Thursday, 1 June 2017 - Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC23R0

South Australia in autumn 2017: much warmer than average

Autumn in South Australia was generally warmer than average. Autumn days were much warmer than average for the State as a whole, and while night time temperatures were also warmer than average, they were closer to the norm for this time of the year. Autumn rainfall totals were generally slightly below average, despite a very wet April.

Drier than average

Seventh-warmest days on record

  • Statewide maximum temperatures during autumn were the seventh-highest on record: 1.46 °C warmer than average
  • Daytime temperatures were close to average in April, but warmer than average in both March and May
  • Very much above average maxima in the State's north and east
  • For the State as a whole, night time temperatures were closer to average: 0.36 °C warmer than average
  • Minima were generally near average in the State's west and warmer than average in the east
  • Overall, South Australian mean temperatures were 0.91 °C warmer than average
  • Some sites had their highest autumn temperature on record

Strong winds at times

  • Neptune Island recorded South Australia's strongest wind gust for autumn, 98 km/h on 8 April, as a surface trough and cold front crossed the State

Further information

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in autumn 2017
Hottest day 44.5 °C at Ceduna AMO on 26 Mar
Warmest days on average 30.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average 18.4 °C at Mount Lofty
Coldest day 8.5 °C at Mount Lofty on 28 May
Coldest night -2.8 °C at Yunta Airstrip on 31 May
Coolest nights on average 8.8 °C at Keith (Munkora)
Warmest nights on average 16.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 30.2 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on 27 Mar
Warmest on average overall 23.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall 14.4 °C at Mount Lofty
Wettest overall 223.6 mm at Mount Gambier Aero
Driest overall 6.2 mm at Oodnadatta Airport
Wettest day 98.8 mm at Lucindale Post Office on 21 Mar
Strongest wind gust 98 km/h at Neptune Island on 8 Apr

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures		 Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures		 Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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

Record highest autumn daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Parilla 69.8 on 21 Apr 46.6 on 13 May 1974 104
Hilltown 60.0 on 20 Apr 56.0 on 29 Apr 2007 61
Lowaldie 75.6 on 21 Apr 60.0 on 9 Mar 2011 49
Roseworthy AWS 58.6 on 21 Apr 35.8 on 8 Mar 2011 20


Record highest autumn total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Coonawarra 194.6 182.2 in 2011 32 119.3

Highest autumn total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
autumn
Frances 170.0 229.2 in 1983 112.8
Padthaway (Marcollat) 199.8 264.2 in 1983 114.6
Coomandook 140.3 168.2 in 1985* 95.8
Keith 144.2 165.2 in 1988 106.2
Mount Gambier Aero 223.6 252.2 in 1992* 162.1

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



Record lowest autumn total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 22.4 29.6 in 2005 23 82.3

Lowest autumn total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
autumn
Elliston 25.4 23.7 in 1959 94.5

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



Record highest autumn temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
autumn
Woomera Aerodrome 43.0 on 26 Mar = 43.0 on 6 Mar 1986 69 25.6
Nullarbor 43.4 on 26 Mar 43.0 on 31 Mar 2005 31 24.2
Coulta (Coles Point) 40.6 on 26 Mar 39.9 on 11 Mar 2006 26 22.1
Minnipa Pirsa 42.4 on 26 Mar 41.8 on 2 Mar 2007 21 24.7
Tarcoola Aero 44.0 on 26 Mar 43.0 on 17 Mar 2000 20 27.0


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for autumn 2017
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
autumn
2017		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
autumn
2017		 Mean for
autumn
2017		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
autumn
2017		 Total for
autumn
2017		 Average
for
autumn		 Rank of
autumn
2017		 Fraction of
autumn
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 27.5 +0.2 42.8 26 Mar 14.8 +0.6 6.2 5 May 96.1 46.9 high 205%
Coober Pedy Airport 27.9 +1.0 43.0 26 Mar 14.3 0.0 6.2 5 May 30.8 36.3 average 85%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 27.7 +1.1 39.9 26 Mar 12.4 -0.6 1.1 11 May 41.6 59.7 average 70%
Mount Ive 26.4   41.8 26 Mar 10.8   -1.4 31 May 56.4 54.7 average 103%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 27.6 +0.4 42.8 26 Mar 12.7 0.0 2.2 10 May 51.6 34.4 high 150%
Tarcoola Aero 27.6 +0.6 44.0 26 Mar 11.7 -0.6 2.5 24 May 61.0 43.9 high 139%
Woomera Aerodrome 26.5 +0.9 43.0 26 Mar 13.9 +0.7 5.6 9 May 51.1 43.5 average 117%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 26.4 +1.3 39.9 26 Mar 11.7 +0.3 1.0 4 May 33.9 63.2 average 54%
Leigh Creek Airport 27.1 +0.9 41.6 26 Mar 13.2 +0.1 4.5 30 May 44.6 51.8 average 86%
Marree Aero 29.2 +0.6 43.5 26 Mar 14.0 -0.1 4.4 9 May 23.2 28.7 average 81%
Moomba Airport 30.2 +1.2 43.6 27 Mar 16.2 +0.6 6.8 11 May 19.4 40.2 average 48%
Oodnadatta Airport 30.0 +1.5 43.7 26 Mar 14.5 0.0 4.0 10 May 6.2 38.1 low 16%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 24.6 +0.7 44.5 26 Mar 11.1 +0.2 2.8 31 May 49.6 68.8 average 72%
Cleve 23.4 +0.9 37.9 26 Mar 13.1 +0.7 6.8 10 May 45.6 91.7 low 50%
Cleve Aerodrome 23.6 +0.8 38.2 26 Mar 12.4 0.0 4.8 9 May 33.2 86.0 low 39%
Cummins Aero 24.4   38.2 19 Mar 10.9   1.5 9 May 24.8 92.1 v low 27%
Elliston 23.0 +1.0 39.1 26 Mar 12.9 +0.6 2.5 31 May 25.4 94.5 v low 27%
Kyancutta 26.9 +1.5 42.5 26 Mar 10.3 +0.5 0.4 12 May 33.5 65.8 low 51%
Minnipa Pirsa 25.7 +1.0 42.4 26 Mar 12.3 +0.2 4.3 31 May 31.2 64.5 low 48%
Neptune Island 19.9 +0.4 25.3 7 Apr 15.8 +0.9 11.1 31 May 56.4 104.0 v low 54%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 23.0 +1.0 36.3 15 Mar 12.4 -0.1 5.6 12 May 22.4 82.3 lowest 27%
Nullarbor 24.7 +0.5 43.4 26 Mar 11.0 -0.6 2.3 23 May 57.4 73.9 average 78%
Port Augusta Aero 26.2 -0.1 43.1 26 Mar 12.7 -0.1 2.9 10 May 107.6 54.9 high 196%
Streaky Bay 24.5 +0.8 41.2 26 Mar 13.2 +0.4 4.5 31 May 31.3 84.0 v low 37%
Whyalla Aero 24.5 +0.6 39.7 11 Mar 12.2 +0.1 1.7 31 May 55.8 66.1 average 84%
Wudinna Aero 26.4 +1.1 42.8 26 Mar 10.1 -0.6 0.6 12 May 23.0 58.9 low 39%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 25.8 +0.6 41.0 26 Mar 11.0 -0.1 2.5 29 May 42.4 67.4 average 63%
Yongala 22.8 +0.7 37.8 26 Mar     -1.2 31 May 82.2 77.0 average 107%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 25.6 +0.6 38.3 26 Mar 9.4 +0.3 -2.0 31 May 36.5 56.3 low 65%
Yunta Airstrip 25.0 +0.8 39.1 26 Mar 9.6 +0.3 -2.8 31 May 21.8 35.8 low 61%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 22.6 +1.0 37.3 26 Mar 9.9 +0.6 0.3 31 May 97.6 118.1 average 83%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 25.9   41.3 26 Mar 11.7   2.1 31 May 86.0
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 25.4 +1.0 40.0 26 Mar 9.6 -0.1 0.0 31 May 70.8 82.2 low 86%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 21.8 +0.8 35.7 15 Mar 13.7 +0.5 5.0 10 May 84.0 87.3 average 96%
Kadina AWS 24.8 +0.9 39.0 26 Mar 10.7 -0.1 1.6 9 May 42.8 107.7 v low 40%
Minlaton Aero 24.0 +0.9 36.0 15 Mar 12.3 +0.3 5.6 9 May 60.6 81.7 low 74%
Stenhouse Bay 21.5 +0.5 32.8 15 Mar 14.6 +0.6 7.7 4 May 68.0 100.4 low 68%
Warooka 22.7 +0.8 35.8 1 Mar     7.2 19 May 98.8 103.3 average 96%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 20.4 +0.7 31.2 19 Mar 12.9 +0.5 5.2 31 May 114.8 135.8 low 85%
Kingscote Aero 22.1 +0.6 34.9 1 Mar 10.1 +0.8 0.9 10 May 88.8 100.4 average 88%
Parndana Cfs AWS 21.2   36.1 1 Mar 11.0   4.1 9 May 99.2
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 23.9 +1.2 38.6 1 Mar 13.4 +0.7 4.8 31 May 123.8 127.5 average 97%
Adelaide Airport 23.2 +1.1 35.0 2 Mar 13.1 +1.1 4.1 10 May 58.6 110.4 low 53%
Edinburgh RAAF 24.4 +1.4 38.2 1 Mar 12.0 +0.2 2.7 31 May 45.2 100.7 low 45%
Parafield Airport 24.7 +1.9 38.6 1 Mar 11.9 0.0 2.2 31 May 54.2 109.4 v low 50%
Roseworthy AWS 25.1 +1.1 38.5 1 Mar 10.7 0.0 2.3 31 May 111.2 89.7 high 124%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Pirsa 22.7 +1.0 36.2 1 Mar 9.8 +0.5 -1.0 31 May 72.2 113.9 low 63%
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 24.3 +1.3 38.1 1 Mar 10.8 0.0 0.8 31 May 79.0 110.3 low 72%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 21.7 +0.3 35.1 15 Mar 13.0 +0.6 3.7 15 May 86.4 84.6 average 102%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 20.4 +0.7 34.7 1 Mar 11.8 +0.7 4.4 31 May 136.8 178.7 average 77%
Mount Barker 22.0 +1.4 36.0 1 Mar 10.6 +2.1 2.0 31 May 122.6 176.8 low 69%
Mount Crawford AWS 20.4 +1.3 34.4 1 Mar 11.3 +0.9 3.8 31 May 126.2 143.4 average 88%
Mount Lofty 18.4 +2.8 32.7 1 Mar 10.4 +0.9 1.5 31 May 182.0
Noarlunga 22.8 +0.6 36.3 1 Mar 14.2 +0.6 6.0 8 May 85.0 108.7 v low 78%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 19.0 +1.0 34.4 1 Mar 12.0 +0.8 6.0 31 May 155.4 191.7 low 81%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 21.4 +0.2 34.7 15 Mar 11.1 +0.4 1.0 15 May 125.6 113.6 average 111%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 24.9 +1.0 37.8 2 Mar 10.2 +1.1 -1.2 31 May 63.5 53.7 average 118%
Renmark Aero 25.4 +0.9 38.4 2 Mar 10.3 +0.8 -2.3 31 May 49.0 47.4 average 103%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 22.5 +1.1 37.0 1 Mar 10.7 +0.8 1.9 31 May 68.2 99.6 average 68%
Meningie 22.4 +1.0 38.0 1 Mar 11.4 +0.6 1.5 15 May 115.0 114.4 average 101%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 24.1 +0.8 39.0 1 Mar 9.6 -0.1 -0.2 10 May 48.6 81.7 low 59%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.6 +0.6 37.7 1 Mar 11.3 +0.5 2.8 9 May 95.2 91.6 average 104%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 24.2 +0.7 37.5 1 Mar     0.1 31 May 88.3 77.7 average 114%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 23.4 +0.8 37.5 1 Mar 10.5 +0.9 0.0 15 May 144.2 106.2 high 136%
Keith (Munkora) 23.5 +0.3 39.1 1 Mar 8.8 +0.3 -1.6 15 May 146.6 85.4 v high 172%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 24.0 +0.8 37.9 2 Mar 10.0 +0.5 1.0 31 May 105.4 76.2 high 138%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 20.3 +0.5 36.9 1 Mar 11.7 +0.9 4.3 15 May 133.6 110.6 high 121%
Coonawarra 21.5 +0.4 36.5 1 Mar 9.3 +1.0 -0.4 10 May 194.6 119.3 highest 163%
Mount Gambier Aero 20.7 +1.1 37.2 1 Mar 9.9 +1.0 0.0 13 May 223.6 162.1 high 138%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 21.9 -0.1 37.8 1 Mar 9.5 +1.1 -0.1 15 May 189.4 94.9 v high 200%
Padthaway South 22.1 +0.2 37.3 1 Mar 9.2 +0.7 -1.1 31 May 202.8 95.0 v high 213%
Robe Airfield 20.8 +0.4 36.1 1 Mar 10.4 +0.7 1.1 15 May 164.4 137.1 high 120%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Seasonal climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Thursday 1 June 2017. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites 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 10 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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries