Climate of Adelaide

Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa),[1] with mild wet winters and hot dry summers.[2]

A spring storm over Adelaide.

Seasonal variation

In summer (December to February) the average minimum is around 14 to 16 C and the average maximum is around 25 to 29 C, but there is considerable variation and Adelaide can usually expect several days a year where temperatures reach the mid/high 30s to low 40s. On a few occasions the temperature has even nudged the mid 40s. These high temperatures usually occur when hot northerly winds blow hot air down south from central Australia, causing the mercury to spike. However, the weather, like Melbourne, Victoria, can be rather changeable as it is not uncommon to have days where the temperature peaks in the low 20s when there is a cool southerly wind blowing cooler air from the Southern Ocean. Occasionally, the mercury may fail to get to 20 degrees - even in the peak of summer! So, wear layers. In winter (June to August) the average maximum is around 13 to 15 C and the average minimum around 5 to 7 C, although temperatures again can fluctuate. Note though that the mercury rarely drops below freezing or rises above 19 C. Frosts are common in the valleys of the Adelaide Hills, but rare elsewhere, with the most notable occurrences having occurred in July 1908 and July 1982. In winter, Adelaide experiences quite a significant wind chill, which makes the apparent temperature seem cooler than it actually is.

Rainfall is unreliable, light and infrequent throughout summer. The average in January and February is around (0.8 inches), but completely rainless months are by no means uncommon, and in 1893 sixty-nine days passed without measurable rainfall. In contrast, the winter has fairly reliable rainfall with June being the wettest month of the year, averaging around 80 mm.

Climate data


Recorded extremes (records from West Tce weather station 1839–1977 and 2017–present,[8] and Kent Town weather station 1977–2017):

  • Hottest temperature: 46.6 °C (115.9 °F), 24 January 2019 [9][10] [nb 1]
  • Coldest temperature: −0.4 °C (31.3 °F), 8 June 1982
  • Hottest Minimum: 33.9 °C (93.0 °F), 29 January 2009
  • Coldest Maximum: 8.3 °C (46.9 °F), 29 June 1922
  • Wettest month: 217.9 mm (8.58 in), June 1916
  • Wettest 24 hours: 141.5 mm (5.57 in), 7 February 1925
Ultraviolet index [14]
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
12 10 8 5 3 2 2 3 5 7 10 11 6.5

Extreme summer weather events: heatwaves, droughts (2008–2021)

March 2008 heatwave
Graph showing daily maximum and minimum temperatures in Adelaide during record heat wave in 2008.

Between 3 March and 17 March 2008 Adelaide recorded 15 consecutive days of 35 °C (95 °F) or above, and 13 consecutive days of 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) or above – both records for an Australian capital city.[15] (The record number of consecutive days of 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) or above in any Australian city is held by Marble Bar in Western Australia, which experienced 160 consecutive days in 1923–24.)

The hottest March day ever recorded was 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) on 12 March 1861.[16]

January–February 2009 heatwave

During January and February 2009 Adelaide was affected by the early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave. The heatwave broke numerous records and affected all of south-eastern Australia, including Melbourne, another southern Australian city, where some outdoor games were cancelled during the 2009 Australian Open.

The heatwave commenced in Adelaide on 26 January 2009 (Australia Day), with a temperature of 36.6 °C (98 °F). From 27 January the temperature soared above 40 °C (104 °F) degrees for 6 consecutive days, until 2 February where the temperature dropped to 38.8 °C (102 °F). This is the longest straight run of 40 °C (104 °F) temperatures in Adelaide. On 28 January, the third day into the heatwave, the temperature reached 45.7 °C (114 °F), making it the third-hottest day on record in Adelaide. On that same night, the temperature only dipped to 33.9 °C (93 °F), making it the highest minimum temperature on record in South Australia (since surpassed). The maximum temperatures stayed higher than 30 °C (86 °F) for another six days, including two more 40-degree-plus days (6 and 7 February) until dropping back to 24.8 °C (77 °F) on 8 February 2009.

November 2009 heatwave

In November 2009 Adelaide was affected by the late 2009 southeastern Australia heatwave which occurred in the states of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Daily maximum temperatures during the heat wave were roughly 10 °C (18 °F) above average in many locations. Capital cities Adelaide and Melbourne recorded temperatures over 40 °C (104 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F), respectively, which are unusual for November. Above-average temperatures in the region began in late October and persisted until mid-November 2009.

Temperature records for November in Adelaide set during the heatwave:

  • 10 consecutive days over 30 °C (86 °F).
  • 8 consecutive days over 35 °C (95 °F) – new record set on 13 November, breaking the previous record of 4 consecutive days, which was set in 1894.[17]
  • 6 consecutive days over 38 °C (100 °F) – breaking the previous record of 3 consecutive days, which was set in 1888, 1922 and 1984.[18]
  • Hottest November day – 43.0 °C (109.4 °F) on 19 November 2009 at 4:32pm ACDT, breaking the previous record of 42.0 °C (107.6 °F) set on 13 November 1993.[19]

Summer 2013–2014 heatwave
Main article: 2014 Adelaide heatwave

The summer of 2013–2014 was the second-hottest on record.[20] Records for Adelaide set during the 2013–2014 summer heatwave (beginning in December) include:[21]

  • Hottest February day – 44.7 °C (112.5 °F) on 2 February 2014.
  • Record number of days exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) during the summer months (December, January and February) – 13 so far.
  • Record number of days exceeding 42 °C (108 °F) during a calendar year – 9 so far.
  • Record number of consecutive days exceeding 42 °C (108 °F) – 5.

Autumn 2014: Warmest Adelaide autumn on record

Autumn 2014 was the fourth-warmest on record in South Australia,[22] and included a record run of 16 consecutive days in May with maximum temperatures over 20 °C within the city and metro areas, making it Adelaide's hottest autumn ever.[23][24]

October 2015: hottest October on record

October 2015 in Adelaide was the warmest on record for the city, continuing the trend of record breaking heat in the 2010s.[25] The temperature was approximately 5 °C (9.0 °F) degrees above the long term average.[26] Rainfall was also scarce for the month.[25]

December 2015: 5 consecutive days over 35 degrees and second heatwave for the summer

In early December, Adelaide experienced its hottest December night since 1897 and another heatwave–the temperature did not drop below 33 °C (91 °F) until 4am on 7 December.[27]

Following one of Adelaide's hottest nights on record, in mid December 2015, temperatures were forecasted to be above 35 °C (95 °F) for five consecutive days starting on 14 December, the third-most days over 35 °C (95 °F) in Adelaide's recorded history. This continues the trend that Adelaide has experienced since the early 2000s of summer heat exceeding maximum temperatures and breaking records. The heatwave in December 2015 marked Adelaide's record of five heatwaves in six years.

March 2016 heatwave

In early March, Adelaide endured 6 consecutive days in which the temperature reached above 30 °C (86 °F). On 5, 6 and 8 March, the temperature approached maximums of 37 °C (99 °F) and 38 °C (100 °F) degrees. Rain during this period increased the humidity level in the city, and flash flooding was recorded in the suburbs, as temperatures dropped back into the high 20s on 9 March.

Hottest Christmas Day in 75 years and February 2017 heatwave

On 25 December 2016, Adelaide experienced its hottest Christmas Day since 1941.[28] The mercury reached 41.3 °C (106.3 °F). That following February, a heatwave was recorded in Adelaide as the temperature climbed above 40 °C (104 °F) for 3 consecutive days, with the minimum overnight temperature not dropping below 30 °C (86 °F) on 9 February.[29] Blackouts across the city complicated the conditions further.[29]

Winter 2017: Second lowest June rainfall in Adelaide's recorded history

Adelaide recorded its second driest June in recorded history, and the driest in 59 years.[30] Less than 10mm fell in the entire month, with Adelaide city recording only 8.6mm. Agricultural regions across South Australia were also affected, experiencing the third driest winter on record.

Summer 2017–2018: twelve consecutive days above 30 degrees and various heatwaves

Summer 2017–18 was another hot summer for Adelaide. Beginning on 17 January 2018, the daytime temperature in Adelaide did not drop below 30 °C (86 °F) with forecasts of temperatures above 37 °C (99 °F) up until 29 January. Two of these days, 19 January and 20 January, reached temperatures of above 40 °C (104 °F), while three days recorded temperatures at 37 °C (99 °F) or above resulting in a heatwave, and two more are predicted to reach temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F).

  • Total number of days with temperatures of 37 °C (99 °F) or above in Adelaide for summer 2017–18: 12.
  • Total number of days with temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) or above: 5.

New record Hottest Day – January 2019

On 24 January 2019 the official Adelaide weather observation station (West Terrace)[8] reached a new record high temperature of 46.6 °C (115.9 °F),[9] breaking the previous 1939 record. On the Eastern side of Adelaide, the Adelaide (Kent Town) weather station recorded a temperature of 47.7 °C (117.9 °F).

See also

Notes
  1. 47.6 °C (117.7 °F) was recorded on 12 January 1939,[11] but after homogenisation[12] that day is officially recorded as 46.1 °C (115.0 °F).[10][13]

References
  1. Tapper, Andrew; Tapper, Nigel (1996). Gray, Kathleen (ed.). The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand (First ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. p. 300. ISBN 0-19-553393-3.
  2. Griffin, T. & McCaskill, M. (Editors, 1986): Atlas of South Australia. South Australian Government Printing Division in association with Wakefield Press on behalf of the South Australia Jubilee 150 Board, Adelaide. ISBN 0 7243 4688 0
  3. "Climate statistics for ADELAIDE (KENT TOWN)". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  4. "Lowest Temperature - 023090". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. "Highest Temperature - 023090". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  6. "Climate Statistics for Adelaide Airport". Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  7. "Climate Data Online". Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  8. Adelaide's official weather observation station is returning to its original location Bureau of Meteorology, 14 June 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2019
  9. Adelaide sets new heat record as temperatures soar throughout SA ABC News, 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  10. Greater Adelaide in January 2019: very hot and dry, Bureau of Meteorology, 1 February 2019
  11. New Heat Record in Adelaide Yesterday, Adelaide Advertiser, 13 January 1939
  12. Long-term temperature record: Australia’s climate data FAQ, Bureau of Meteorology
  13. Weather Update: Heatwave in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, Bureau of Meteorology, 23 January 2019
  14. Average solar ultraviolet (UV) Index – BOM.gov.au
  15. Adelaide (Kent Town) "Daily maximum temperature", Bureau of Meteorology Adelaide, March 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  16. "SUMMER STAYS LATE". Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931–1954). 8 March 1934. p. 15. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  17. "Adelaide sweats in landmark heatwave". ABC News Online. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  18. Dutschke, Brett (12 November 2009). "Little relief from record heat in SA". Weatherzone. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  19. "Adelaide, South Australia November 2009 Daily Weather Observations". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  20. "Adelaide's hottest summer on record". ABC Online. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  21. Bureau of Metereology says heavy rains on way across South Australia on Friday, after scorching heat, The Australian, 12 February 2014
  22. "South Australia in Autumn 2014". Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  23. BoM: Adelaide Metro & Hills in May 2014: A warm end to autumn Accessed 5 June 2014.
  24. BoM: Special Climate Statement 49 – an exceptionally prolonged autumn warm spell over much of Australia 4 June 2014. Accessed 5 June 2014.
  25. "Adelaide's hottest October on record: Temperature 5 degrees hotter than the average, rainfall scarce". ABC News. 2 November 2015.
  26. "Hot and dry October conditions expected to continue into November". 1 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  27. "Adelaide swelters through hottest December night since 1897, as fourth day of heatwave expected". ABC Online. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  28. "SA News: It was Adelaide's hottest Christmas Day in 75 years but storms are developing on the west coast". Adelaide Now. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  29. "Rolling blackouts ordered as Adelaide swelters during heatwave". Adelaide Now. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  30. "Adelaide records lowest June rainfall in 59 years as winter dry spell frustrates farmers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
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