South Australia in January 2025

Rainfall

  • Rainfall totals in January were below average over broad areas of South Australia, particularly in the north and east of the state.
  • Rainfall totals were closer to average in parts of the state's west, but monthly totals were generally below 10 mm and no areas had above average rainfall for the month.
  • South Australia's area-averaged rainfall total in January was 3.6 mm, 83% below the 1961–1990 average.
  • It was the driest January in South Australia since 2013.
  • The wettest day was on the 6th, with many southern agricultural districts receiving 5 mm to 10 mm from cloud associated with a low pressure trough; the highest daily total was 12.0 mm at Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) on the 6th.
  • On the 27th, Moomba Airport recorded a daily maximum wind gust of 126 km/h and 3.0 mm of rainfall to 9am on the 28th during storms in the far north-east of the state.

Temperature

  • Mean maximum temperatures in January were above to very much above average (highest 10% of all years since 1910) across all of South Australia, including areas of highest on record in the far west of the state.
  • South Australia's area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 38.1 °C, 3.40 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the fourth-highest on record for all Januarys since 1910.
  • South Australia had its highest mean maximum temperature for January since 2019.
  • Low-intensity to Severe heatwave conditions affected most areas of the state at times during January.
  • Neptune Island had its highest January mean maximum temperature since 2001 and its highest January mean temperature since 2001.
  • Mean minimum temperatures in January were above to very much above average (highest 10% of all years since 1910) across most of South Australia.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were close to average in an area around the north of the Spencer and St Vincent gulfs and east through the Mid North and Riverland districts.
  • South Australia's area-averaged mean minimum temperature was 20.6 °C, 1.63 °C above the 1961–1990 average.
  • Cape Willoughby equalled its highest January mean minimum temperature on record and Stenhouse Bay had its highest January mean minimum temperature since 2001.
  • South Australia's area-averaged mean temperature was 29.4 °C, 2.52 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the ninth-warmest on record for all Januarys since 1910.

Events


Extremes in January 2025
Hottest day 47.2 °C at Marree Aero on the 27th
Warmest days on average 41.1 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest days on average 22.7 °C at Cape Willoughby
Coldest day 16.8 °C at Mount Lofty on the 6th
Coldest night 3.9 °C at Coonawarra on the 2nd
Coolest nights on average 11.5 °C at Coonawarra
Warmest nights on average 24.9 °C at Moomba Airport
Warmest night 31.4 °C at Oodnadatta Airport on the 5th
Warmest on average overall 33.0 °C at Oodnadatta Airport
Coolest on average overall 19.5 °C at Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) and Robe
Wettest overall 13.6 mm at Robe
Wettest day 12.0 mm at Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) on the 6th
Strongest wind gust 126.0 km/h at Moomba Airport on the 27th

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 January mean maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Neptune Island 23.6 23.9 in 2001 22.1

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported




Record highest January mean minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Cape Willoughby 17.6 =17.6 in 2018 58 16.0



Highest January mean minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Stenhouse Bay 17.8 17.9 in 2001 16.8

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported




Highest January mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Neptune Island 20.7 20.9 in 2001 19.2

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported





Summary statistics for January 2025
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2025
Diff
from
average
Highest for
January
2025
Mean for
January
2025
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
January
2025
Total for
January
2025
Average
for
January
Rank of
January
2025
Fraction of
January
average
Northwest (district 16)
Andamooka 38.3 +1.7 46.0 27th 22.1 +0.6 17.5 16th 0.0 20.4 lowest 0%
Coober Pedy Airport 38.7 +2.0 43.0 20th 22.6 +0.4 16.7 16th 0.0 14.8 lowest 0%
Ernabella (Pukatja) 38.7 +3.3 43.2 27th 23.0 +1.7 19.0 17th 0.2 32.2 v low 1%
Mount Ive 35.9 +1.4 42.5 20th 17.8 +0.1 13.0 16th 0.7 18.0 low 4%
Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome) 38.0 +1.0 45.8 27th 20.7 -0.6 16.2 8th 0.0 17.1 lowest 0%
Tarcoola Aero 38.0 +1.5 43.8 20th 19.3 -0.4 13.1 16th 0.0 15.9 lowest 0%
Woomera Aerodrome 36.8 +2.1 43.7 20th 20.5 +0.8 16.1 16th 0.0 18.1 lowest 0%
Far North (district 17)
Arkaroola 35.6 +1.1 43.9 27th 20.5 +0.2 14.9 3rd 0.0 35.0 lowest 0%
Leigh Creek Airport 37.6 +1.7 44.8 27th 21.5 +0.4 15.8 16th 0.0 25.1 lowest 0%
Marree Aero 40.2 +1.3 47.2 27th 22.6 -0.5 18.5 25th 0.0 19.1 lowest 0%
Moomba Airport 41.0 +2.1 46.2 27th 24.9 0.0 21.7 17th 3.6 19.7 average 18%
Oodnadatta Airport 41.1 +3.1 46.4 27th 24.8 +1.6 20.0 25th 0.0 24.1 lowest 0%
Western Agricultural (district 18)
Ceduna AMO 30.6 +2.0 42.9 26th 16.0 +0.7 8.6 8th 4.8 13.2 average 36%
Cleve 30.0 +1.7 39.8 19th 15.9 +0.1 10.0 24th 4.0 16.9 low 24%
Cleve Aerodrome 29.8 +0.8 40.4 19th 16.3 +0.2 12.2 8th 3.4 17.2 low 20%
Coffin Bay (Point Avoid) 25.8 37.9 26th 16.6 13.1 23rd 0.2
Cultana (Defence) 34.3 42.9 27th 18.1 13.4 16th 0.0
Cummins Aero 30.8 +0.7 39.7 19th 14.8 -0.3 8.8 16th 0.0 21.3 lowest 0%
Elliston 29.0 +3.0 40.1 26th 17.3 +1.5 13.6 3rd 5.6 11.3 average 50%
Kimba 32.8 +1.2 39.5 19th 16.4 +0.6 11.8 16th 0.0 19.2 lowest 0%
Kyancutta 35.1 +2.0 42.4 19th 15.3 +0.8 10.5 16th 0.4 14.9 v low 3%
Minnipa PIRSA 33.8 +0.9 41.0 26th 16.2 +0.2 10.7 7th 1.4 13.5 low 10%
Neptune Island 23.6 +1.5 29.8 4th 17.7 +1.4 15.7 7th 0.2 13.0 v low 2%
North Shields (Port Lincoln AWS) 26.9 +0.7 35.8 4th 16.6 +0.8 12.6 16th 10.0 19.6 average 51%
Nullarbor 30.6 +2.7 44.8 26th 17.1 +1.1 11.3 3rd 10.0 12.8 average 78%
Port Augusta Aero 34.5 +0.4 44.9 27th 19.7 +0.2 15.7 31st 2.0 15.3 low 13%
Streaky Bay 31.3 +2.0 40.9 19th 18.1 +2.0 14.8 31st 4.0 12.2 average 33%
Whyalla Aero 30.8 +0.6 42.1 27th 18.4 +0.5 13.1 8th 0.0 20.6 lowest 0%
Wudinna Aero 34.7 +1.3 41.9 19th 15.2 -0.4 8.8 7th 1.6 15.1 low 11%
Upper North (district 19)
Hawker 35.0 +0.7 42.4 27th 18.4 +0.2 13.4 24th 0.8 20.4 low 4%
Yongala 32.7 +1.7 41.0 27th 14.5 +0.8 9.0 24th 5.2 23.0 low 23%
Northeast (district 20)
Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot) 34.9 +0.9 45.2 27th 15.6 -0.4 10.4 16th 8.0 17.8 average 45%
Yunta Airstrip 34.7 +0.8 44.3 27th 16.0 -0.7 10.6 8th 3.4 23.2 average 15%
Lower North (district 21)
Clare High School 31.7 +1.3 39.2 27th 14.5 -0.5 9.7 24th 0.0 22.0 lowest 0%
Port Pirie Aerodrome AWS 33.8 +0.9 41.9 27th 16.8 -0.2 11.0 24th 0.4 17.2 lowest 2%
Snowtown (Rayville Park) 33.4 +0.6 40.7 27th 14.7 +0.1 9.9 3rd 1.0 18.1 v low 6%
Yorke Peninsula (district 22A)
Edithburgh 26.2 +0.8 34.3 19th 18.0 +1.2 15.0 4th 5.2 15.4 low 34%
Kadina AWS 32.1 +0.3 39.6 19th 15.1 -0.6 9.9 24th 0.8 19.6 v low 4%
Maitland 29.6 -0.1 38.5 19th 15.0 -0.8 11.4 31st 2.6 18.0 low 14%
Minlaton Aero 30.0 +0.4 38.3 4th 15.3 -0.1 10.1 24th 8.2 15.3 average 54%
Price 27.8 -1.0 36.5 19th 15.2 -0.9 9.5 2nd 1.4 15.5 low 9%
Stenhouse Bay 26.0 +0.9 37.1 4th 17.8 +1.0 15.6 7th 5.8 16.6 average 35%
Warooka 27.1 -0.2 36.7 20th 15.3 -0.3 12.0 24th 5.6 14.6 average 38%
Kangaroo Island (district 22B)
Cape Borda 25.4 +0.8 33.4 19th 14.6 +0.1 10.6 7th 1.0 18.5 lowest 5%
Cape Willoughby 22.7 +0.9 30.9 4th 17.6 +1.6 15.0 24th 10.8 18.7 average 58%
Kingscote Aero 28.5 +1.8 37.8 19th 13.4 0.0 7.0 24th 0.8 15.7 v low 5%
Parndana CFS AWS 27.4 +0.9 37.5 19th 13.6 +0.1 8.4 24th 1.6 19.2 v low 8%
Adelaide Plains (district 23A)
Adelaide (West Terrace / ngayirdapira) 30.8 +2.2 38.7 19th 16.9 +0.3 11.6 24th 4.2 20.4 low 21%
Adelaide Airport 29.2 +1.0 37.1 19th 17.1 +0.9 11.6 24th 4.4 18.7 low 24%
Edinburgh RAAF 31.5 +1.3 39.4 27th 16.5 -0.1 10.7 24th 1.8 21.4 low 8%
Parafield Airport 32.1 +2.2 39.5 27th 16.1 -0.3 10.3 24th 1.6 21.4 v low 8%
Roseworthy AWS 32.4 +0.5 41.2 27th 14.2 -0.7 7.8 24th 1.2 18.5 low 6%
County Light (district 23B)
Nuriootpa PIRSA 31.7 +1.5 40.1 27th 14.4 -0.3 7.1 24th 1.0 16.5 v low 6%
Mount Lofty Ranges (district 23C)
Hindmarsh Island AWS 26.1 +0.6 37.0 27th 16.9 +0.7 11.0 7th 6.8 18.3 low 37%
Kuitpo Forest Reserve 27.3 +1.1 36.4 19th 14.9 +0.6 9.7 7th 5.8 29.5 v low 20%
Mount Barker 30.3 +3.0 38.4 19th 13.2 +1.2 9.0 3rd 6.0 26.3 low 23%
Mount Crawford AWS 29.2 +1.6 36.8 27th 14.4 +0.4 7.7 7th 1.2 25.3 low 5%
Mount Lofty 26.6 +3.7 33.7 19th 13.6 +1.1 6.7 7th 8.2 41.0 v low 20%
Noarlunga 29.6 +0.8 38.1 19th 17.4 +0.2 11.9 24th 5.8 17.6 low 33%
Parawa (Second Valley Forest AWS) 24.6 +0.9 33.0 4th 14.5 +0.6 11.5 24th 10.6 29.6 low 36%
Victor Harbor (Encounter Bay) 26.2 +1.1 36.3 27th 14.8 0.0 8.9 3rd 7.2 23.1 low 31%
Upper Murray Valley (district 24A)
Loxton Research Centre 34.1 +1.9 45.4 27th 15.3 +0.3 10.5 3rd 7.4 18.2 average 41%
Renmark Aero 35.0 +1.2 46.6 27th 16.4 -0.1 12.0 7th 8.0 18.9 average 42%
Lower Murray Valley (district 24B)
Eudunda 30.7 +1.2 40.1 27th 14.5 +0.4 9.4 7th 1.7 22.0 low 8%
Meningie 27.8 +1.5 39.8 19th 0.0 18.5 lowest 0%
Murray Bridge 31.5 +2.1 41.5 27th 15.8 +1.0 10.6 7th 7.5 16.6 average 45%
Murray Bridge (Pallamana Aerodrome) 31.0 +0.5 42.2 27th 14.8 +0.3 9.5 7th 5.2 15.7 low 33%
Strathalbyn Racecourse 28.8 +0.8 39.1 27th 14.9 +0.1 10.0 7th 4.8 19.3 low 25%
Murray Mallee (district 25A)
Karoonda 33.2 +1.5 43.0 27th 15.1 +0.6 9.5 7th 3.0 17.8 low 17%
Upper Southeast (district 25B)
Keith 32.3 +2.1 40.5 27th 13.9 +0.6 7.8 7th 5.0 19.4 low 26%
Keith (Munkora) 32.6 +1.6 41.7 27th 12.9 +0.5 6.2 24th 4.4 20.1 low 22%
Lameroo (Austin Plains) 33.8 +1.5 44.5 27th 13.6 -0.7 7.2 7th 4.6 24.4 low 19%
Lower Southeast (district 26)
Cape Jaffa (The Limestone) 25.5 +0.8 32.6 19th 14.5 +0.8 8.3 3rd 12.0 17.8 average 67%
Coonawarra 29.8 +2.2 38.6 27th 11.5 -0.3 3.9 2nd 5.4 26.3 low 20%
Mount Gambier Aero 28.4 +2.9 37.5 27th 12.8 +1.5 6.5 3rd 10.6 27.0 low 39%
Naracoorte Aerodrome 31.4 +1.5 39.8 27th 11.8 0.0 5.0 2nd 6.4 22.3 low 29%
Padthaway South 31.3 +1.9 39.1 27th 11.8 -0.8 5.3 3rd 3.8 23.7 low 16%
Robe 23.8 +1.3 29.2 11th 15.1 +1.4 10.1 3rd 13.6 20.3 average 67%
Robe Airfield 26.2 +1.6 33.5 11th 13.4 +0.4 6.7 24th 5.2 19.8 low 26%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following 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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available on Monday 3 February 2025. 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

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Climate