Wednesday, 1 June 2011 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in autumn 2011: A cool, wet autumn

• Autumn 2011 rainfall was almost double the long-term average for the state as a whole.
• The coldest autumn days for South Australia as a whole in 56 years, with maximum temperatures up to 2°C below average. 
• Minimum temperatures were close to average.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Autumn 2011 rainfall was above average (the 10th wettest autumn on record), with the state receiving approximately 1.7 times the long-term autumn average. The strong La Niña event in the Pacific Ocean was weakening throughout autumn, with conditions in the Pacific returning to neutral toward the end of May. Rainfall totals were above average across the state in March, average to below average in April, and then average in May as conditions in the Pacific returned to neutral.

The most significant rainfall events occurred in March. On the 8th, high moisture levels associated with the remnants of a tropical low over the north of the state combined with a trough of low pressure over the central and eastern parts. This resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms in the northeast of the state producing isolated heavy falls (including 24 hour totals of 134 mm at Kalamurina and 170 mm at Dulkaninna, as well as heavy rain and flash flooding around the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges area. The passage of a trough of low pressure produced severe thunderstorms with heavy falls in the north of the state on the 19th, and flash flooding on the Eyre Peninsula on the 20th. About 30 stations set new highest daily rainfall records for autumn with these events, see highest autumn daily rainfall on record.

Rainfall totals were average to above average in the pastoral districts, with some areas in the Far North District receiving more than 3 times their long-term autumn average. Rainfall totals ranged from around 20 to 90mm, with higher totals at some locations over 100mm.  Arkaroola had the highest rainfall total in the pastorals this autumn with 185.8 mm.

Rainfall totals in the agricultural districts were average to above average, and ranged from 70 mm to 150 mm in the Western Agricultural and Upper North districts, increasing to about 90 mm to 180 mm elsewhere (except for the Upper Murray Valley where totals were around 50mm). Some locations on Kangaroo Island and in the Mount Lofty Ranges received over 200 mm. The wettest location in the Agricultural districts was Crafers (Mt Lofty) with 328.8 mm.

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

Temperature

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures were up to 2°C below the long-term average across South Australia for the whole of autumn 2011, with this autumn being the second coolest on record following the autumn of 1955. In March, maximum temperatures were up to 4°C below average across South Australia, with South Australia recording its coldest March on record as a result. Conditions tended closer to average in April where average maximum temperatures were within a degree of average, and cooled again in May average maximums up to 2°C below the long-term average in the west but within a degree of average elsewhere.

Mean maximum temperatures were 1°C to 2°C below average over the pastoral districts, ranging from 22.1°C at Yunta in the Northeast District to 27.7°C at Moomba in the Far North. The hottest autumn day in the pastoral areas was on the 16th of March with 39.0°C at Marree Comparison, whilst the coolest was 12.0°C at Yunta on the 25th of May.  

Mean maximum temperatures were up to about 2°C below average across the agricultural districts and ranged from 15.8°C at Mount Lofty to 24.8°C at Port Augusta in the Western Agricultural District. Cape Willoughby, Hawker and Nonning had their coldest autumn on record, see lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature on record. The highest recorded maximum temperature in the agricultural areas for this autumn was 37.8°C on the 6th of March at Port Augusta. The coolest daily maximum temperature was recorded at Mount Lofty with 8.2°C on the 25th of May.

Some sites had their lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature for at least 25 years.

Minimum temperature

In the pastoral districts mean monthly minimum temperatures were generally within 1°C of average, and ranged from 9.2°C at Gluepot in the Northeast district to 14.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport in the Far North district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature in the pastoral areas was -4.2°C recorded at Yunta Airstrip on the 16th of May. Marla also had its coldest autumn night on record with -4.0°C on the 30th of May, see lowest autumn temperature on record. The warmest recorded minimum temperature in the pastoral districts was 28.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport in the Far North on the 1st of March.  
 
Over the agricultural districts mean minimum temperatures were generally within 1°C of average. They ranged from 7.6°C at Yongala in the Upper North District to 15.0 °C at Neptune Island in the Western Agricultural district. The lowest recorded minimum temperature for autumn was -3.0°C at Yongala on the 10th of May, whilst the highest recorded minimum temperature was 24.0°C at Port Pirie (Nystar) on the 8th of March.

Some sites had their lowest autumn temperature on record.

 

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 in autumn 2011
Hottest day	39.0 °C at Marree Comparison on 16 Mar
Warmest days on average	27.7 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average	15.8 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day	8.2 °C at Mount Lofty on 25 May
Coldest night	-4.2 °C at Yunta Airstrip on 16 May
Coolest nights on average	7.6 °C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average	15.0 °C at Neptune Island
Warmest night	28.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on 1 Mar
Warmest on average overall	20.8 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall	12.4 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall	328.8 mm at Crafers (Mt Lofty)
Highest wind gust	113 km/h at Neptune Island on 22 May

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest autumn daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall in autumn 2011 (mm)		Previous wettest for autumn		Years of record
Warooka	71.4	on 21 Mar	58.2	on 30 May 1893	130
Hallett	52.8	on 20 Mar	52.1	on 23 May 1890	128
Mount Pleasant	70.4	on 9 Mar	=70.4	on 17 Apr 1889	128
American River	62.0	on 21 Mar	59.7	on 10 Apr 1948	111
Smithfield	64.0	on 8 Mar	63.0	on 16 Mar 1985	111
Smoky Bay	57.5	on 19 Mar	44.2	on 11 Mar 1969	99
Poochera	53.4	on 21 Mar	44.6	on 13 Mar 2006	93
Karcultaby	42.0	on 14 Mar	36.8	on 26 Mar 1968	90
Booborowie	51.0	on 21 Mar	36.8	on 23 Apr 1980	86
Hiltaba	50.2	on 9 Mar	40.4	on 8 Mar 2009	82
Perponda	93.6	on 9 Mar	44.7	on 13 May 1925	76
Oodnadatta Airport	114.0	on 19 Mar	56.6	on 11 May 1968	64
Mungeranie	112.2	on 8 Mar	91.9	on 9 Mar 1908	60
Arthurton (Lowandale)	49.4	on 8 Mar	40.0	on 1 Mar 1992	53
Pinnaroo (Kombali)	61.0	on 9 Mar	53.8	on 23 Mar 1969	50
Petersville	49.8	on 8 Mar	40.8	on 28 Apr 2007	47
Neptune Island	60.8	on 21 Mar	43.2	on 1 Mar 1983	46
Port Clinton (Kaddyinna)	53.0	on 8 Mar	40.0	on 1 Mar 1992	44
Burra (Leighton)	54.4	on 21 Mar	34.6	on 15 May 1974	43
Kulkami	51.8	on 9 Mar	42.6	on 15 May 1974	43
Lowaldie (Carramar Stud)	60.0	on 9 Mar	56.8	on 27 Mar 1974	43
Mount Schank (Jethia)	64.4	on 21 Mar	53.0	on 19 Apr 1980	43
Rudall (Swaffpro)	45.0	on 20 Mar	40.0	on 7 May 1989	43
Wilkawatt (Newhouse Farm)	54.6	on 9 Mar	44.2	on 8 Mar 2010	43
Port Parham	52.0	on 7 Mar	40.0	on 16 Mar 1985	42
New Well (Marfield)	83.2	on 21 Mar	73.6	on 16 Mar 1996	41
Wilmington (Stonehaven)	154.0	on 21 Mar	83.2	on 14 Mar 1989	39
American River (Redbanks)	89.0	on 21 Mar	36.0	on 1 Mar 1992	37
Marree (Dulkaninna)	170.0	on 8 Mar	50.3	on 2 Mar 1955	30
Kalamurina	134.0	on 8 Mar	47.0	on 2 May 2000	28
Pelican Lagoon	63.6	on 21 Mar	42.4	on 27 Apr 2007	27

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Highest total autumn rainfall for at least 25 years
	Total rainfall for autumn 2011 (mm)	Most recent autumn at least this wet		Years since wetter	Average for autumn
Palmer	218.4	247.8	in 1955	55	90.3
Tanunda	224.6	263.4	in 1960	51	128.1
Freeling	214.4	219.3	in 1971	40	108.8
Ardrossan	136.8	148.3	in 1974	36	83.5
Cudlee Creek (Millbrook)	296.0	339.6	in 1975	36	194.6
Mount Pleasant	246.2	255.8	in 1971	36	148.2
Purnong (Claypans)	148.3	195.3	in 1974	36	72.1
Williamstown	260.0	261.6	in 1975	36	154.7
Wirrabara Forest	252.4	267.6	in 1974	36	149.0
Neptune Island	159.8	275.2	in 1983	28	106.3
Penneshaw	177.2	246.5	in 1983	28	112.0
Sandalwood	144.2	149.3	in 1983	28	71.6
Streaky Bay	122.2	256.3	in 1983	28	83.7
Truro	208.1	295.0	in 1983	28	113.3
Karoonda	155.0	175.8	in 1983	27	77.4
Langhorne Creek	141.0	159.2	in 1985	26	92.7
Murray Bridge Comparison	132.4	143.2	in 1985	26	84.1
Tailem Bend	140.7	158.2	in 1985	26	88.6

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Record lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2011 (°C)	Previous coolest for autumn		Years of record	Average for autumn
Cape Willoughby	17.7	17.8	in 1983	43	18.9
Nonning	23.2	= 23.2	in 1995	38	24.9
Hawker	22.8	23.4	in 1989	37	25.2

Lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature for at least 25 years
	Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2011 (°C)	Most recent autumn at least this cool		Years since cooler	Average for autumn
Mount Barker	18.5	18.2	in 1946	65	20.6
Yongala	20.4	=20.4	in 1955	56	22.1
Kyancutta	23.4	23.2	in 1960	49	25.4
Oodnadatta Airport	26.9	25.4	in 1955	47	28.5

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for autumn 2011
	Maximum temperatures for autumn (°C)				Minimum temperatures for autumn (°C)				Rainfall for autumn (millimetres)
	Mean for autumn 2011	Diff from average	Highest for autumn 2011		Mean for autumn 2011	Diff from average	Lowest for autumn 2011		Total for autumn 2011	Average for autumn	Rank of autumn 2011	Fraction of autumn average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka	25.5	-1.9	35.6	13 Mar	14.0	0.0	3.7	16 May	23.0	44.8	average	51%
Coober Pedy Airport	24.7		35.3	16 Mar	13.4		3.7	31 May	90.8
Ernabella (Pukatja)	24.9		34.2	18 Mar	11.8		-1.5	27 May	38.6
Marla Police Station	25.8	-2.4	36.1	18 Mar	12.2	-1.4	-0.4	30 May	35.6	46.9	average	76%
Nonning	23.2	-1.7	35.4	6 Mar	11.5	+0.8	-0.5	17 May	85.5	53.6	high	160%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome)	25.4		35.7	12 Mar	12.0		1.0	30 May	30.8
Tarcoola Aero	25.0		35.6	12 Mar	11.9		1.7	30 May	73.2
Woomera Aerodrome	24.0	-1.5	35.5	6 Mar	13.0	-0.1	4.5	16 May	61.6	43.4	high	142%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola	22.6	-2.5	32.0	13 Mar	10.1	-1.3	-0.7	17 May	185.8	62.4	v high	298%
Leigh Creek Airport	24.4	-1.8	34.5	15 Mar	12.7	-0.3	1.4	27 May	89.4	46.7	high	191%
Marree Aero	26.5		37.6	16 Mar	13.2		1.5	26 May	60.0
Marree Comparison	27.2	-1.3	39.0	16 Mar	13.3	-0.1	3.0	26 May	57.0	38.6	high	148%
Moomba Airport	27.7		37.5	1 Mar	13.9		1.7	26 May	119.2
Oodnadatta Airport	26.9	-1.6	37.3	18 Mar	14.3	-0.2	1.5	27 May	139.0	38.4	v high	362%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO	22.7	-1.2	37.1	6 Mar	10.9	+0.1	2.5	29 May	71.4	68.1	average	105%
Cleve	21.1	-1.4	34.0	7 Mar	12.6	+0.3	6.5	16 May	138.6	90.7	high	153%
Cleve Aerodrome	21.1		35.4	7 Mar	12.3		5.8	16 May	103.6	84.9	high	122%
Coulta (Coles Point)	21.6		32.6	6 Mar	11.7		4.3	16 May	75.2
Cummins Aero	22.2		34.3	6 Mar	11.3		2.8	16 May	94.2
Elliston	21.3	-0.7	34.0	6 Mar	12.4	+0.1	3.0	29 May	95.7	94.6	average	101%
Kimba	21.7	-2.1	34.2	6 Mar	11.2	0.0	2.5	17 May	110.4	74.7	high	148%
Kyancutta	23.4	-2.0	36.3	6 Mar	10.0	+0.3	0.6	15 May	104.2	66.4	high	157%
Minnipa Pirsa	22.8		35.9	6 Mar	11.2		4.8	17 May	115.0
Neptune Island	18.9	-0.5	25.0	7 Mar	15.0	+0.1	11.3	25 May	159.8	106.3	v high	150%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS)	20.8		33.7	8 Apr	12.4		5.8	16 May	117.6
Nullarbor	22.2	-2.1	36.2	6 Mar	11.5	0.0	2.1	30 May	73.2	74.1	average	99%
Port Augusta Aero	24.8		37.8	6 Mar	12.0		-0.6	17 May	57.8
Streaky Bay	22.8	-0.9	35.9	6 Mar			6.6	15 May	122.2	83.7	high	146%
Whyalla Aero	22.4	-1.6	35.8	7 Mar	12.1	+0.1	0.3	17 May	78.2	62.0	average	126%
Wudinna Aero	23.6		36.3	6 Mar	9.8		0.5	16 May	76.8
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker	22.8	-2.4	33.8	15 Mar	10.2	-0.8	-1.2	10 May	110.8	66.9	high	166%
Yongala	20.4	-1.7	32.0	6 Mar	7.6	+0.1	-3.0	10 May	90.0	76.2	average	118%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot)	23.1		35.2	7 Mar	9.2		-2.8	16 May	63.9
Yunta Airstrip	22.1		35.4	13 Mar	8.8		-4.2	16 May	42.8
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School	20.0		33.2	6 Mar	9.5		-1.0	10 May	160.8
Port Pirie Aerodrome	23.6		36.5	6 Mar	11.7		2.4	17 May	137.3
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison	23.8	-1.1	37.0	6 Mar	13.5	+0.2	4.9	16 May	142.8	84.3	high	169%
Snowtown (Rayville Park)	23.1		36.7	7 Mar	9.7		-0.3	16 May	93.6
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh	20.0		33.1	7 Mar	13.4		5.9	31 May	155.2
Kadina AWS	22.7		35.2	7 Mar	10.7		1.6	17 May	148.0
Maitland	21.2	-0.9	33.4	6 Mar	12.4	+0.1	6.1	28 May	149.2	122.6	high	122%
Minlaton Aero	21.5		35.3	7 Mar	11.7		5.8	16 May	88.0
Stenhouse Bay	19.9		35.4	7 Mar	13.8		6.2	17 May	142.0
Warooka	20.8	-1.1	32.8	7 Mar	12.6	+0.1	7.2	17 May	130.2	103.5	high	126%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda	18.5		26.2	12 Mar			6.9	17 May	147.6
Cape Willoughby	17.7	-1.2	29.8	7 Mar	13.9	-0.2	8.9	24 May	147.4	122.7	high	120%
Kingscote Aero	20.1		33.0	7 Mar	9.7		0.4	17 May	228.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town)	21.8	-0.9	34.9	7 Mar	12.5	-0.1	5.2	16 May	153.4	125.7	high	122%
Adelaide Airport	21.5	-0.6	35.2	7 Mar	12.1	+0.2	4.0	16 May	129.4	110.9	average	117%
Edinburgh RAAF	21.8	-1.2	35.8	7 Mar	11.6	-0.2	3.2	16 May	180.2	100.7	v high	179%
Parafield Airport	22.2	-0.6	35.9	7 Mar	11.1	-0.8	2.8	16 May	167.6	109.8	v high	153%
Roseworthy AWS	22.1		35.7	6 Mar	10.1		1.5	10 May	126.8
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural	19.9		32.2	7 Mar	9.5		-0.7	10 May	195.6
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre)	21.6	-1.4	35.1	7 Mar	10.4	-0.4	-0.7	10 May	173.5	110.0	high	158%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS	20.0		35.5	7 Mar	12.0		5.5	17 May	88.4
Kuitpo Forest Reserve	18.0		33.1	7 Mar	10.5		3.7	31 May	223.0
Mount Barker	18.5	-2.1	32.4	7 Mar	9.3	+0.9	1.6	31 May	162.4	177.4	average	92%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS)	17.4		31.3	7 Mar	9.8		4.2	17 May	252.6
Mount Lofty	15.8		28.8	6 Mar	9.0		4.1	9 May	286.6
Noarlunga	21.1		33.6	7 Mar	12.9		7.0	31 May	92.0
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)	16.8		30.4	6 Mar	10.7		4.3	17 May	202.8
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay)	19.7		35.2	7 Mar	10.8		2.3	31 May	138.8
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre	22.8	-1.1	34.1	7 Mar	9.6	+0.7	-1.0	17 May	46.2	51.5	average	90%
Renmark Aero	23.0		35.0	7 Mar	9.8		-2.6	17 May	58.4
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda	20.0	-1.3	31.6	7 Mar	9.6	-0.3	1.5	16 May	153.6	98.9	high	155%
Meningie	20.7	-0.7	32.1	12 Mar	10.3	-0.4	3.2	31 May	94.4	114.2	average	83%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome)	21.5		36.7	7 Mar	9.1		-0.8	17 May	116.0
Murray Bridge Comparison	22.1	-1.2	35.8	7 Mar	10.2	-0.2	1.3	17 May	132.4	84.1	high	157%
Strathalbyn Racecourse	20.3		34.8	7 Mar	10.6		3.9	17 May	115.2
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda	21.7		35.5	7 Mar	9.2		0.8	17 May	155.0	77.4	v high	200%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith	21.1	-1.5	34.8	7 Mar	9.1	-0.4	1.2	31 May	113.3	106.6	average	106%
Keith (Munkora)	21.7		36.4	7 Mar			-0.5	10 May	114.8
Lameroo (Austin Plains)	21.6		35.4	7 Mar	8.8		1.3	17 May	106.2
Lameroo Comparison	21.9	-1.1	34.5	12 Mar	9.7	+0.6	2.5	31 May
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone)	18.8		32.2	7 Mar	10.6		4.0	18 Apr	112.4
Coonawarra	19.3	-1.8	34.4	7 Mar	8.3	+0.1	-1.1	31 May	144.4	116.5	average	124%
Mount Gambier Aero	18.6	-0.9	34.2	7 Mar	9.3	+0.5	-0.4	31 May	192.2	161.1	average	119%
Naracoorte Aerodrome	19.7		34.8	7 Mar	8.3		-0.2	31 May	139.2
Padthaway South	20.2		35.2	7 Mar	8.1		-0.7	10 May	119.9
Robe Airfield	19.1		33.6	7 Mar	9.4		-0.7	31 May	162.8
Robe Comparison	18.3	-0.5	27.9	6 Mar	11.3	-0.2	4.5	31 May	136.6	145.8	average	94%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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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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