Thursday, 10 January 2019 - Annual Climate Summary for South Australia - Product code IDCKGC53R0

South Australia in 2018: very warm days; dry in the east, wet in the west

Rainfall for 2018 was below average for South Australia as a whole, but it was a wetter than average year in the far west and drier than average in eastern districts. Mean daytime temperatures for 2018 were very much above average throughout the State, while night-time temperatures were less extreme but still warmer than average in all districts.

The Australian annual climate statement provides a comprehensive summary of Australia's climate during 2018. Information about changes and long-term trends in Australia's climate can be found in State of the Climate 2018.

Dry in the east, wet in the west

• Rainfall for 2018 was 24% below average for South Australia as a whole, but with significant contrasts between the east and west
• Most of the eastern half of South Australia had below average rainfall, including large areas that were very much drier than average
• Western areas of the Northwest Pastoral and West Coast districts had a wetter than average year
• South Australia had its third-driest September on record and driest since 1938
• Only three months during the year had above average rainfall for South Australia as a whole: January, August, and November
• Some sites in the eastern half of the State had either their lowest total rainfall on record or their lowest total rainfall for at least 20 years

Very warm days

• For mean maximum temperature, 2018 ranks as the State's second-warmest year on record
• Maximum temperatures were very much above average across all areas of South Australia, with several sites having their highest mean daily maximum temperature on record
• South Australia's annual mean maximum temperature was 1.79 °C warmer than average
• South Australia had its warmest April on record for mean and maximum temperatures
• Summer-like heat in the second week of April saw large numbers of sites exceed April temperature records
• November 2018 was the first month since October 2016 to have a below average mean maximum temperature for the State as a whole
• There were very hot days in both mid-January and late December, with 48.1 °C at Tarcoola Aero on 28 December the hottest temperature recorded in the State during the year
• For the year as a whole, nights were still warmer than average for most areas of the State
• South Australia's annual mean minimum temperature was 0.70 °C warmer than average, the highest since 2016 and the eleventh-warmest on record
• Marree Aero had its warmest night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record on 29 January
• The mean minimum temperature for September was the State's coolest since 1985; frost led to crop damage across eastern parts of South Australia
• The coldest nights were in June and July, with -5.5 °C at Yunta Airstrip on 21 June the coldest temperature recorded in the State during the year
• For overall mean temperatures, 2018 ranks as the fourth-warmest year on record
• Mean temperatures were above average in all areas of the State, with South Australia's annual mean temperature 1.25 °C warmer than average
• Adelaide Airport had its highest mean daily minimum temperature on record
• Even though temperatures were above average across South Australia, Eudunda was the only site to exceed its highest mean temperature on record, with a few other sites equalling their previous record

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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Monthly maps
	Rainfall rank	Maximum temperature rank	Minimum temperature rank
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* note: there are two days of missing rainfall data at the site in July; estimated total for the year is at least 374 mm

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top