010 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in autumn 2010

Wet and warm.

  • Autumn rainfall was generally above average across much of the state for 2010.
  • Daytime temperatures were generally warmer than average, particularly in the west of the state, but slightly below average across the far north.
  • Overnight minimum temperatures were generally above average, particularly in the west of the state

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

This autumn saw above average rainfall across pastoral districts with several rain events across central Australia. In South Australian agricultural areas, rainfall tended to be above average in March, and near average in April and May. Much of the rainfall recorded through the season was seen in an event in early April, and in the last week of May.   

Pastoral Districts
Rainfall was above average across almost all of the pastoral areas this autumn, with some areas in the central areas and the far northeast, being very much above average. Totals were generally in the 50 to 80 mm range, with the highest autumn rainfall total in the pastoral areas being 177.4 mm at Andamooka. This is against the average autumn rainfall at this site of 45.3 mm.

Agricultural Districts
Rainfall totals were generally above average, though coastal locations tended to be near average.
Rainfall totals were typically 80 to 140 mm with totals in the 100 to 200 mm range across the Mount Lofty Ranges. The highest total for the state was 259.6 mm at Mt Lofty in the Adelaide Hills.

Some sites had their highest total autumn rainfall on record. Some sites had their highest total autumn rainfall for at least 25 years. Some sites had their highest autumn daily rainfall on record. See a map of rainfall deciles.

Temperature

Temperatures were warmer than average this autumn across South Australia slightly cooler than average, for both daytime maximum temperatures and overnight minimum temperatures, apart from cooler than average maximums in the far north of the state. Temperatures tended to be warmer in the west of the state. But generally both autumn maximum and minimum temperatures were within 1°C of average.

The hottest autumn day was 39.0°C recorded at Marla Police Station on the 25th of March. The coldest daily maximum was at Mt Lofty in the Mount Lofty Ranges on the 12th of May when 9.9°C was recorded. The lowest overnight minimum temperature recorded was at Yongala in the Upper North district on the 14th of May when –3.0°C was recorded.  Oodnadatta had the warmest autumn night on the 17th of March with 26.0°C

Oodnadatta in the Far Northern Pastoral district had the warmest autumn mean maximum temperature of 28.6°C. The lowest mean maximum autumn temperature was 18.2°C at Mount Lofty in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
The warmest nights on average across autumn were recorded at Neptune Island, with Oodnadatta in  the Far North district averaging 15.4°C as the warmest land based station. The coldest nights on average were recorded at Yongala in the Upper North district averaging 7.9°C for the season. 

Some sites had their highest autumn 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 autumn 2010
Hottest day 39.0°C at Marla Police Station on 25 Mar
Warmest days on average 28.6°C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 18.2°C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 9.9°C at Mount Lofty on 12 May
Coldest night −3.0°C at Yongala on 14 May
Coolest nights on average 7.9°C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average 15.7°C at Neptune Island
Warmest night 26.0°C at Oodnadatta Airport on 17 Mar
Wettest overall 259.6 mm at Mt Lofty(Crafers)
Highest wind gust 107 km/h at Neptune Island on 29 May

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest autumn daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in autumn 2010 (mm) 		Previous highest
for autumn		 Years of
record
Manoora 85.0 on 8 Mar 40.9 on 28 Apr 1960 119
Cleve Aerodrome 54.4 on 7 Mar 50.4 on 11 Apr 1989 47
Hallett (Ulooloo) 57.4 on 21 Apr 48.8 on 13 Mar 1989 45
Wilkawatt (Newhouse Farm) 44.2 on 8 Mar 41.0 on 14 Apr 1985 42
Cleve (Ningana) 64.5 on 7 Mar 57.0 on 7 May 1989 37
Caliph 47.4 on 25 May 43.0 on 16 Mar 1996 36


Record highest total autumn rainfall
Total rainfall
for autumn 2010 (mm) 		Previous highest
for autumn		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Caliph 133.4 119.6 in 1992 36 51.3

Highest total autumn rainfall for at least 25 years
Total rainfall
for autumn 2010 (mm) 		Most recent higher
for autumn		 Years since
higher		 Average for
autumn
Mindarie 149.6 163.9 in 1974 36 64.1
Port Wakefield 144.4 184.4 in 1974 35 83.8
Parrakie 144.7 255.2 in 1983 27 85.3
Meningie 185.1 257.8 in 1985 25 114.3
Peake 166.9 178.6 in 1985 25 90.6
Tailem Bend 120.2 158.2 in 1985 25 88.1


Highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature for at least 25 years
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for autumn 2010 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for autumn		 Years since
higher		 Average for
autumn
Ceduna AMO 12.6 13.0 in 1968 42 10.8


Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for autumn 2010
Maximum temperatures
for autumn
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for autumn
(°C)		 Rainfall
for autumn
(millimetres)
Mean for
autumn
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
autumn
2010		 Mean for
autumn
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
autumn
2010		 Total for
autumn
2010		 Average
for
autumn		 Rank of
autumn
2010		 Fraction of
autumn
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 26.9 −0.5 36.7 27 Mar 14.7 +0.7 3.7 14 May 177.4 45.3 v high 392%
Coober Pedy Airport 27.0   37.5 28 Mar 14.7   5.2 31 May 44.6
Ernabella (Pukatja) 26.4   36.6 28 Mar 13.3   0.8 31 May 105.4
Marla Police Station     39.0 25 Mar 14.7 +1.2 1.7 31 May 47.0 47.3 high 99%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 26.6   36.2 27 Mar 14.4   1.9 14 May 160.0
Tarcoola Aero 27.2   37.8 20 Mar 13.2   4.7 12 May 75.2
Woomera Aerodrome 26.0 +0.5 36.8 27 Mar 14.0 +0.9 3.9 14 May 70.6 43.2 high 163%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 25.4 +0.3 35.3 27 Mar 11.4 0.0 −0.7 14 May 60.8 60.8 high 100%
Leigh Creek Airport 26.1 −0.1 35.8 27 Mar 13.8 +0.8 4.3 14 May 140.6 44.9 v high 313%
Marree Aero 28.1   37.4 21 Mar 14.5   4.9 13 May 27.6
Moomba Airport 28.1   35.9 7 Apr 15.1   3.6 14 May 64.0
Oodnadatta Airport 28.6 +0.1 37.5 28 Mar 15.4 +0.9 5.3 14 May 91.6 36.8 v high 249%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 25.1 +1.2 38.0 26 Mar 12.6 +1.8 3.4 17 May 61.4 68.1 average 90%
Cleve 23.1 +0.6 34.5 26 Mar 13.6 +1.3 7.0 11 May 182.2 90.3 v high 202%
Cleve Aerodrome 23.0   34.8 17 Mar 13.3   5.9 15 May 168.8 84.5 v high 200%
Coulta (Coles Point) 22.4   33.3 17 Mar 12.4   0.0 12 May 107.0
Cummins Aero 23.7   35.7 17 Mar 11.6   1.8 12 May 94.0
Elliston 22.8 +0.8 34.3 17 Mar 13.0 +0.8 5.5 9 May 111.1 94.6 average 117%
Kimba 23.7 −0.1 34.2 25 Mar 11.8 +0.6 2.0 14 May 135.2 74.2 v high 182%
Kyancutta 25.6 +0.2 35.8 17 Mar 11.0 +1.3 1.1 12 May 108.6 66.0 high 165%
Neptune Island 20.0 +0.6 26.6 25 Mar 15.7 +0.9 10.2 29 May 103.0 105.3 average 98%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 22.3   34.6 25 Mar 12.6   5.9 13 May 145.4
Nullarbor 24.3 0.0 37.6 25 Mar 12.6 +1.1 4.8 12 May 96.2 74.1 high 130%
Port Augusta Aero 26.7   37.4 18 Mar 12.9   1.0 14 May 70.8
Streaky Bay 24.8 +1.2 35.8 25 Mar 14.2 +1.4 7.4 21 May 96.6 83.4 average 116%
Whyalla Aero 24.6 +0.7 37.0 18 Mar 12.7 +0.8 1.5 14 May 74.6 61.3 average 122%
Wudinna Aero 25.9   36.8 17 Mar 11.8   1.5 12 May 97.0
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 25.0 −0.2 35.0 27 Mar 12.0 +1.0 2.7 14 May 102.6 66.6 high 154%
Yongala 23.3 +1.2 34.3 27 Mar 7.9 +0.4 −3.0 14 May 96.8 76.0 high 127%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 25.4   36.4 17 Mar 9.9   −2.5 15 May 59.5
Yunta Airstrip 24.2   35.1 19 Mar 10.1   −2.3 13 May 51.2
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 22.4   34.6 17 Mar 9.9   −1.0 15 May 171.6
Port Pirie Aerodrome 25.7   36.4 17 Mar 12.2   1.3 14 May 103.5
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 25.7 +0.8 36.5 17 Mar 14.6 +1.3 6.0 12 May 118.8 83.8 high 142%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 24.9   35.7 18 Mar 10.3   0.7 15 May 118.0
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 21.7   33.7 25 Mar 13.4   4.6 13 May 81.4
Kadina AWS 24.6   36.0 17 Mar 11.4   1.7 15 May 183.2
Maitland 23.0 +0.9 34.5 17 Mar 13.5 +1.3 5.6 12 May 135.0 122.4 average 110%
Minlaton Aero 23.4   33.9 17 Mar 12.7   4.7 12 May 97.4
Stenhouse Bay 21.3   32.6 25 Mar 14.2   7.0 13 May 85.8
Warooka 22.5 +0.6 32.5 17 Mar 13.2 +0.7 7.4 14 May 79.6 103.4 average 77%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 20.0   29.7 17 Mar 13.1   7.3 13 May 110.2
Cape Willoughby 19.5 +0.6 27.1 25 Mar 14.8 +0.8 8.2 5 May 137.2 122.5 average 112%
Kingscote Aero 22.7   33.5 25 Mar 9.2   −0.6 15 May 74.0
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 23.8 +1.2 36.0 17 Mar 13.6 +1.0 4.3 15 May 122.6 125.6 average 98%
Adelaide Airport 23.1 +1.1 35.0 17 Mar 13.0 +1.1 3.7 15 May 142.6 110.6 high 129%
Edinburgh RAAF 24.2 +1.2 36.0 18 Mar 12.9 +1.2 3.9 15 May 116.4 98.6 average 118%
Parafield Airport 24.5 +1.8 36.0 17 Mar 12.3 +0.4 0.9 15 May 87.4 108.4 average 81%
Roseworthy AWS 24.8   36.7 17 Mar 11.9   3.3 12 May 102.6
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 22.5   34.3 17 Mar 10.1   −1.7 15 May 124.6
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 24.2 +1.2 36.8 17 Mar 11.3 +0.5 1.6 12 May 123.6 109.5 average 113%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23°C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 21.9   34.8 18 Mar 12.5   3.9 15 May 98.0
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 20.4   32.8 17 Mar 11.7   5.8 14 May 183.2
Mount Barker 22.8 +2.3 34.3 17 Mar 9.3 +0.9 1.0 15 May 155.4 177.5 average 88%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) 20.3   31.5 18 Mar 11.2   5.8 13 May 137.0
Mount Lofty 18.2   30.1 17 Mar 10.5   5.4 12 May 249.8
Noarlunga 22.7   34.7 17 Mar 14.0   7.4 13 May 113.0
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 18.9   31.3 17 Mar 12.0   5.7 14 May 156.8
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 21.7   33.9 18 Mar 10.6   0.0 14 May 93.1
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 24.6 +0.8 35.9 17 Mar 10.1 +1.3 −1.2 15 May 97.2 51.6 high 188%
Renmark Aero 24.8   36.0 26 Mar 10.8   −1.5 15 May 83.0
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 22.5 +1.2 34.5 17 Mar 10.9 +1.1 2.7 13 May 92.0 98.5 average 93%
Meningie 22.4 +1.0 34.2 18 Mar 11.1 +0.4 2.5 21 May 185.1 114.3 v high 162%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 24.0   37.6 17 Mar 9.7   −1.5 15 May 78.0
Murray Bridge Comparison 24.6 +1.4 38.0 18 Mar 10.9 +0.5 1.1 15 May 100.1 83.7 high 120%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.9   35.3 18 Mar 11.0   1.4 15 May 119.6
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 23.9   36.5 18 Mar 10.3   0.5 15 May 108.6 76.6 high 142%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 22.9 +0.3 35.2 17 Mar 10.6 +1.1 2.5 13 May 116.0 106.4 average 109%
Keith (Munkora) 23.1   36.1 17 Mar 9.4   0.7 22 May 121.0
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 23.3   36.0 17 Mar 10.3   1.7 22 May 112.2
Lameroo Comparison 23.7 +0.7 35.6 17 Mar 11.0 +1.9 2.7 15 May 105.8 85.3 high 124%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 19.7   29.7 17 Mar 11.3   1.4 23 May 123.6
Coonawarra 21.3 +0.2 33.1 15 Mar 9.1 +1.0 0.6 15 May 136.8 115.1 average 119%
Mount Gambier Aero 20.3 +0.8 32.6 4 Mar 9.7 +0.9 1.2 15 May 140.0 160.6 average 87%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 21.7   34.2 15 Mar 9.3   1.0 22 May 117.0
Padthaway South 21.8   33.9 17 Mar 9.3   0.5 13 May 125.0
Robe Airfield 20.3   30.0 14 Mar 9.7   0.6 15 May 124.0
Robe Comparison 19.2 +0.4 27.0 13 Mar 12.1 +0.6 3.7 23 May 109.0 145.9 low 75%

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 11 am on Wednesday 2 June 2010. 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Climate