Wednesday, 3 January 2007 - Annual Climate Summary for South
Australia - Product code IDCKGC33R0
Extremely Dry in South Australia for 2006
Summary
2006 over South Australia
was one of the driest years since records began. Maximum temperatures were above
average and while minimim temperatures were on average or close to the long term
mean, there were above an average number of frosts at many locations during the second half of the year.
Jump
to: Extremes Maps Records Summaries Notes the top
Rainfall
2006 over South Australia
was one of the driest since records began with many stations recording only
about 50% of their annual totals. In all but the far west below average annual totals were recorded.
The first four months
of the year over the agricultural districts were near to or slightly above
average, but thereafter conditions became unusually drier and rainfall for the
remainder of the year was at record low levels. The pastoral regions also recorded very much below average rainfalls.
The spatially averaged annual rainfall over the agricultural areas of South Australia for 2006 was 253.5 mm which is
the eighth driest since 1900. The driest was in 1967 when 202.5 mm was recorded.
During winter 71.6 mm was recorded across the area, which is the sixth driest total. The record low winter rainfall was in 1914 with 43.2 mm. During spring 29.2 mm was recorded which is the record driest spring. For the winter-spring period the total rainfall was 100.8 mm which is the driest winter-spring on record, averaged over the agriccultural region.
The wettest overall station was 781 mm
at Mount Lofty, followed by 753 mm at Uraidla.
The driest overall was
43 mm at Oodnadatta, followed by 46 mm at Coober Pedy.
The wettest single day
102.0 mm at the Bundaleer Reservoir on 28 March, followed by 94.2 mm
at Spalding on the same day.
The average annual rainfall over the pastoral districts of South Australia for 2006 was 129.4 mm, which is the 18th driest since 1900. The record driest was 81 mm in 1929.
Some sites had their lowest total 1 January to 31 December rainfall on record.
Temperature
The mean temperature for 2006 over South Australia was 20.3°C and 0.8°C above the 1961−90 mean making 2006the third warmest year since 1910. The record of 20.5°C was set in 2005. It is the 14th consecutive year that the
State wide mean annual temperature has been above average.
Over the agricultural areas the average temp was 0.5°C above average.
Adelaide had an annual mean temperature of 17.6°C, 0.5°C above the normal of 17.1°C and the 10th warmest year on record. The warmest annual mean temperature of 18.1°C occurred in 1914 and 1921.
Maximum temperature
The annual maximum temperature across the state of 27.8°C was 1.1°C above normal. This is the third warmest. The record set in 2005 when the annual average maxima was 28.1°C. The highest three years have been in the last 5 years – 2002 was 27.9°C, 2005 was 27.0°C and 2006 was 27.8°C
Over the agricultural areas the average maximum temperature was 1.1°C above average, over the pastoral districts it was around 1°C above average.
Adelaide mean annual maximum temperature for 2006 was 23.1° and is the third highest since records began in 1879.
Marree recorded the warmest average annual temperature in the state with 30.1°C followed by 29.5°C at Moomba.
The hottest day was 47.4°C at Ceduna on 21 January followed by 47.3°C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 29 November.
The coolest annual average maxima were 17.7°C at Parawa, followed by 18.1°C at Cape Willoughby.
Across the state, the coldest day was 14 July when Yongala reported 6.2°C
, Yunta 7.3°C and Parawa 8.2°C.
Some sites had their highest 1 January to 31 December temperature on record.
Some sites had their coldest 1 January to 31 December day (lowest maximum temperature)
on record.
Some sites had their highest 1 January to 31 December mean daily maximum
temperature on record.
Some sites had their highest 1 January to 31 December mean daily maximum temperature
for at least 20 years.
Minimum temperature
The state wide annual minimum temperature for South Australia was 12.7°C which was 0.5°C above the normal and the tenth warmest on record.
Over the agricultural areas the annual average overnight temperatures were unremarkable (30th coldest on record), but the annual record conceals some extremely cold overnight temperatures during winter and spring when many stations recorded an above average number of frosts.
Over the agricultural areas the average minimum temperature was 0.5°C above average, while in the pastoral areas it was 0.7°C above average. Adelaide had an annual mean minimum temperature of 12.1°, close to the long term average of 12.1°C. The coldest night was −7.3°C at Yongala on the 15 June, followed by −7.2°C at Yongala on the 14 June and −7.0°C at Yunta on the 14 June. Averaged over the year the coolest overnight temperatures were 6.9°C at Coonawarra, followed by 7.1°C at Keith and Naracoorte Airport. The warmest night temperatures annually were 15.3°C at Moomba, followed by 14.2°C at Coober Pedy and Marree Airports. The warmest night was 33.5°C at Adelaide Airport on 22 January, followed by 33.4°C at Wudinna on 22 January and by 33.3°C at Cleve on 22 January. Some sites had their lowest 1 January to 31 December temperature on record. Some sites had their warmest 1 January to 31 December night (highest daily
minimum temperature) on record. Some sites had their lowest 1 January to 31 December mean daily minimum
temperature on record. Some sites had their lowest 1 January to 31 December mean daily minimum
temperature for at least 20 years. The strongest wind gust was 113 km/h at Neptune Island on the 6 May, followed by 111 km/h at Neptune Island on the 24th September
and 111 km/h at Oodnadatta Airport on 1 December. 0n the 21 September, the waverider buoy off Cape de Couedic registered a huge wave with a peak height of around 13 metres, associated with strong to gale force winds and swell from a low pressure system travelling in latitudes south of Tasmania. A distinctive feature of the September to December was the anomously low humidity and high evaporation over most of the state. Records were set for spring evaporation amounts at Kent Town with 454.8 mm, Ceduna with 804.8 mm and Woomera with 1074 mm. The spring evaporation
at Mount Gambier of 377.1 mm was the highest since 1982. South Australian
Climate Services Centre Hottest day 47.4°C at Ceduna AMO on 21 Jan Warmest annual average 30.3°C at Marree Coolest days on
average 17.7°C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) Coldest day 6.2°C at Yongala on 12 July Coldest night −7.3°C at Yongala on 15 Jun Coolest nights
on average 6.9°C at Coonawarra Warmest nights
on average 15.4°C at Moomba Warmest night 33.5°C at Adelaide Airport on 22 Jan Wettest overall 781 mm at Mount Lofty Driest overall 43 mm at Oodnadatta Wettest day 102.0 mm at Spalding (Bundaleer Reservoir) on 28 Mar Highest wind
gust 113 km/h at Neptune Island on 6 May Jump
to: Extremes Maps Individual Station Records Summaries Notes the top Total rainfall Previous annual Normal Years of Cape Borda
Comparison 402.0 421.6 1914 617.3 127 North Adelaide 255.0 261.4 1959 539.2 116 Maitland
(Weetulta) 203.4 216.7 1959 389.1 115 Carrieton 29.6 83.6 1982 293.7 113 Booleroo
(Wimont) 144.6 153.6 1940 320.1 111 Adelaide
(Salisbury Bowling Club) 202.8 247.4 1994 454.2 109 Wirrabara Forest 334.9 356.2 1914 666.9 106 Kingston SE 327.0 333.7 1967 586.0 104 Lake Leake
(Kooeeyong) 345.2 461.5 1967 829.2 97 Keith 227.6 234.6 1959 454.3 96 Whyalla
(Nonowie) 65.6 96.4 1940 245.4 96 Mount Wudinna 101.8 157.4 1994 328.6 92 Geranium 202.1 197.8 1967 390.2 89 Netherton (The
Glen) 186.9 203.4 1967 395.9 89 Adelaide
(Seaton) 221.6 251.9 1959 432.6 88 Parilla 170.4 167.6 1982 335.0 87 Tintinara 201.5 246.5 1967 453.7 85 Kingston SE
(Keilira Station) 130.2 302.2 1982 569.1 79 Biscuit Flat
(Woolmit) 224.7 341.0 1967 625.5 73 Ceduna (Maltee) 141.7 145.7 1959 293.6 73 Bordertown
(Karrawirra) 159.4 245.6 1982 472.9 71 Tantanoola 287.4 471.6 1967 777.6 55 Adelaide Airport 233.6 245.2 1967 440.3 51 Adelaide
(Clapham) 261.9 283.6 1967 598.1 48 Coonalpyn (Alpyn
Downs) 238.6 242.4 1967 435.4 47 Bordertown
(Yacca Vale) 279.6 299.0 1967 504.8 46 Meningie (Mill
Park) 249.1 274.6 1967 472.3 45 Hilltown 173.3 220.9 1967 452.6 44 Oodnadatta
Airport 43.2 54.0 1972 172.6 43 Adelaide (Dry
Creek Saltworks) 213.2 241.6 1967 418.2 42 Parafield
Airport 258.8 308.6 1982 452.6 42 Mundoora
(Barunga North) 148.0 194.0 1982 395.8 40 Petersville 272.0 293.5 1967 433.1 40 Flinders Chase
(Rocky River) 519.2 557.6 1967 745.5 39 Arthurton
(Lowandale) 274.8 318.0 1976 489.0 38 Aldgate 684.2 723.0 1982 1080.6 36 Boowillia 183.2 203.2 1982 358.3 36 Lucindale
(Greenvale) 264.0 352.1 1982 517.7 36 Maitland
(Kilkerran) 232.0 282.4 1976 432.1 36 Mount Schank
(Jethia) 433.4 543.0 1982 741.9 36 Naracoorte
(Bettws-Y-Coed) 273.9 405.4 1982 548.7 36 Burra (Leighton) 162.0 236.6 1994 446.5 35 Keith
(Mandurama) 211.4 273.4 1982 429.9 35 Lonsdale 60.4 307.6 1994 490.8 35 Meningie (Green
Plains) 199.6 309.4 1994 456.7 35 Minlaton
(Eversley) 282.7 292.7 1982 440.2 35 Tintinara
(Richards) 266.4 311.0 1982 480.4 35 Kapunda (Bagot
Well) 277.8 336.6 1972 478.7 34 Mount Ive 94.1 114.2 1988 244.0 32 Neptune Island 294.8 323.4 1959 461.5 32 Coonalpyn
(Twinville) 226.4 276.4 1982 424.8 31 Port Parham 143.6 215.9 2002 353.8 31 Avenue (Downer) 368.2 415.6 1982 590.5 30 Plumbago 61.2 90.5 2002 243.6 30 Wudinna
(Lookout) 127.8 148.6 1994 310.0 30 Adelaide (Kent
Town) 286.8 356.6 1982 552.3 29 Adelaide (Magill
Secure Care Centre) 268.5 419.5 2002 642.4 29 Cleve (Ningana) 241.5 285.5 1982 429.0 29 Furner (Kennion
Section 235) 419.6 488.9 1982 639.2 29 Mount Lofty
(Cleland Conservation Park) 571.4 631.8 1982 984.6 29 Policemans Point 336.3 368.8 1972 508.2 29 Salt Creek
(Pitlochry Homestead) 300.3 400.2 1994 531.5 28 Ki Ki (Moorilla) 92.2 228.8 1994 374.8 27 Port Clinton
(Kaddyinna) 217.1 238.0 1982 369.0 26 Adelaide (Hope
Valley Reservoir) 337.8 415.4 1982 598.2 25 Bolivar
Treatment Works 241.6 263.1 1982 422.1 25 Salt Creek (Pitlochry
Outstation 1) 270.0 346.4 1994 505.3 25 Parndana 435.1 457.0 1982 681.2 24 Blackwood (Wittunga) 460.0 469.8 1994 717.9 23 Kensington Upper
(Burnside) 336.2 318.0 1914 614.7 23 Laura (Beetaloo
Reservoir) 348.6 403.0 1982 580.8 22 Willalooka
(Yardookra) 203.4 323.7 1982 493.9 21 Mount Gambier
(Blue Lake Holiday Park) 421.3 516.9 1982 736.4 20 Pelican Lagoon 377.5 393.5 1994 527.7 20 Record highest
annual mean daily maximum temperature Mean daily
maximum Previous annual Normal Years of Marree
Comparison 30.3 30.2 in 2005 28.4 65 Parafield
Airport 23.7 23.5 in 2002 21.9 48 Eudunda 22.0 22.0 in 1982 20.7 41 Rosedale
(Turretfield Research Centre) 23.4 23.3 in 2002 22.2 40 Murray Bridge
Comparison 23.8 23.7 in 2005 22.6 36 Adelaide (Kent
Town) 23.1 23.0 in 1988 22.0 29 Edinburgh RAAF 23.4 23.2 in 1982 22.3 29 Loxton Research
Centre 24.5 24.4 in 2002 23.4 21 Highest annual
mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years Mean daily
maximum Most recent
higher Normal Years of Edinburgh RAAF 23.4 23.2 in 1982 22.3 33 Record highest
daily temperature Highest
temperature Previous Normal Years of Elliston 43.3 on 29 Nov 43.2 on 19 Feb 1980 21.2 44 Record lowest
daily maximum temperature Lowest daily
maximum Previous annual Normal Years of Ceduna AMO 8.1 on 13 Jul 8.3 on 15 Jul 1956 23.2 64 Elliston 9.8 on 13 Jul 9.9 on 22 Jun 1966 21.2 44 Record lowest
annual mean daily minimum temperature Mean daily
minimum Previous annual Normal Years of Murray Bridge
Comparison 9.2 9.3 in 2002 9.7 38 Coonawarra 7.0 7.2 in 1998 7.9 20 Lowest annual
mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years Mean daily
minimum Most recent
lower Normal Years of Mount Gambier
Aero 8.0 7.8 in 1977 8.0 29 Lameroo
Comparison 8.9 8.7 in 1986 8.8 20 Record highest
daily minimum temperature Highest daily
minimum Previous annual Normal Years of Adelaide Airport 33.5 on 22 Jan 31.4 on 24 Jan 1982 11.2 51 Meningie 29.0 on 22 Jan 28.5 on 12 Feb 1977 10.1 39 Warooka 28.4 on 22 Jan 28.4 on 20 Jan 1973 11.5 38 Kimba 30.6 on 22 Jan 30.2 on 24 Jan 1982 10.3 37 Cleve 33.3 on 22 Jan 30.8 on 20 Jan 1973 11.4 30 Record lowest temperature Lowest
temperature Previous annual Normal Years of Parafield
Airport −2.3 on 15 Jun −2.2 8 Jun 1982 11.0 50 Rosedale
(Turretfield Research Centre) −3.3 on 15 Jun −3.3 22 Jun 1972 9.8 43 Edinburgh RAAF −2.0 on 15 Jun −1.8 7 Jun 1982 10.9 29 Jump
to: Extremes Maps Records Summaries Notes the top This statement has been prepared
based on information available at 11 am on Wednesday 3 January 2007. Some
checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change
as new information becomes available. Normals are long-term averages 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 Rank indicates about
where rainfall this time ranks in the climate record for the site. South Australian
Climate Services CentreWind
Humidity and Annual Evaporation
Further information
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8266 2698
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au
Extremes
Highest temperature
Highest mean daily maximum temperature
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum temperature
Lowest temperature
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature
Highest mean daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum temperature
Highest total rainfall
Lowest total rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
111 km/h at Neptune Island on 24 Sep
111 km/h at Oodnadatta Airport on 1 Dec
Records
for 1 January to 31 December 2006 (mm)
lowest
annual
record
temperature
for 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
highest
annual
record
temperature
for 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
annual
annual
record
in 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
highest
annual
record
temperature
in 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
lowest
annual
record
temperature
for 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
lowest
annual
record
temperature
for 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
annual
annual
record
temperature
in 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
highest
annual
record
in 1 January to 31 December 2006 (°C)
lowest
annual
record
Increased frost frequency in 2006
Station Name
No of occurr-
ences in 2006 Average number
of occurrences
Parafield
19
8
Adelaide Airport
11
5
Edinburgh
19
8
Kent Town
5
3
Roseworthy
41
15
Turretfield
36
15
Parafield
19
8
Nuriootpa
42
21
Mt Barker
38
25
Loxton
39
29
Renmark Airport
50
28
Eudunda
17
10
Meningie
13
6
Murray Bridge PO
29
13
Keith PO
32
14
Lameroo PO
25
17
Keith AWS
62
31
Mt Gambier Airport
26
17
Coonawarra
48
21
Naracoorte Airport
53
29
"Frost occurrence" from daily screen minimum temperatures less than 2°C.
Notes
Further information
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8266 2698
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au