Friday, 1 March 2019 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in summer 2018–19: record warm days and drier than average

Rainfall in summer was below average to very much below average in most central and northeastern districts, making it South Australia's driest summer since 1985–86. Heatwaves in December and January resulted in numerous sites setting new high temperature records during summer 2018–19. For mean maximum temperature, it was South Australia's hottest summer on record and third-warmest for mean minimum temperature.

Drier than average

• Rainfall in summer was 64% below average for South Australia, the State's driest summer since 1985–86
• Summer was drier than average across most of South Australia, with areas of near-average rainfall in the west, South East districts, and on Kangaroo Island
• In the Lower South East agricultural district, despite a drier than average January and February, a wetter than average start to the season in December lifted summer rainfall totals close to average
• Many sites had either their lowest total summer rainfall on record or their lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years

Warmest summer on record for maximum temperature

• South Australia's mean maximum temperature for summer was 3.09 °C warmer than average, making it the highest on record (previous highest was +2.87 °C in summer 2000–01)
• Very much above average mean maximum temperatures were observed throughout the State, while record high mean maxima were experienced in the far southwest, north, and northeast
• For mean maximum temperature, January was South Australia's hottest month on record
• Heatwave events in December and January saw daytime temperatures reach the high-40s and numerous sites had their highest summer temperature on record, including 46.6 °C at the Bureau's official Adelaide city site at West Terrace
• The national highest temperature of the summer, 49.5 °C at Port Augusta, occurred on 24 January
• On 23 and 24 January, South Australia as a whole had its two hottest area-averaged days on record, with maximum temperatures of 45.67 °C and 45.69 °C respectively (the previous hottest day was 45.25 °C on 2 January 1960)
• In contrast, earlier in the season on 13 or 14 December, daytime temperatures were more than 12 °C cooler than average in areas around the Riverland and across the northern Eyre Peninsula, with several sites having their coldest summer day on record
• Night-time temperatures were warmer than average, though not as extreme as the daytime temperatures
• The State's mean minimum temperature for summer was 1.58 °C above average, the third-highest on record and highest since summer 2005–06
• Numerous sites had their highest summer mean daily maximum temperature on record
• In January, Oodnadatta Airport and Moomba Airport had their warmest summer night on record
• Moomba Airport had its highest summer mean daily minimum temperature on record
• Several sites had their highest summer mean temperature on record
• Further information about the heatwaves that affected large areas of the country during summer can be found in the Special Climate Statement Widespread heatwaves during December 2018 and January 2019

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* note: data are missing for 19 December 2018 when at least 3 mm is estimated to have fallen at the site

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top