Thursday, 3 January 2008 - Annual Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC33R0

South Australia in 2007
Warmest year since 1910, continuing a long run of above average temperatures, while long-term drought conditions continue with below average rainfall.

Summary

  • 2007 was the warmest year since 1910 for South Australia. State wide records commenced in 1910.
  • It is the 15th consecutive year of above average temperatures for South Australia.
  • Adelaide had it's warmest year in the 120 years record. Comparable temperature records started in 1887 in Adelaide.
  • Rainfall started well through to April, but winter-spring rainfall was very poor with the state having its driest such period on record.
  • The below average rainfall for 2007 continues the below average rainfall seen over the last ten years.

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Rainfall

2007 began with many areas receiving very much above average rainfall amounts, with some locations recording their highest ever amounts during January, mainly due to an in-feed of tropical moisture from the northwest. However this was short lived, with February being a relatively dry month over the agricultural areas

For March & April most of the state received good rainfall, particularly over the agricultural districts. May's rainfall was quite patchy but mainly near average with only very few areas below average. This early rainfall gave the grain farmers hope of a good year, especially after the very poor year in 2006. However during June to October, most of the state recorded either below or very much below average rainfall amounts.

Though the rainfall over the state during 2007 was an improvement compared to 2006, the winter and growing season rainfalls have, once again, been significantly below average.

Adelaide's annual rainfall was 464.6 mm, 90.5mm below the normal of 555.1 mm. This is the 5th lowest annual rainfall at Kent Town and the 49th driest for Adelaide when the earlier records from West Terrace are included. The record lowest rainfall of 257.8 mm was set in 1967. The combined Adelaide rainfall record dates back 168 years to 1839.

The wettest overall station was Piccadilly with 1112mm followed by Woodhouse with 1062mm, and 1031 mm at Uraidla, all in the Mount Lofty Ranges district.

The driest overall was 68 mm at Marree Aerodrome, followed by 78 mm at Marree Township, both in the Far North district.

The wettest single day 149.0 mm at the Craddock (Yednalue), in the Upper North district, on 20th January, followed by 147.5 mm at Cordillo Downs, in the Far North district, on the following day.

See a map of total rainfall. See a map of rainfall deciles.

Temperature

The mean temperature for South Australia for 2007 has been 1.1°C above the 1961-1990 mean of 19.5°C. This makes 2007 the warmest year for South Australia since state wide records began in 1910, and it is the 15th consecutive year that state-wide mean annual temperature have been above average. The previous warmest year was 2005 with annual mean temperature 1.0°C above the 1961-1990 mean. Every month this year apart from January and June were above average for maximum temperature for the state.

Over the South Australian agricultural areas the mean annual maximum temperature was also 1.2°C above the 1961-1990 average, the warmest year since at least 1950.

Adelaide had an annual mean temperature of 18.4°C, 1.3°C above the normal of 17.1°C, and the warmest year on record since comparable temperature records began in 1887. The previous record was 18.1°C in 1914.

Maximum

The annual maximum temperature across the state for 2007 was 1.36°C above the average of 26.7°C. This is the second warmest since 1910, after 2005 when annual maximum temperature was 1.40°C above average. The last six years contain the four highest annual maximum temperatures- 2002 was 27.9°C, 2005 was 28.1°C, 2006 was 27.8°C and 2007 at 28.0°C.

Over the agricultural areas the average maximum temperature was 1.6°C above average, while generally over the pastoral districts it was around 1.2°C above average.

Adelaide's annual maximum temperature for 2007 was 23.7°C, the highest since records began in 1879, the previous highest being 23.6°C in 1914. A number of other stations also had record annual maximum temperatures including Adelaide and Parafield Airports, Woomera, Mount Gambier and Mount Barker.

Marree recorded the warmest average annual maximum temperature in the state with 30.2°C. The coolest annual average maxima was 18.5°C at Parawa.

The hottest day was 47.6°C at Nullarbor on 17th February followed by 45.9°C at Marree on the 5th February.

Across the state, the coldest day was 19th July when Mount Crawford reported 7.0°C, Yongala 7.8°C and Kuitpo Forest 8.4°C.

Minimum

The state saw the second highest annual minimum temperature in 2007, being 0.8°C above the average of 12.2°C. The highest was in 1973 when it was 0.9°C above average.

Over the agricultural areas the average minimum temperature was 0.8°C above average, while in the pastoral areas it was approximately 1.1°C above average.

Adelaide had an annual mean minimum temperature of 13.0°C, equal highest since records began at Kent Town with 2000 but the highest is 13.4°C in 1973 at the West Terrace site.

The coldest night was -6.3°C at Yunta on the 20th July, followed by -6.2°C at Gluepot Reserve on the 23rd June and -5.4°C at the Renmark Aerodrome on the 15th June. Averaged over the year the coolest minimum temperature was 8.4°C at Yongala. The warmest minimum temperatures annually were 15.4°C at Oodnadatta Airport.

The warmest night was on the 5th January when the minimum was 32.7°C at Oodnadatta Airport, followed by 30.9°C at Noarlunga on 18th February.

Some sites had their highest temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest mean daily maximum temperature on record.

See a map of mean maximum temperatures. See a map of maximum temperature anomalies.

Some sites had their highest mean daily minimum temperature on record.

See a map of mean minimum temperatures. See a map of minimum temperature anomalies.

Significant Weather

Severe Winds

The strongest wind gust was 128 km/h at Cape Willoughby on the 29th May, followed by 124 km/h at Cleve Aerodrome on the 20th November and 122 km/h at Neptune Island on 4th July.

Fire Weather

Fire bans were issued on Thursday 30th August during winter, the first time this has occurred in SA. Extreme fire danger in forestry areas was forecast in a dry, warm northerly air-stream with strong to gale force winds.

Further information

South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au

Extremes

Hottest day
Highest temperature		 47.6 °C at Nullarbor on 17 Feb
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 30.2 °C at Marree Comparison
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 18.5 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS)
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 7.0 °C at Mount Crawford Fire Tower on 19 Jul
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 -6.3 °C at Yunta Airstrip on 20 Jul
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 8.4 °C at Yongala
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 15.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 32.7 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on 5 Jan
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 1112 mm at Piccadilly
Highest wind gust
 128 km/h at Cape Willoughby on 29 May

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Records

Record highest annual mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for 2007 (°C) 		Previous annual
highest		 Years of
record		 Normal
annual
Mount Barker 22.1 21.4 in 1866 104 19.9
Lameroo Comparison 24.4 24.2 in 2002 90 22.8
Yongala 23.1 = 23.1 in 1980 79 21.8
Kyancutta 26.5 26.4 in 1934 74 25.1
Ceduna AMO 25.2 24.4 in 1965 65 23.4
Mount Gambier Aero 20.4 20.1 in 1967 65 18.9
Woomera Aerodrome 27.1 27.0 in 2005 58 25.7
Adelaide Airport 23.0 22.3 in 2006 52 21.4
Keith 23.4 23.3 in 1982 52 22.2
Parafield Airport 24.2 23.7 in 2006 50 22.2
Elliston 22.8 22.5 in 2005 44 21.3
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 24.0 23.4 in 2006 44 22.4
Eudunda 22.4 22.0 in 2006 43 20.9
Neptune Island 19.4 19.1 in 1980 43 18.5
Meningie 21.9 21.4 in 2000 41 20.7
Cape Willoughby 19.1 18.8 in 2005 40 18.0
Murray Bridge Comparison 24.7 23.8 in 2006 40 22.8
Edinburgh RAAF 23.8 23.4 in 2006 35 22.5
Nonning 25.7 = 25.7 in 1994 34 24.8
Adelaide (Kent Town) 23.7 23.1 in 2006 30 22.2


Record highest annual temperature
Highest temperature
in 2007 (°C) 		Previous annual
highest		 Years of
record		 Normal
annual
Elliston 43.5 on 17 Feb 43.3 on 29 Nov 2006 46 21.3


Record highest annual mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for 2007 (°C) 		Previous annual
highest		 Years of
record		 Normal
annual
Lameroo Comparison 10.2 10.1 in 2000 90 8.7
Marree Comparison 14.9 14.5 in 2000 67 13.2
Cleve 12.5 12.4 in 2000 65 11.3
Mount Gambier Aero 9.3 = 9.3 in 1988 65 8.1
Warooka 12.3 12.2 in 2000 45 11.4
Eudunda 10.1 10.0 in 1973 43 9.1
Neptune Island 14.4 14.2 in 2000 43 13.6
Cape Willoughby 13.5 = 13.5 in 2000 40 12.7
Adelaide (Kent Town) 13.0 = 13.0 in 2000 30 12.1

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Summaries

 In the following table, certain key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to identify.

Summary statistics for 2007
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean
for
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Highest
for
2007		 Mean
for
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Lowest
for
2007		 Total
for
2007		 Normal
annual
total		 Rank
of
2007		 Fraction
of annual
normal
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 28.4 +0.9 43.9 2 Mar 14.4 +0.8 0.0 24 Jun 111.1 195.5 low 57%
Coober Pedy Airport 28.3 44.0 10 Jan 14.4 0.0 21 Jun 191.6
Nonning 25.7 +0.9 42.9 10 Jan 10.9 +0.7 -2.2 20 Jul 361.2 246.6 very high 146%
Woomera Aerodrome 27.1 +1.4 43.6 10 Jan 13.6 +0.9 0.4 15 Jun 161.8 184.5 normal 88%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 27.5 +1.3 42.9 31 Dec 13.4 +0.7 -1.3 21 Jun 161.0
Marree Aero 29.6 44.6 5 Feb 14.4 -0.5 21 Jul 68.0
Marree Comparison 30.2 +1.5 45.9 5 Feb 14.9 +1.7 -2.0 15 Jun 78.3 161.3 low 49%
Oodnadatta Airport 30.1 +1.2 44.6 2 Mar 15.4 +0.9 -1.7 21 Jun 95.8 175.6 low 55%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 25.2 +1.8 45.1 17 Feb 10.6 +0.2 -3.4 20 Jun 237.2 297.7 low 80%
Cleve 23.3 +1.3 42.0 31 Dec 12.5 +1.2 2.0 16 Jun 312.4 398.7 low 78%
Cleve Aerodrome 23.4 42.6 31 Dec 12.1 1.8 1 Sep 281.6 358.5 low 79%
Coulta 22.3 41.2 17 Feb 11.3 0.9 15 Jun 388.4
Elliston 22.8 +1.5 43.5 17 Feb -0.5 14 Jun 363.4 425.9 low 85%
Kyancutta 26.5 +1.4 43.9 4 Feb 10.0 +0.8 -4.3 16 Jun 269.4 313.7 normal 86%
Neptune Island 19.4 +0.9 33.2 31 Dec 14.4 +0.8 7.8 30 May 367.8 447.6 low 82%
North Shields 22.1 44.1 17 Feb 11.7 2.4 20 Aug 349.0
Nullarbor 24.8 47.6 17 Feb 10.7 -2.9 15 Jun 272.2 248.2 normal 110%
Port Augusta Aero 27.0 44.2 31 Dec 12.6 -2.5 22 Jul 225.4
Streaky Bay 24.4 +1.5 42.6 31 Dec 13.1 +1.0 1.6 16 Jun 287.4 378.4 low 76%
Whyalla Aero 24.6 44.0 10 Jan 12.0 -2.0 15 Jun 327.1 258.1 high 127%
Wudinna Aero 26.0 43.6 31 Dec 10.6 -2.5 13 Aug 274.6
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 25.9 +0.7 41.3 10 Jan 11.2 +0.7 -3.2 20 Jun 341.9 310.8 normal 110%
Yongala 23.1 +1.3 40.1 30 Dec 8.4 +1.2 -5.0 23 Jun 335.0 365.3 normal 92%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve 25.9 43.7 31 Dec 9.8 -6.2 23 Jun 215.8
Yunta Airstrip 24.8 41.6 5 Feb 9.9 -6.3 20 Jul 254.6
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 22.2 40.7 31 Dec 9.5 -4.0 16 Jun 505.2
Port Pirie Aerodrome 25.5 42.8 31 Dec 11.9 -1.7 15 Jun 371.2
Port Pirie Nyrstar Comparison 25.7 +1.2 43.0 31 Dec 13.8 +1.2 1.0 16 Jun 402.1 344.9 high 117%
Snowtown 24.8 42.9 31 Dec 9.6 -3.3 16 Jun 347.4
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 21.1 42.3 10 Jan 12.4 1.5 23 Aug 408.8
Kadina AWS 24.4 43.1 31 Dec 10.3 -2.3 5 Sep 307.8
Maitland 23.0 +1.5 41.8 31 Dec 12.3 +1.2 2.0 16 Jun 486.1 504.4 normal 96%
Minlaton Aero 23.0 41.8 31 Dec 11.3 0.9 18 Jul 397.4
Stenhouse Bay 21.2 42.5 17 Feb 13.2 3.5 23 Jun 387.8
Warooka 21.8 +0.7 40.5 31 Dec 12.3 +0.9 3.8 23 Jun 506.1 446.8 high 113%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Willoughby 19.1 +1.1 41.0 31 Dec 13.5 +0.8 7.2 30 May 560.2 541.2 normal 104%
Kingscote Aero 22.0 43.0 31 Dec 9.3 -2.0 5 Sep 367.8
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide 23.7 +1.5 42.2 31 Dec 13.0 +0.9 1.3 23 Jun 464.6 555.1 low 84%
Adelaide Airport 23.0 +1.5 40.5 10 Jan 12.3 +1.0 -0.4 23 Jun 386.2 445.8 low 87%
Edinburgh RAAF 23.8 +1.4 42.7 31 Dec 11.8 +0.7 -1.3 16 Jun 431.0 428.9 normal 100%
Parafield Airport 24.2 +2.0 42.7 31 Dec 11.7 +0.5 -1.3 16 Jun 380.0 455.2 low 83%
Roseworthy AWS 43.8 31 Dec 10.1 -3.1 15 Jun 330.6
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 22.5 41.7 31 Dec 9.8 -2.5 16 Jun 432.2
Rosedale 24.0 +1.5 43.1 31 Dec 10.5 +0.6 -2.2 15 Jun 452.9 467.3 normal 97%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 20.1 38.8 4 Feb 10.8 1.9 23 Jun 688.8
Mount Barker 22.1 +2.2 41.3 31 Dec 9.1 +1.2 -2.4 23 Jun 709.7 764.5 normal 93%
Mount Crawford Fire Tower 19.9 39.6 31 Dec 10.2 1.5 20 Jul 699.2
Noarlunga 22.3 40.5 31 Dec 13.1 3.5 15 Jun 424.2
Parawa 18.5 38.7 31 Dec 10.8 2.6 23 Jun 833.2
Victor Harbor 21.0 41.8 17 Feb 10.8 -1.5 23 Jun 585.9
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 25.1 +1.4 42.9 31 Dec 9.6 +0.7 -4.4 23 Jun 277.2 269.6 normal 103%
Renmark Aero 25.7 44.1 31 Dec 10.2 -5.4 15 Jun 240.0
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 22.4 +1.5 40.8 31 Dec 10.1 +1.0 -1.1 23 Jun 482.3 446.8 normal 108%
Meningie 21.9 +1.2 42.2 31 Dec 11.0 +0.9 -0.4 15 Jun 452.7 466.5 normal 97%
Murray Bridge 24.1 44.9 31 Dec 9.4 -3.9 23 Jun 280.6
Murray Bridge Comparison 24.7 +1.9 44.4 31 Dec 10.4 +0.5 -2.5 23 Jun 327.9 347.7 normal 94%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 22.5 43.2 31 Dec 10.8 -0.9 14 Aug 421.0
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 24.3 44.0 31 Dec 9.9 -3.0 15 Jun 365.6 337.1 normal 108%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 23.4 +1.2 43.8 31 Dec 9.9 +0.8 -4.2 15 Jun 428.2 463.0 normal 92%
Keith 23.6 45.3 31 Dec 8.5 -3.5 15 Jun 435.8
Lameroo Comparison 24.4 +1.5 45.1 31 Dec 10.2 +1.5 -1.1 16 Jun 344.6 385.8 normal 89%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa 20.0 40.3 31 Dec 10.6 1.0 16 Jun 542.0
Mount Gambier Aero 20.4 +1.6 43.3 31 Dec 9.3 +1.3 -2.6 16 Jun 747.6 707.6 normal 106%
Padthaway South 22.2 43.2 31 Dec 9.2 -3.2 16 Jun 504.6
Robe Airfield 20.3 39.4 17 Feb 9.8 -3.5 16 Jun 611.6
Robe Comparison 19.1 +1.0 36.0 17 Feb 11.7 +0.8 0.1 16 Jun 623.8 632.4 normal 99%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Thursday 3 January 2008. 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 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 "normal" 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, normal in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Further information

South Australian Regional Office
South Australian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (08) 8366 2600
Email climate.sa@bom.gov.au