Thursday, 1 September 2011 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0
South Australia in winter 2011: A warmer and drier than average winter.
- Warmer winter days as South Australian temperatures exceed the long term average by 1 to 2 °C.
- Low winter rainfall for much of the State with some agricultural districts receiving only about 60% of the average winter total.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Rainfall
Apart from the far Northwest of the State receiving slightly above average rainfall this winter, rainfall totals were generally average to below average across most of South Australia, though southern Yorke Peninsula and parts of the far north pastoral districts received very much below average rainfall totals.
Winter began with June rainfall being below average to well below average across the western agricultural and northeast pastoral districts, tending above average in the far west and northwest for July. Despite high rainfall for central districts during early August, drier conditions persisted across most the State with well below average rainfall in the Northwest.
Growing season rainfall (April to October) to the end of August is at an average across most of the western half of the State, tending below average across eastern districts and well below average in parts of the northeast pastoral and southern Yorke Peninsula regions.
Pastoral Districts
Winter rainfall in 2011 was below average in the northern and northeast pastoral districts, but nearer average in the far west and northwest parts. Rainfall totals were typically between 15 to 40mm across stations, though some locations recorded only around 30% of the average winter totals. The highest winter total recorded in the pastoral regions was at Yardea, with 88.6 mm, which is about 10% lower than the winter average that this site receives.
Agricultural Districts
Rainfall totals were generally average to below average across agricultural districts during winter, though southern Yorke Peninsula received much below average, where Warooka received only 124.0 mm, 65% of the winter average rainfall.
Rainfall totals were typically around 100 to 200mm for the winter season, though for the Upper North districts, Murray Valley and the Murray Mallee districts, totals were generally between 70 to 120mm. Higher totals of 150 to 300mm were recorded at most stations through the Lower North and Mt Lofty Ranges. The highest total for the state was 403.6mm in the Adelaide Hills at Crafers (Mount Lofty).
Some sites had their lowest total winter rainfall for at least 25 years. Some sites had their highest winter daily rainfall on record. See a map of rainfall deciles.Temperature
Temperatures across South Australia were above average to very much above average during winter 2011. The winter average temperature for South Australia was 1.0 °C warmer than the long term winter average of 12.3 °C. This places the 2011 winter in South Australia as 5th warmest on record. The warmest winter in South Australia was recorded in 2009 where temperatures were 1.8 °C above the long term average.
Maximum
Maximum temperatures were above average this winter, with temperatures generally up to 1 °C above the average in the agricultural areas tending 1 to 2 °C above average in the northeast pastoral areas. Average maximum temperatures ranged from 10.7 °C at Mount Lofty in the Mount Lofty Ranges to 22.3 °C at Moomba Airport in the far Northeast of the State.
The warmest winter daily maximum temperature was 34.5°C recorded at Ernabella in the far Northwest on the 25th of August. The coldest daily maximum was 5.8 °C at Mount Lofty on the 12th of July.
Minimum
Minimum temperatures were also slightly above the long-term average this winter. Mean minimum temperatures for the whole season ranged from 2.7°C at Yongala in the Upper North District to 12.5°C at Neptune Island.
The lowest overnight winter minimum temperature recorded was -5.5 °C at Gluepot Reserve on the 12th of July. The highest minimum temperature recorded was 16.0°C at Marree Comparison on the 2nd of July.
Some sites had their coldest winter day (lowest maximum temperature) on record. Some sites had their highest winter mean daily maximum temperature on record. Some sites had their highest winter mean daily maximum temperature for at least 25 years.Further information
South Australian Regional OfficeSouth Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in winter 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 34.5 °C at Ernabella (Pukatja) on 25 Aug |
| Warmest days on average | 22.3 °C at Moomba Airport |
| Coolest days on average | 10.7 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Coldest day | 5.8 °C at Mount Lofty on 12 Jul |
| Coldest night | -5.5 °C at Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) on 22 Jul |
| Coolest nights on average | 2.7 °C at Yongala |
| Warmest nights on average | 12.5 °C at Neptune Island |
| Warmest night |
16.0 °C at Marree Aero on 2 Jul 16.0 °C at Marree Comparison on 2 Jul |
| Warmest on average overall | 14.4 °C at Moomba Airport |
| Coolest on average overall | 8.4 °C at Mount Lofty |
| Wettest overall | 403.6 mm at Crafers (Mt Lofty) |
| Highest wind gust |
107 km/h at Robe Airfield on 20 Jun 107 km/h at Neptune Island on 3 Jul |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest winter daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in winter 2011 (mm) |
Previous wettest for winter |
Years of record |
||||
| Coffin Bay | 46.0 | on 2 Jul | 38.0 | on 5 Jun 1992 | 25 | |
| Lowest total winter rainfall for at least 25 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for winter 2011 (mm) |
Most recent winter at least this dry |
Years since drier |
Average for winter |
||
| Port Victoria | 45.2 | 43.3 | in 1959 | 44 | 140.4 |
| Kingscote | 127.3 | 112.1 | in 1959 | 36 | 214.1 |
| Paskeville | 74.6 | 57.6 | in 1976 | 30 | 146.9 |
| Port Neill | 59.0 | 50.0 | in 1977 | 26 | 115.6 |
| Record lowest winter daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in winter 2011 (°C) |
Previous coolest for winter |
Years of record |
Average for winter |
|||
| Marla Police Station | 9.5 | on 13 Jul | 10.0 | on 19 Jun 1986 | 26 | 20.5 |
| Record highest winter mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for winter 2011 (°C) |
Previous warmest for winter |
Years of record |
Average for winter |
||
| Meningie | 16.4 | = 16.4 | in 2005 | 44 | 15.5 |
| Coonawarra | 15.1 | = 15.1 | in 2005 | 25 | 14.4 |
| Highest winter mean daily maximum temperature for at least 25 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for winter 2011 (°C) |
Most recent winter at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for winter |
||
| Streaky Bay | 18.5 | 18.7 | in 1961 | 48 | 17.1 |
| Hawker | 18.0 | 18.1 | in 1977 | 28 | 16.7 |
| Record highest winter mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for winter 2011 (°C) |
Previous warmest for winter |
Years of record |
Average for winter |
||
| Cape Willoughby | 11.0 | = 11.0 | in 2001 | 43 | 10.0 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for winter 2011 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for winter (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for winter (°C) |
Rainfall for winter (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for winter 2011 |
Diff from average |
Highest for winter 2011 |
Mean for winter 2011 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for winter 2011 |
Total for winter 2011 |
Average for winter |
Rank of winter 2011 |
Fraction of winter average |
|||
| Northwest (district 16) | ||||||||||||
| Andamooka | 20.3 | +1.1 | 30.4 | 2 Aug | 7.9 | +1.2 | 3.0 | 1 Jun | 31.4 | 41.3 | average | 76% |
| Coober Pedy Airport | 20.1 | 30.5 | 3 Aug | 7.7 | 0.6 | 13 Jun | 16.2 | |||||
| Ernabella (Pukatja) | 19.9 | 34.5 | 25 Aug | 5.0 | -2.3 | 16 Jun | 56.0 | |||||
| Nonning | 18.0 | +0.9 | 28.8 | 3 Aug | 5.0 | +0.7 | -1.5 | 15 Jun | 51.6 | 77.8 | average | 66% |
| Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) | 20.1 | 30.0 | 2 Aug | 5.2 | -3.3 | 15 Jun | 34.2 | |||||
| Tarcoola Aero | 20.2 | 30.4 | 3 Aug | 5.9 | -2.6 | 15 Jun | 22.6 | |||||
| Woomera Aerodrome | 18.9 | +1.2 | 29.7 | 3 Aug | 7.0 | +0.6 | 1.7 | 15 Jun | 33.6 | 44.7 | average | 75% |
| Far North (district 17) | ||||||||||||
| Arkaroola | 18.6 | +1.2 | 27.0 | 25 Aug | 3.8 | -0.4 | -2.9 | 9 Jul | 25.8 | 44.1 | average | 59% |
| Leigh Creek Airport | 18.9 | +1.4 | 27.8 | 2 Aug | 5.9 | +0.5 | -0.4 | 16 Jun | 35.8 | 51.0 | average | 70% |
| Marree Aero | 21.0 | 29.3 | 3 Aug | 5.8 | -0.8 | 9 Jul | 11.6 | |||||
| Marree Comparison | 21.9 | +1.9 | 29.8 | 3 Aug | 6.5 | +0.8 | 0.0 | 9 Jul | 8.5 | 32.9 | low | 26% |
| Moomba Airport | 22.3 | 30.6 | 1 Aug | 6.5 | -0.4 | 23 Jul | 0.8 | |||||
| Oodnadatta Airport | 21.7 | +1.2 | 31.2 | 16 Aug | 6.8 | +0.2 | 0.1 | 10 Jul | 15.0 | 30.5 | average | 49% |
| Western Agricultural (district 18) | ||||||||||||
| Ceduna AMO | 19.1 | +1.0 | 27.3 | 3 Aug | 6.9 | +0.8 | -1.8 | 15 Jun | 102.4 | 109.6 | average | 93% |
| Cleve | 16.7 | +0.8 | 26.0 | 3 Aug | 8.5 | +1.0 | 3.5 | 8 Jul | 142.8 | 140.7 | average | 101% |
| Cleve Aerodrome | 16.4 | 25.6 | 3 Aug | 8.3 | 3.4 | 26 Aug | 107.8 | 130.3 | average | 83% | ||
| Coulta (Coles Point) | 16.8 | 23.1 | 1 Jul | 7.8 | 2.6 | 26 Jul | 201.6 | |||||
| Cummins Aero | 16.9 | 22.3 | 23 Aug | 6.0 | 0.0 | 26 Aug | 115.8 | |||||
| Elliston | 17.9 | +1.0 | 26.6 | 31 Jul | 8.8 | +0.6 | 3.5 | 30 Aug | 158.7 | 202.2 | low | 78% |
| Kimba | 16.3 | +0.1 | 26.0 | 3 Aug | 1.5 | 16 Jul | 97.2 | 122.8 | average | 79% | ||
| Kyancutta | 18.4 | +0.5 | 27.0 | 3 Aug | 5.6 | +0.6 | -1.1 | 30 Aug | 101.0 | 117.7 | average | 86% |
| Minnipa Pirsa | 17.5 | 26.2 | 3 Aug | 7.4 | 3.2 | 15 Jul | 131.4 | |||||
| Neptune Island | 16.1 | +0.6 | 21.0 | 24 Aug | 12.5 | +1.0 | 8.8 | 21 Jun | 173.0 | 205.6 | low | 84% |
| North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) | 17.1 | 23.1 | 24 Aug | 8.0 | 3.2 | 21 Jul | 139.6 | |||||
| Nullarbor | 19.5 | +0.7 | 30.1 | 14 Aug | 7.3 | +1.6 | 1.5 | 8 Aug | 85.6 | 82.2 | average | 104% |
| Port Augusta Aero | 19.8 | 31.4 | 3 Aug | 5.2 | -1.2 | 15 Jun | 55.4 | |||||
| Streaky Bay | 18.5 | +1.4 | 27.5 | 23 Aug | 9.3 | +0.5 | 4.5 | 30 Aug | 168.6 | 174.0 | average | 97% |
| Whyalla Aero | 18.3 | +0.8 | 30.6 | 3 Aug | 5.9 | +0.2 | 0.0 | 15 Jun | 54.4 | 68.5 | low | 79% |
| Wudinna Aero | 18.5 | 27.7 | 3 Aug | 6.5 | -1.3 | 30 Aug | 98.6 | |||||
| Upper North (district 19) | ||||||||||||
| Hawker | 18.0 | +1.3 | 27.5 | 2 Aug | 3.9 | -0.3 | -3.3 | 19 Jul | 55.4 | 103.3 | low | 54% |
| Yongala | 14.7 | +1.1 | 24.6 | 3 Aug | 2.7 | +0.2 | -5.0 | 28 Aug | 103.9 | 122.2 | average | 85% |
| Northeast (district 20) | ||||||||||||
| Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) | 18.2 | 29.0 | 3 Aug | 4.0 | -5.5 | 22 Jul | 50.0 | |||||
| Yunta Airstrip | 17.0 | 28.0 | 3 Aug | 3.8 | -4.9 | 22 Jul | 36.6 | |||||
| Lower North (district 21) | ||||||||||||
| Clare High School | 14.1 | 24.4 | 3 Aug | 4.6 | -3.3 | 22 Jul | 174.0 | |||||
| Port Pirie Aerodrome | 18.0 | 27.9 | 3 Aug | 6.2 | -0.6 | 22 Jul | 80.1 | |||||
| Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison | 18.3 | +1.1 | 27.5 | 3 Aug | 8.6 | +0.5 | 2.5 | 15 Jun | 80.8 | 109.3 | low | 74% |
| Snowtown (Rayville Park) | 16.6 | 26.1 | 3 Aug | 5.4 | -2.2 | 22 Jul | 106.4 | |||||
| Yorke Peninsula (district 22A) | ||||||||||||
| Edithburgh | 16.3 | 24.3 | 3 Aug | 8.2 | 2.1 | 22 Jul | 98.8 | |||||
| Kadina AWS | 16.6 | 25.0 | 3 Aug | 5.4 | -1.4 | 22 Jul | 103.4 | |||||
| Maitland | 15.9 | +0.9 | 23.5 | 3 Aug | 8.3 | +1.0 | 3.8 | 12 Jul | 170.0 | 195.7 | average | 87% |
| Minlaton Aero | 16.3 | 21.7 | 24 Aug | 7.4 | 1.9 | 19 Jul | 105.0 | |||||
| Stenhouse Bay | 16.5 | 22.2 | 24 Aug | 10.0 | 3.8 | 16 Jul | 143.6 | |||||
| Warooka | 16.2 | +0.7 | 20.8 | 2 Aug | 8.3 | +0.4 | 3.5 | 16 Jul | 124.0 | 189.8 | low | 65% |
| Kangaroo Island (district 22B) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Borda | 15.0 | 19.1 | 24 Aug | 10.0 | 5.8 | 15 Jul | 209.8 | |||||
| Cape Willoughby | 15.1 | +0.6 | 19.4 | 2 Aug | 11.0 | +1.0 | 6.7 | 10 Jul | 167.5 | 230.0 | low | 73% |
| Kingscote Aero | 16.6 | 21.7 | 3 Aug | 6.0 | -1.9 | 22 Jul | 123.0 | |||||
| Adelaide Plains (district 23A) | ||||||||||||
| Adelaide (Kent Town) | 16.7 | +0.7 | 24.6 | 3 Aug | 8.6 | +0.7 | 1.3 | 22 Jul | 193.8 | 222.0 | average | 87% |
| Adelaide Airport | 16.4 | +0.8 | 23.7 | 3 Aug | 7.7 | +0.3 | 0.1 | 22 Jul | 143.6 | 164.8 | average | 87% |
| Edinburgh RAAF | 16.5 | +0.6 | 25.8 | 3 Aug | 6.4 | 0.0 | -1.0 | 22 Jul | 151.6 | 155.9 | average | 97% |
| Parafield Airport | 17.0 | +1.3 | 25.6 | 3 Aug | 6.6 | -0.1 | -0.9 | 16 Jul | 132.2 | 166.2 | low | 80% |
| Roseworthy AWS | 16.7 | 26.8 | 3 Aug | 6.0 | -0.2 | 22 Jul | 102.8 | |||||
| County Light (district 23B) | ||||||||||||
| Nuriootpa Viticultural | 14.7 | 24.6 | 3 Aug | 5.4 | -3.2 | 22 Jul | 166.6 | |||||
| Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) | 16.2 | +0.8 | 26.0 | 3 Aug | 5.8 | 0.0 | -0.9 | 22 Jul | 161.6 | 172.4 | average | 94% |
| Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C) | ||||||||||||
| Hindmarsh Island AWS | 16.4 | 25.8 | 3 Aug | 8.6 | 3.0 | 29 Jun | 119.4 | |||||
| Kuitpo Forest Reserve | 13.4 | 21.6 | 3 Aug | 7.5 | 2.2 | 22 Jul | 260.6 | |||||
| Mount Barker | 14.2 | +0.6 | 23.0 | 3 Aug | 6.0 | +1.1 | -2.5 | 22 Jul | 283.0 | 308.0 | average | 92% |
| Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS) | 12.3 | 21.2 | 3 Aug | 6.7 | 2.0 | 22 Jul | 214.0 | |||||
| Mount Lofty | 10.7 | 19.1 | 3 Aug | 6.0 | 1.1 | 22 Jul | 346.4 | |||||
| Noarlunga | 16.1 | 22.3 | 3 Aug | 9.3 | 3.3 | 16 Jul | 121.2 | |||||
| Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) | 12.9 | 17.5 | 24 Aug | 7.6 | 2.4 | 16 Jul | 294.8 | |||||
| Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) | 16.5 | 24.4 | 3 Aug | 7.0 | -1.2 | 16 Jul | 212.8 | |||||
| Upper Murray Valley (district 24A) | ||||||||||||
| Loxton Research Centre | 17.3 | +0.8 | 27.8 | 3 Aug | 4.9 | +0.6 | -3.3 | 22 Jul | 71.4 | 81.2 | average | 88% |
| Renmark Aero | 18.0 | 29.2 | 3 Aug | 4.6 | -4.2 | 22 Jul | 47.0 | |||||
| Lower Murray Valley (district 24B) | ||||||||||||
| Eudunda | 14.6 | +0.9 | 24.9 | 3 Aug | 5.7 | +0.4 | -0.8 | 22 Jul | 139.4 | 159.1 | average | 88% |
| Meningie | 16.4 | +0.9 | 22.4 | 3 Aug | 7.0 | 0.0 | -0.3 | 15 Jun | 185.8 | 179.7 | average | 103% |
| Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) | 17.0 | 27.4 | 3 Aug | 5.0 | -2.8 | 22 Jul | 84.4 | |||||
| Murray Bridge Comparison | 17.8 | +1.0 | 27.1 | 3 Aug | 6.1 | +0.3 | -2.0 | 22 Jul | 96.3 | 109.9 | average | 88% |
| Strathalbyn Racecourse | 16.1 | 24.9 | 3 Aug | 7.4 | 0.1 | 16 Jul | 117.2 | |||||
| Murray Mallee (district 25A) | ||||||||||||
| Karoonda | 16.8 | 27.6 | 3 Aug | 5.2 | -2.0 | 22 Jul | 111.0 | 108.1 | average | 103% | ||
| Upper Southeast (district 25B) | ||||||||||||
| Keith | 16.4 | +0.9 | 26.0 | 3 Aug | 6.2 | +0.4 | -2.0 | 15 Jun | 157.3 | 165.4 | average | 95% |
| Keith (Munkora) | 16.1 | 24.7 | 3 Aug | 5.2 | -2.4 | 15 Jun | 135.4 | |||||
| Lameroo (Austin Plains) | 16.1 | 25.8 | 3 Aug | 4.8 | -2.0 | 22 Jul | 93.0 | |||||
| Lameroo Comparison | 16.6 | +1.0 | 27.1 | 3 Aug | 5.9 | +1.1 | 0.0 | 22 Jul | ||||
| Lower Southeast (district 26) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) | 15.0 | 19.8 | 3 Aug | 7.8 | -0.7 | 15 Jun | 161.4 | |||||
| Coonawarra | 15.1 | +0.7 | 24.1 | 3 Aug | 5.7 | +0.4 | -2.8 | 15 Jun | 239.4 | 232.8 | average | 103% |
| Mount Gambier Aero | 14.7 | +1.0 | 22.8 | 3 Aug | 6.4 | +0.9 | -0.9 | 27 Jul | 262.6 | 277.3 | average | 95% |
| Naracoorte Aerodrome | 15.3 | 24.2 | 3 Aug | 5.8 | -3.8 | 15 Jun | 186.2 | |||||
| Padthaway South | 15.7 | 24.8 | 3 Aug | 5.8 | -2.1 | 15 Jun | 186.4 | |||||
| Robe Airfield | 15.6 | 24.1 | 3 Aug | 6.9 | -1.9 | 15 Jun | 189.8 | |||||
| Robe Comparison | 14.7 | +0.6 | 18.1 | 3 Aug | 9.0 | +0.6 | 3.0 | 23 Jul | 198.4 | 285.2 | low | 70% |
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 8 am on Thursday 1 September 2011. 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 OfficeSouth Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au
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