29
Figure 4.7: Maximum recorded daily rainfall, by month of year for the
Study Area
Source: Derived from Bureau of Meteorology
4.4.
Temperature
Long-term temperature records were available for the Adelaide Airport meteorological station. . Data
from meteorological stations in nearby areas indicate that the gradient in temperature away from the
coast is not as strong as it is for rainfall.
Temperature follows the expected seasonal pattern for southern Australia, with lowest temperatures
recorded during winter and highest temperatures being recorded during summer (
Figure 4.8
). Daily
temperatures during winter range between an average minimum of approximately 7°C and an average
maximum of about 15°C. Diurnal variation is greater in summer, with average daily minimum and
maximum temperature being about 16 and 27°C, respectively.
Air temperature is moderated somewhat by the effects of the nearby Gulf St Vincent. Frosts are
uncommon and have only been recorded between May and August. The lowest minimum temperature
recorded is -2.6°C (in 1982). While daytime temperature maxima are somewhat moderated by coastal
sea breezes, very high temperatures are not uncommon. Daily maxima greater than 40°C have been
recorded between November and March. The highest recorded temperature is 44.0°C (in 2009). Eleven
years have recorded annual maximum temperatures exceeding 42°C.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daily rainfall (mm)
Adelaide airport
Saltworks
North Adelaide Pooraka Seaton
