South Australia in December 2015: Record warm, and dry in the south

The year ended very warm for South Australia, with a heatwave during the middle of December that saw several locations report record high December temperatures. Rainfall was very much below average across the southern half of the State, whereas the northern Pastoral districts saw average to above average rainfall, mainly from a trough of low pressure that crossed in the second half of the month.

  • Warmest December on record for South Australia
  • Record early summer heat
  • Very dry across agricultural districts
  • Above average rainfall in northern Pastorals

The South Australian mean temperature for December was a record 2.69 °C above average, well clear of the previous record from 1972. The State's mean minimum temperature was also a record at 2.42 °C above average, and the mean maximum temperature was 2.96 °C above average (second-highest to 1972). Numerous sites set new December records for highest mean daily maximum temperature, highest mean daily minimum, or highest mean temperature.

The month began with below average temperatures across southern parts of South Australia, and a few locations in the central districts recorded their lowest December temperature on record on the 2nd. The cooler temperatures were short lived as a northerly airstream saw daytime and overnight temperatures at least ten degrees above average across much of the southern and eastern districts between the 5th and 7th, and on the morning of the 7th several sites in central districts had their warmest December minimum temperature on record.

Temperatures remained above average for much of the month, and became extremely warm in the third week when heatwave conditions extended across large areas. High temperatures occurred through much of South Australia during this period, with December records for long spells of consecutive hot days occurring in the central districts and around Adelaide. These included four consecutive days of 40 °C or above from the 16th to the 19th at Snowtown, and six consecutive days of 35 °C or above from the 14th to the 19th at Eudunda. The heatwave resulted in several locations reporting their highest December temperature on record. There was a return to hot conditions at the end of the month, with temperatures again exceeding 40 °C in southern and eastern districts on the 31st. More information about the heat, which also affected Victoria and Tasmania, can be found in the Special Climate Statement: Widespread record December temperatures in southeast Australia.

Dry conditions persisted across southern agricultural districts throughout the month, resulting in December rainfall that was very much below average in those areas, and several sites reporting their lowest total December rainfall since 1991. In the north of the State, a trough of low pressure brought moderate to locally heavy falls around the 21st, and gave total monthly rain above the December average.

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Extremes in December 2015
Hottest day 47.2 °C at Port Augusta Aero on the 19th
Warmest days on average 38.1 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest days on average 23.9 °C at Cape Willoughby and Neptune Island
Coldest day 11.7 °C at Mount Lofty on the 1st
Coldest night 0.2 °C at Coonawarra on the 2nd
Coolest nights on average 10.8 °C at Naracoorte Aerodrome
Warmest nights on average 24.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 34.1 °C at Moomba Airport on the 7th
Warmest on average overall 31.2 °C at Moomba Airport
Coolest on average overall 19.8 °C at Mount Gambier Aero
Wettest overall 102.2 mm at Mount Dare
Wettest day 47.8 mm at Marree (Farina) on the 21st
Strongest wind gust 122 km/h at Woomera Aerodrome on the 7th

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


Highest December total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Marree (Farina) 78.4 78.5 in 1975* 15.1
Mount Dare 102.2 103.6 in 1991 20.0

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




Record lowest December total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Loxton Research Centre 1.6 3.2 in 1995 32 24.1
Edithburgh 1.8 2.0 in 2002 23 16.4
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 8.0 9.8 in 2002 22 33.7

Lowest December total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
lower
Average for
December
Mintaro 1.2 0.8 in 1925* 28.8
Warooka 2.4 1.8 in 1949 17.7
Koolunga 0.4 0.0 in 1956 23.1
Sedan (Sandleton) 0.6 0.0 in 1956 18.7
Yacka 0.4 0.0 in 1956* 23.6
Booborowie 0.7 0.6 in 1974 24.9
Point Pass 0.2 0.0 in 1974* 26.9
Blanchetown Lock 1 3.4 3.0 in 1982 23.2
Nildottie 1.8 0.2 in 1984 21.7
Whyalla Aero 2.0 1.4 in 1981* 23.2
Port Germein 2.2 1.8 in 1988 21.1
Parawa (Sharon) 9.8 6.4 in 1989 38.4
Appila 4.6 0.8 in 1991 25.5
Caliph 1.0 0.0 in 1991 21.4
Eudunda 4.0 3.4 in 1991 26.2
Freeling 4.8 1.8 in 1991 26.9
Huddleston (Willow Ponds) 1.4 0.8 in 1991 27.0
Kapunda 5.6 0.0 in 1991 26.2
Laura 1.6 0.8 in 1991 25.1
Orroroo (Black Rock) 2.2 0.0 in 1991 21.9
Redhill 1.0 0.6 in 1991 22.0
Spalding 1.0 0.2 in 1991 26.0
Truro 3.7 2.0 in 1991 27.9
Jamestown Pirsa 0.8 0.2 in 1991* 26.4
Manoora 5.8 4.4 in 1991* 27.1
Morgan (Brenda Park Station) 3.4 0.0 in 1991* 29.0
Oodla Wirra 2.4 0.0 in 1991* 26.2
Port Broughton 1.2 0.0 in 1991* 18.1
Robertstown 3.6 0.8 in 1991* 22.1
Sutherlands 2.2 0.0 in 1991* 22.5
Whyte Yarcowie 2.6 0.0 in 1991* 23.5
Wilpena (Oraparinna) 4.4 0.2 in 1991* 26.3
Yongala 3.0 0.6 in 1991* 24.2
Australia Plains 3.4 1.2 in 1991* 22.2
Bower 0.2 0.0 in 1991* 20.2
Cherry Gardens 10.8 10.6 in 1994 39.8
Clare High School 2.4 2.2 in 1994 34.8
Caltowie 7.2 4.6 in 1995 26.3

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




Record highest December temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Neptune Island 35.1 on the 19th 34.3 on the 11th in 1998 53 20.5
Eudunda 41.8 on the 18th 41.7 on the 30th in 2005 51 26.9
Edinburgh RAAF 43.5 on the 19th = 43.5 on the 10th in 1980 44 27.8
Whyalla Aero 45.8 on the 19th 44.9 on the 23rd in 2012 32 28.2
Clare High School 41.7 on the 19th 41.4 on the 30th in 2005 22 27.3
Mount Crawford AWS 39.7 on the 6th 39.6 on the 31st in 2007 22 24.8



Record highest December mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Mount Barker 30.5 29.4 in 1876 113 25.1
Streaky Bay 31.1 30.5 in 1972 88 27.4
Kyancutta 35.1 = 35.1 in 1931 85 30.9
Cleve 31.5 30.0 in 1976 76 26.7
Ceduna AMO 31.7 30.4 in 1951 74 27.3
Mount Gambier Aero 28.7 26.2 in 1960 73 22.9
Woomera Aerodrome 35.7 35.3 in 1994 66 32.4
Adelaide Airport 30.3 28.2 in 1994 60 25.7
Parafield Airport 32.5 31.0 in 1994 59 27.7
Warooka 30.1 28.0 in 1977 56 25.5
Elliston 28.1 27.8 in 2005 53 24.6
Neptune Island 23.9 22.3 in 2009 52 20.5
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 32.8 31.2 in 2000 52 28.2
Eudunda 31.2 30.0 in 1994 50 26.9
Meningie 29.8 26.7 in 2007 49 24.5
Cape Willoughby 23.9 23.2 in 2005 48 20.6
Kimba 33.7 31.9 in 1972 48 29.3
Edinburgh RAAF 32.4 30.1 in 1994 43 27.8
Hawker 34.9 = 34.9 in 1972 41 31.9
Adelaide (Kent Town) 32.5 29.0 in 2003 38 27.1
Loxton Research Centre 34.1 32.4 in 1994 31 29.6
Whyalla Aero 32.5 30.7 in 2005 31 28.2
Coonawarra 30.1 27.4 in 1994 30 24.8
Nullarbor 30.6 29.9 in 2005 29 26.7
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 27.3 24.8 in 2004 24 22.7
Coulta (Coles Point) 29.3 28.0 in 2013 24 25.5
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 28.9 27.2 in 2005 23 24.5
Edithburgh 27.9 25.7 in 2009 22 23.8
Clare High School 31.3 30.4 in 1994 21 27.3
Coober Pedy Airport 36.7 36.3 in 2012 21 34.3
Kingscote Aero 29.3 27.1 in 2007 21 24.8
Mount Crawford AWS 29.1 27.2 in 1994 21 24.8
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 27.6 24.0 in 2007 21 21.5
Renmark Aero 34.9 33.1 in 2005 20 31.1

Highest December mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Keith 32.5 34.3 in 1950* 27.6

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




Record highest December daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Woomera Aerodrome 31.8 on the 19th 30.5 on the 30th in 1949 67 17.6
Adelaide Airport 31.2 on the 7th 28.7 on the 11th in 1975 61 14.5
Parafield Airport 31.4 on the 7th 30.1 on the 22nd in 1942 60 14.8
Mount Barker 26.0 on the 7th 24.1 on the 12th in 1998 59 10.4
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 30.0 on the 7th 27.0 on the 29th in 2002 53 13.4
Eudunda 26.8 on the 7th 25.2 on the 12th in 1998 51 12.3
Meningie 28.8 on the 7th 26.6 on the 12th in 1998 50 13.0
Edinburgh RAAF 31.7 on the 7th 29.2 on the 9th in 2006 44 14.8
Adelaide (Kent Town) 30.7 on the 7th 29.3 on the 12th in 1998 39 15.6
Maitland 30.5 on the 31st 28.2 on the 9th in 2006 34 13.8
Leigh Creek Airport 32.5 on the 19th 31.6 on the 19th in 2013 33 18.6
Loxton Research Centre 29.0 on the 7th 25.7 on the 31st in 2009 32 13.0
Moomba Airport 34.1 on the 7th 32.1 on the 31st in 2003 21 22.1
Renmark Aero 29.9 on the 19th 27.8 on the 31st in 2009 21 14.1
Nuriootpa Viticultural 27.9 on the 7th 25.4 on the 17th in 2003 20 12.3



Record lowest December temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 2.2 on the 2nd 3.1 on the 5th in 1995 53 13.4
Adelaide (Kent Town) 7.9 on the 2nd 8.0 on the 3rd in 1987 39 15.6
Loxton Research Centre 4.4 on the 12th 4.5 on the 1st in 2001 32 13.0
Coonawarra 0.2 on the 2nd 0.5 on the 1st in 1994 31 10.1
Nuriootpa Viticultural 1.1 on the 2nd 3.0 on the 18th in 1996 20 12.3



Record highest December mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Streaky Bay 17.2 16.9 in 1977 88 14.9
Yongala 14.9 14.1 in 1945 88 11.5
Cleve 16.5 16.2 in 1950 76 14.0
Woomera Aerodrome 20.7 20.1 in 1965 66 17.6
Keith 14.6 14.5 in 1965 60 11.9
Warooka 16.1 15.3 in 2003 56 13.7
Elliston 16.5 15.7 in 1965 53 14.6
Neptune Island 16.6 = 16.6 in 2003 51 14.9
Eudunda 16.0 14.6 in 1965 50 12.3
Meningie 14.9 14.7 in 1992 49 13.0
Cape Willoughby 16.2 15.8 in 1994 48 14.4
Kimba 16.5 16.0 in 2003 48 13.9
Edinburgh RAAF 16.4 16.3 in 2003 43 14.8
Adelaide (Kent Town) 18.1 16.9 in 2003 38 15.6
Leigh Creek Airport 20.8 20.6 in 2003 32 18.6
Loxton Research Centre 14.7 = 14.7 in 2009 31 13.0
Whyalla Aero 17.2 17.1 in 1998 31 15.9
Coulta (Coles Point) 15.5 15.1 in 2003 24 13.7
Edithburgh 16.0 = 16.0 in 1999 22 14.8
Clare High School 15.5 13.9 in 2003 21 12.4
Coober Pedy Airport 21.7 = 21.7 in 2000 21 19.8
Mount Crawford AWS 15.2 13.5 in 1999 21 12.0
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 14.7 12.9 in 2004 21 11.8
Renmark Aero 16.3 15.8 in 2003 20 14.1

Highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Parafield Airport 16.7 17.4 in 1941* 14.8
Adelaide Airport 17.2 17.6 in 1965 14.5
Mount Barker 12.8 13.4 in 1965 10.4
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 15.8 16.7 in 1965* 13.4
Ceduna AMO 15.5 =15.5 in 1980 14.1
Kyancutta 14.7 14.9 in 1988 12.9
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 13.7 14.8 in 1992 12.3
Coonawarra 11.3 13.3 in 1992 10.1

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




Record highest December mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
December
Mount Barker 21.4 20.2 in 1871 113 17.8
Streaky Bay 24.2 23.5 in 1965 88 21.2
Kyancutta 24.9 24.3 in 1965 85 21.9
Cleve 24.0 22.6 in 1972 76 20.4
Ceduna AMO 23.6 23.2 in 1965 74 20.7
Mount Gambier Aero 19.8 18.5 in 1965 73 16.4
Woomera Aerodrome 28.2 27.5 in 1965 66 25.0
Adelaide Airport 23.7 22.9 in 1965 60 20.1
Keith 23.4 = 23.4 in 1950 60 19.8
Parafield Airport 24.6 23.6 in 1994 59 21.3
Warooka 23.1 21.5 in 1965 56 19.6
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 24.3 23.8 in 1965 52 20.8
Neptune Island 20.1 19.1 in 2009 51 17.7
Eudunda 23.6 21.9 in 2003 50 19.6
Meningie 22.4 20.3 in 1973 49 18.7
Edinburgh RAAF 24.4 23.1 in 1994 43 21.3
Hawker 26.3 26.0 in 1972 41 23.8
Adelaide (Kent Town) 25.3 23.0 in 2003 38 21.3
Leigh Creek Airport 28.1 = 28.1 in 1994 32 25.9
Loxton Research Centre 24.4 23.1 in 2003 31 21.3
Whyalla Aero 24.9 23.2 in 2003 31 22.0
Coonawarra 20.7 19.0 in 2003 30 17.5
Nullarbor 23.0 22.1 in 1989 29 20.5
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 20.5 19.5 in 1992 24 17.5
Coulta (Coles Point) 22.4 21.3 in 1998 24 19.6
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 21.6 20.5 in 2007 23 19.2
Edithburgh 22.0 20.5 in 2009 22 19.3
Clare High School 23.4 21.8 in 2003 21 19.9
Coober Pedy Airport 29.2 28.6 in 2012 21 27.1
Kingscote Aero 20.5 19.2 in 2003 21 17.9
Mount Crawford AWS 22.1 20.2 in 1994 21 18.4
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 21.3 18.4 in 1994 21 16.7
Renmark Aero 25.6 24.2 in 2003 20 22.6

Highest December mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
December
Andamooka 28.8 29.5 in 1972 26.9



Summary statistics for December 2015
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
December
2015
Diff
from
average
Highest for
December
2015
Mean for
December
2015
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
December
2015
Total for
December
2015
Average
for
December
Rank of
December
2015
Fraction of
December
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 36.4 +1.9 44.8 19th 21.2 +1.8 12.8 2nd 6.5 18.2 low 36%
Coober Pedy Airport 36.7 +2.4 44.1 18th 21.7 +1.9 12.8 2nd 10.2 18.3 average 56%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 34.2 +1.0 41.0 5th 20.2 +1.1 12.5 3rd 73.2 58.4 high 125%
Mount Ive 35.1   44.3 19th 17.6   8.5 2nd 6.0 16.1 average 37%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 36.6 +2.3 45.0 18th 20.7 +2.1 12.3 2nd 0 13.9 v low 0%
Tarcoola Aero 37.1 +3.3 45.7 18th 19.9 +2.6 7.8 2nd 0.2 20.2 v low 1%
Woomera Aerodrome 35.7 +3.3 44.8 18th 20.7 +3.1 11.3 2nd 3.8 13.8 low 28%
Far North (district 17)
Leigh Creek Airport 35.4 +2.3 44.4 19th 20.8 +2.2 11.5 2nd 18.8 23.2 average 81%
Marree Aero 37.1 +1.3 45.2 19th 21.6 +1.4 13.4 3rd 26.6 13.8 high 193%
Moomba Airport 38.1 +1.6 45.6 6th 24.2 +2.1 17.0 3rd 14.0 13.6 average 103%
Oodnadatta Airport 37.1 +0.8 44.2 6th 22.9 +1.6 14.1 3rd 34.4 17.1 high 201%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 31.7 +4.4 45.3 5th 15.5 +1.4 5.7 2nd 4.0 20.3 low 20%
Cleve 31.5 +4.8 42.2 19th 16.5 +2.5 8.0 2nd 13.6 25.8 average 53%
Cleve Aerodrome 31.8 +4.6 43.1 19th 14.9 +1.0 7.6 2nd 12.2 23.3 average 52%
Coulta (Coles Point) 29.3 +3.8 38.5 5th 15.5 +1.8 5.9 2nd 4.8 13.6 average 35%
Cummins Aero 32.0   41.1 18th 14.0   1.5 2nd 8.4
Elliston 28.1 +3.5 39.4 5th 16.5 +1.9 9.6 12th 4.8 16.5 low 29%
Kimba 33.7 +4.4 43.5 18th 16.5 +2.6 6.8 2nd 3.0 19.7 low 15%
Kyancutta 35.1 +4.2 45.5 18th 14.7 +1.8 3.9 2nd 4.0 20.5 low 20%
Minnipa Pirsa 33.9 +3.5 44.0 18th 16.1 +2.0 6.5 2nd 9.6 18.9 average 51%
Neptune Island 23.9 +3.4 35.1 19th 16.6 +1.7 12.9 2nd 3.0 16.9 v low 18%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 28.9 +4.4 42.7 19th 14.4 +0.4 7.9 2nd 8.0 18.3 low 44%
Nullarbor 30.6 +3.9 41.7 30th 15.3 +1.1 8.3 3rd 7.6 15.0 average 51%
Port Augusta Aero 36.2 +4.3 47.2 19th 18.9 +1.9 11.3 2nd 3.6 22.6 v low 16%
Streaky Bay 31.1 +3.7 42.2 5th 17.2 +2.3 9.5 2nd 2.5 14.4 low 17%
Whyalla Aero 32.5 +4.3 45.8 19th 17.2 +1.3 11.6 3rd 2.0 23.2 v low 9%
Wudinna Aero 35.0 +4.0 45.2 18th 14.7 +1.2 3.3 2nd 9.4 17.6 average 53%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 34.9 +3.0 44.0 18th 17.7 +1.9 9.0 2nd 8.0 21.8 average 37%
Yongala     41.4 19th 14.9 +3.4 2.7 2nd 3.0 24.2 v low 12%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 35.1 +3.9 44.5 19th 15.0 +1.3 4.4 12th 6.2 32.5 v low 19%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 31.3 +4.0 41.7 19th 15.5 +3.1 3.5 2nd 2.4 34.8 v low 7%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 34.4   45.6 19th 16.8   6.4 2nd 0
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 34.1 +3.9 45.2 19th 14.1 +1.9 4.4 12th 2.2 23.9 v low 9%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 27.9 +4.1 40.0 19th 16.0 +1.2 7.7 1st 1.8 16.4 lowest 11%
Kadina AWS 33.0 +4.0 44.0 19th 14.6 +1.4 4.8 12th 9.8 26.3 low 37%
Minlaton Aero 32.0 +4.7 41.1 19th 15.0 +1.6 3.7 2nd 3.2 18.1 v low 18%
Stenhouse Bay 26.7 +3.7 39.9 30th 16.5 +1.5 11.9 2nd 9.6 16.7 average 57%
Warooka 30.1 +4.6 39.5 19th 16.1 +2.4 6.8 2nd 2.4 17.7 low 14%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 26.7 +4.3 35.1 6th 14.8 +1.9 7.3 2nd 6.2 23.7 v low 26%
Cape Willoughby 23.9 +3.3 35.8 19th 16.2 +1.8 10.7 1st 2.4 22.9 v low 10%
Kingscote Aero 29.3 +4.5 40.4 19th 11.6 +0.7 3.3 3rd 6.4 18.8 low 34%
Parndana Cfs AWS 29.1   40.9 19th 11.8   3.2 2nd 8.6
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (Kent Town) 32.5 +5.4 43.2 19th 18.1 +2.5 7.9 2nd 13.0 27.6 low 47%
Adelaide Airport 30.3 +4.6 41.4 17th 17.2 +2.7 7.2 2nd 7.8 23.2 low 34%
Edinburgh RAAF 32.4 +4.6 43.5 19th 16.4 +1.6 6.5 2nd 13.0 24.1 average 54%
Parafield Airport 32.5 +4.8 43.3 19th 16.7 +1.9 5.7 2nd 13.0 24.3 average 53%
Roseworthy AWS 33.5 +4.2 44.5 19th 15.5 +3.1 4.8 2nd 13.6 24.6 low 55%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa Viticultural 31.3 +4.2 41.6 6th 14.6 +2.3 1.1 2nd 5.6 33.8 v low 17%
Rosedale (Turretfield Research Centre) 32.8 +4.6 43.0 6th 15.8 +2.4 2.2 2nd 6.6 24.2 low 27%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 29.3 +5.0 41.2 17th 15.9 +1.4 9.5 3rd 6.0 23.9 v low 25%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 28.2 +4.6 39.3 19th 15.3 +2.9 6.6 2nd 25.2 32.8 average 77%
Mount Barker 30.5 +5.4 41.0 19th 12.8 +2.4 4.6 2nd 12.6 34.5 low 37%
Mount Crawford AWS 29.1 +4.3 39.7 6th 15.2 +3.2 5.6 12th 10.6 31.5 low 34%
Mount Lofty 26.4 +7.0 36.3 6th 13.9 +3.4 5.1 2nd 19.8
Noarlunga 30.4 +4.3 41.2 19th 18.1 +2.9 7.7 2nd 19.8 19.3 average 103%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 27.6 +6.1 37.9 17th 14.7 +2.9 7.3 2nd 8.0 33.7 lowest 24%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 27.9 +4.2 41.7 19th 12.9 +0.2 6.5 13th 7.6 25.5 v low 30%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 34.1 +4.5 43.7 18th 14.7 +1.7 4.4 12th 1.6 24.1 lowest 7%
Renmark Aero 34.9 +3.8 45.2 18th 16.3 +2.2 5.0 2nd 5.4 21.7 low 25%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 31.2 +4.3 41.8 18th 16.0 +3.7 5.1 12th 4.0 26.2 low 15%
Meningie 29.8 +5.3 41.6 17th 14.9 +1.9 7.5 3rd 12.2 23.5 average 52%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 32.5   43.5 19th 13.5   3.9 3rd 8.0 25.2 low 32%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 30.6 +4.7 42.3 19th 14.0 +1.2 7.0 2nd 14.4 20.6 average 70%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 32.5 +3.3 42.6 6th 14.7 +2.1 4.5 2nd 5.1 24.5 low 21%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 32.5 +4.9 42.5 19th 14.6 +2.7 3.5 2nd 8.6 26.5 low 32%
Keith (Munkora) 32.2 +3.5 43.3 19th 12.9 +2.5 1.5 2nd 13.4 31.7 low 42%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 32.7 +3.4 42.8 18th 14.1 +2.0 3.7 2nd 4.8 28.6 v low 17%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 27.3 +4.6 40.1 19th 13.7 +1.4 7.5 3rd 5.8 23.3 v low 25%
Coonawarra 30.1 +5.3 41.5 19th 11.3 +1.2 0.2 2nd 8.2 37.1 v low 22%
Mount Gambier Aero 28.7 +5.8 42.8 19th 10.9 +0.9 4.1 2nd 11.8 38.1 v low 31%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 31.6 +4.5 42.8 19th 10.8 +0.9 2.2 2nd 10.4 37.4 low 28%
Padthaway South 31.0 +4.5 40.4 18th 12.0 +1.4 1.9 2nd 13.8 31.1 low 44%
Robe Airfield 27.5 +4.8 38.9 19th 12.2 +0.4 4.7 27th 9.4 31.8 low 30%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary 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. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

A climate summary is generally published on the first working day of each month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Monday 4 January 2016. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is used for temperature area averages.

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Climate