Climate of Adelaide

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]

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.

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]

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 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 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]

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.

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.

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]

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 2017–18 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.

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 1939 previous record. On the Eastern side of Adelaide, the Adelaide (Kent Town) weather station recorded a temperature of 47.7 °C (117.9 °F).