Monday, 3 December 2012 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC13R0

South Australia in spring 2012: Very warm and dry across the State

• Warmest spring days on record for South Australia.
• Third driest spring on record for the State.
• A hot finish results in temperatures records observed at several locations, and warmest spring night on record for the state.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Rainfall averaged across South Australia as a whole was very much below normal throughout spring 2012. September rainfall totals were below average across all parts of the State, except the far northern parts of the Pastoral districts where falls were generally near average. Drier than normal conditions persisted through to the end of spring with the fifth driest October on record and November rainfall the lowest in 16 years. This has resulted in the driest spring since 1967 and the third driest spring on record for South Australia.

The most significant rainfall events for spring occurred between the 5th and 7th of September as a deep low pressure system that tracked eastwards across ocean waters produced squally showers and isolated thunderstorms across southern parts of South Australia. Later, on October 10, a strong cold frontal system and associated cold air mass moved over the south of the State resulting in heavy rainfall, hail and a rare snow event for several locations about the Mt Lofty and Flinders Ranges. The passage of this cold frontal system brought rainfall totals of between 10 to 30 mm for central and southern parts of the State.

See a map of rainfall deciles.

Pastoral Districts

Rainfall totals for spring as a whole were very low across the Pastorals generally ranging between 10 to 30mm. Ernabella (Pukatja) had the highest spring rainfall total in the Pastorals with 32.8 mm. Marla Police Station reported a record lowest spring rainfall total of 4.8mm, the lowest spring rainfall at this location since 1990 when only 6.4mm was observed.

Agricultural Districts

Rainfall totals in the agricultural districts were very much below average across most of the agricultural districts, generally ranging from 40 to 60 mm in the eastern Agricultural, the Upper North and the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas. Falls increased to 100 mm about southeast coastal locations and the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges. The wettest location overall in the agricultural districts and the state was at Kuitpo Forest Reserve in the Mount Lofty ranges with a spring rainfall total of 133.8 mm.

Some sites had their lowest total spring rainfall on record.
Some sites had their lowest total spring rainfall for at least 25 years.

Temperature

Temperatures across South Australia were very much above average this spring. The mean temperature (the average of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for South Australia as a whole in spring was 1.8 °C above the long-term average, resulting in the warmest spring for the State since 2006 and the second warmest spring on record. By contrast spring 2011 was 1.1 °C warmer than average.

Maximum

Averaged across the State as a whole, spring daytime temperatures were 2.7 °C above the long term average, resulting in the warmest spring days on record South Australia. See a map of maximum temperature anomalies. The previous warmest spring occurred in 2006. By contrast, daytime temperatures throughout spring in 2011 averaged 1.1°C above normal.

Many locations across the State experienced maximum temperatures in excess of 2°C above average throughout September and October. A heatwave, which affected large parts of southeastern Australia at the end of November, resulted in large areas of South Australia observing November average maximum temperatures in excess of 3°C above normal.

Average maximum temperatures ranged from 17.9°C at Mount Lofty and Parawa to 33.2°C at Moomba Airport in the Far North. Oodnadatta Airport, reported a record highest spring average maximum temperature with 33.0°C.

The hottest spring day occurred on November 29; Marree Comparison observed 46.0°C which was the hottest day for any location in the State, and the warmest spring day there since 2009 while Loxton Research Centre observed a record highest spring daytime temperature of 43.6°C.

The coldest day in spring was observed at Mount Lofty on October 11, where the maximum reached just 7.8 °C owing to the passage of a very cold airmass and cold frontal system.

Minimum

Averaged across the State as a whole, spring minimum temperatures were 1°C warmer than normal. The northern and western parts of South Australia were the warmest, with several locations observing minimum temperatures in excess of 1.0 °C above average, while most agricultural areas saw slightly below average night-time temperatures. See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

The eastern half of the State experienced cooler than normal nights through September and October, while western districts had warmer than normal nights. Nights warmed considerably through November, with parts across northern half of the State seeing nights 2 to 3 °C above average.

Spring average minimum temperatures ranged from 5.9°C at Keith (Munkora) to 16.5°C at Oodnadatta Airport. The lowest recorded minimum temperature through spring was -1.9°C at Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) on September 25; the warmest night was a State record for November with 32.3 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on November 29. Leigh Creek also observed a record warmest night on November 26 with a minimum of 29.4 °C.

Some sites had their highest spring temperature on record.
Some sites had their highest spring mean daily maximum temperature on record.
Some sites had their warmest spring night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

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Extremes in spring 2012
Hottest day	46.0 °C at Marree Comparison on 29 Nov
Warmest days on average	33.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average	17.9 °C at Mount Lofty 17.9 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day	7.8 °C at Mount Lofty on 11 Oct
Coldest night	-1.9 °C at Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) on 25 Sep
Coolest nights on average	5.9 °C at Keith (Munkora)
Warmest nights on average	16.5 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night	32.3 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on 29 Nov
Warmest on average overall	24.7 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall	12.9 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall	133.8 mm at Kuitpo Forest Reserve
Driest overall	1.2 mm at Leigh Creek (Pfitzners Well) 1.2 mm at Moomba Airport
Wettest day	32 mm at Piccadilly (Woodhouse) on 7 Sep 32 mm at Todmorden on 7 Nov
Highest wind gust	119 km/h at Cape Borda on 5 Sep

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record lowest total spring rainfall
	Total rainfall for spring 2012 (mm)	Previous driest for spring		Years of record	Average for spring
Adelaide (Tea Tree Gully Council)	43.9	47.9	in 2006	126	160.8
Penong	9.2	9.4	in 1963	114	73.6
Owen	22.0	39.6	in 1938	80	114.6
Nundroo	4.4	6.9	in 1963	78	71.5
Parachilna (Motpena)	10.4	= 10.4	in 2006	44	57.6
Beltana Roadhouse	5.3	7.2	in 2006	27	56.0
Marla Police Station	4.8	6.4	in 1990	25	55.5

Lowest total spring rainfall for at least 25 years
	Total rainfall for spring 2012 (mm)	Most recent spring at least this dry		Years since drier	Average for spring
Marrabel	49.2	31.3	in 1896*	115	140.4
Lobethal	75.7	69.9	in 1914*	97	214.6
Lameroo Comparison	27.2	16.8	in 1938	74	105.6
Adelaide (Pooraka)	40.4	30.1	in 1938*	73	118.6
Gawler Council Depot	36.0	26.7	in 1896*	65	119.8
Blinman	14.4	=14.4	in 1959	53	72.5
Ceduna AMO	15.6	9.2	in 1963	49	72.4
Riverton	57.6	40.6	in 1967*	44	141.5
Saddleworth	44.0	37.2	in 1967*	44	133.3
Tailem Bend	33.7	27.2	in 1967*	44	102.6
Auburn	57.8	50.5	in 1967*	43	158.1
Cooke Plains	42.4	42.2	in 1967*	43	102.1
Nildottie	22.4	15.1	in 1967*	43	74.6
Hamley Bridge	46.8	35.8	in 1967*	42	113.6
Manoora	54.2	48.8	in 1967*	41	134.7
Palmer	41.3	33.7	in 1967*	41	108.8
Blyth	42.5	38.8	in 1972*	35	113.4
Eudunda	48.2	=48.2	in 1982	30	119.2
Freeling	54.5	=54.5	in 1982	30	135.1
Karoonda	35.7	26.9	in 1982	30	91.8
Kyancutta	17.7	10.9	in 1982	30	79.3
Mindarie	25.1	8.0	in 1982	30	86.4
Alawoona	22.8	7.2	in 1982*	29	79.0
Boolcoomatta	3.8	1.3	in 1980*	29	48.8
Port Wakefield	37.0	34.8	in 1982*	29	83.5
Sandalwood	29.4	19.8	in 1982*	28	90.3
Iron Knob	14.8	12.0	in 1982*	26	58.7
Mallala	43.0	35.6	in 1982*	26	105.8
Mount Bryan	41.6	31.0	in 1982*	26	123.3
Paruna	21.0	8.4	in 1982*	25	80.2
Poochera	18.5	16.0	in 1982*	25	75.5

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.

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Record highest spring temperature
	Highest temperature in spring 2012 (°C)		Previous warmest for spring		Years of record	Average for spring
Loxton Research Centre	43.6	on 29 Nov	43.0	on 18 Nov 2009	29	24.0

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Record highest spring mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for spring 2012 (°C)	Previous warmest for spring		Years of record	Average for spring
Oodnadatta Airport	33.0	= 33.0	in 2006	62	30.2
Andamooka	30.4	= 30.4	in 2006	42	28.1
Hawker	28.2	= 28.2	in 2006	37	25.5

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Record highest spring daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in spring 2012 (°C)		Previous warmest for spring		Years of record	Average for spring
Oodnadatta Airport	32.3	on 29 Nov	32.2	on 30 Nov 2006	63	15.0
Leigh Creek Airport	29.4	on 26 Nov	29.3	on 27 Nov 2006	29	12.6

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for spring 2012
	Maximum temperatures for spring (°C)				Minimum temperatures for spring (°C)				Rainfall for spring (millimetres)
	Mean for spring 2012	Diff from average	Highest for spring 2012		Mean for spring 2012	Diff from average	Lowest for spring 2012		Total for spring 2012	Average for spring	Rank of spring 2012	Fraction of spring average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka	30.4	+2.3	43.9	25 Nov	14.5	+0.9	4.6	1 Sep	5.8	46.7	v low	12%
Coober Pedy Airport	31.1		44.8	25 Nov	15.0		4.2	1 Sep	10.0
Ernabella (Pukatja)	31.1		41.8	25 Nov	14.8		2.3	10 Sep	32.8
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome)	30.4		43.3	25 Nov	12.5		-1.1	1 Sep	1.6
Tarcoola Aero	30.6		44.3	4 Nov	12.1		1.8	1 Sep	3.0
Woomera Aerodrome	28.9	+2.7	42.6	25 Nov	13.3	+0.9	4.4	8 Sep	16.2	47.5	low	34%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola			43.2	29 Nov	12.0	+0.4	0.5	8 Sep	5.3	52.5	low	10%
Leigh Creek Airport	29.6	+2.8	43.1	29 Nov	13.3	+0.7	3.0	12 Oct	5.0	55.9	v low	9%
Marree Aero	31.6		45.5	26 Nov	14.1		2.9	1 Sep	4.6
Marree Comparison	32.4	+3.0	46.0	29 Nov	14.4	+1.1	4.6	1 Sep	5.5	35.8	low	15%
Moomba Airport	33.2		45.7	30 Nov	15.4		4.7	12 Oct	1.2
Oodnadatta Airport	33.0	+2.8	45.6	25 Nov	16.5	+1.5	4.2	1 Sep	5.4	36.8	low	15%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO	25.8	+2.1	44.0	4 Nov	10.4	+0.4	0.1	9 Sep	15.6	72.4	v low	22%
Cleve	23.9	+1.7	38.6	4 Nov	11.1	+0.8	3.4	18 Sep	51.4	106.2	low	48%
Cleve Aerodrome	24.0		39.6	4 Nov	10.1		3.1	18 Sep	41.2	86.8	low	47%
Coulta (Coles Point)	22.3	+1.2	37.5	4 Nov	9.9	-0.5	1.5	12 Oct	45.8
Cummins Aero	24.1		38.6	4 Nov	7.3		-1.0	12 Oct	47.6
Elliston	22.7	+1.3	37.7	4 Nov	11.4	+0.2	3.0	10 Sep	39.3	89.6	v low	44%
Kimba	25.9	+2.3	40.0	4 Nov			2.0	14 Oct	29.2	91.2	v low	32%
Kyancutta	27.8	+2.6	42.4	4 Nov	8.3	-0.1	-0.5	18 Sep	17.7	79.3	v low	22%
Minnipa Pirsa	26.7		42.4	4 Nov	10.5		2.6	12 Oct	24.0
Neptune Island	18.2	+0.6	26.1	29 Nov	12.8	+0.3	7.1	11 Oct	49.6	91.7	low	54%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS)	22.0	+1.3	36.4	11 Nov	9.4	-0.5	2.9	17 Oct	48.2
Nullarbor	25.5	+1.3	42.8	4 Nov	10.8	+0.6	1.9	24 Sep	23.2	52.9	low	44%
Port Augusta Aero	28.6		42.5	4 Nov	11.5		0.0	1 Sep	24.2
Streaky Bay	24.7	+1.9	40.4	4 Nov	11.9	+0.4	4.5	18 Sep	36.9	80.6	low	46%
Whyalla Aero	25.3	+1.4	41.9	4 Nov	11.1	+0.2	0.5	1 Sep	35.0	73.1	low	48%
Wudinna Aero	27.6		42.4	4 Nov	8.2		-1.0	12 Oct	22.4
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker	28.2	+2.7	42.5	29 Nov	11.1	+1.1	0.5	9 Sep	27.0	75.5	low	36%
Yongala	24.6	+2.8	39.5	29 Nov	6.9	+0.5	-1.4	2 Sep	33.8	100.0	v low	34%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot)	27.1		44.4	29 Nov	8.5		-1.7	10 Sep	23.1
Yunta Airstrip	26.9		42.8	29 Nov	9.4		-0.8	30 Sep	18.0
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School	22.7		38.1	29 Nov	8.1		0.3	1 Sep	63.4
Port Pirie Aerodrome	26.1		39.8	4 Nov	9.8		-0.6	1 Sep	40.2
Snowtown (Rayville Park)	25.7		39.9	29 Nov	7.5		-1.8	1 Sep	39.8
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh	21.0		37.2	20 Nov	10.6		1.8	10 Sep	47.6
Kadina AWS	25.2		39.9	4 Nov	7.6		-1.1	1 Sep	28.6
Maitland	23.3	+2.0	38.0	4 Nov	11.0	+0.8	4.6	1 Sep	64.2	119.5	low	54%
Minlaton Aero	23.5		37.2	4 Nov	9.1		1.5	10 Sep	41.6
Stenhouse Bay	20.8		35.1	20 Nov	11.8		4.9	1 Sep	48.0
Warooka	21.8	+1.2	34.4	4 Nov	10.6	+0.3	4.0	29 Sep	49.6	104.3	low	48%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda	18.5		30.9	4 Nov	10.1		5.6	22 Oct	61.2
Cape Willoughby	18.4	+0.9	31.0	20 Nov	12.0	+0.4	5.1	11 Oct	66.6	125.8	low	53%
Kingscote Aero	21.2		33.7	29 Nov	7.0		0.4	25 Sep	47.6
Parndana Cfs AWS	19.5		32.8	20 Nov	8.0		2.8	29 Sep	82.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town)	23.5	+1.5	38.0	29 Nov	11.9	+0.2	4.9	11 Oct	59.4	135.4	v low	44%
Adelaide Airport	22.5	+1.5	36.8	29 Nov	11.0	+0.2	3.8	25 Sep	45.0	108.3	v low	42%
Edinburgh RAAF	24.0	+1.8	38.5	29 Nov	10.3	0.0	1.9	18 Sep	50.2	111.4	v low	45%
Parafield Airport	24.1	+2.2	38.2	29 Nov	10.6	+0.2	1.8	18 Sep	56.6	112.5	v low	50%
Roseworthy AWS	25.1		41.0	29 Nov	7.7		-0.9	7 Oct	55.4
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural	22.9		39.8	29 Nov	8.5		0.5	18 Sep	60.2
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre)	24.2	+2.3	40.6	29 Nov	8.6	-0.1	-0.5	1 Sep	62.2	126.1	v low	49%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS			35.8	20 Nov	10.8		4.8	3 Sep	67.2
Kuitpo Forest Reserve	19.6		33.5	29 Nov	9.5		2.7	11 Oct	133.8
Mount Barker	21.0	+1.5	37.0	29 Nov	8.5	+1.2	2.2	25 Sep	109.8	191.8	v low	57%
Mount Crawford (Mt Crawford AWS)	19.9		36.5	29 Nov	8.9		1.1	11 Oct	62.6
Mount Lofty	17.9		33.0	29 Nov	8.0		0.4	11 Oct	95.6
Noarlunga	22.2		36.4	29 Nov	11.8		5.4	11 Oct	76.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)	17.9		32.5	29 Nov	9.2		2.9	12 Oct	114.2
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay)	20.9		35.9	20 Nov	8.6		1.9	25 Sep	101.8
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre	26.0	+2.0	43.6	29 Nov	8.8	+0.2	0.6	10 Sep	20.3	72.3	v low	28%
Renmark Aero	26.7		45.3	29 Nov	9.0		-0.7	10 Sep	16.2
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda	23.3	+2.6	39.6	29 Nov	8.6	+0.4	2.2	24 Sep	48.2	119.2	v low	40%
Meningie	21.7	+1.2	37.9	29 Nov	9.6	-0.1	2.0	25 Sep	59.6	114.7	low	52%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome)	24.0		40.6	29 Nov	7.3		-1.9	25 Sep	41.0
Murray Bridge Comparison	24.5	+1.8	40.6	29 Nov	9.3	+0.1	1.0	25 Sep	48.6	96.1	v low	51%
Strathalbyn Racecourse	22.0		38.5	29 Nov	9.3		2.4	25 Sep	66.0
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda	24.5		42.6	29 Nov	8.3		0.0	25 Sep	35.7	91.8	v low	39%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith	22.9	+1.2	40.2	29 Nov	8.4	0.0	0.5	25 Sep	54.2	124.3	v low	44%
Keith (Munkora)	23.0		41.3	29 Nov	5.9		-1.7	10 Nov	56.0
Lameroo (Austin Plains)	24.3		42.5	29 Nov	7.3		-0.8	25 Sep	31.4
Lameroo Comparison	24.0	+1.3	41.5	29 Nov	8.7	+0.8	2.0	7 Oct	27.2	105.6	v low	26%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone)	18.8	+0.1	33.4	29 Nov	9.1	-0.4	2.9	25 Sep	102.6
Coonawarra	20.4	+0.8	37.4	29 Nov	6.9	-0.6	0.3	28 Oct	102.4	141.5	low	72%
Mount Gambier Aero	19.6	+1.6	37.4	29 Nov	7.4	+0.1	0.4	19 Sep	102.2	180.4	v low	57%
Naracoorte Aerodrome	21.0		39.1	29 Nov	6.9		0.2	28 Oct	71.6
Padthaway South	21.3		38.7	29 Nov	7.4		0.1	25 Sep	66.2
Robe Airfield	19.1		33.0	20 Nov	8.4		1.0	11 Sep	105.0
Robe Comparison	18.3	+0.7	29.0	29 Nov	10.4	+0.1	4.4	9 Oct	109.4	133.5	average	82%

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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