February
temperatures were above average over South Australia with many centres
breaking long standing daily temperature records for the month.
The highest temperature
recorded was 47.9°C at Marree on 16
February, and is the highest temperature recorded in South Australia
for February, although it does equal the temperature recorded at
Tarcoola on 17 February 1992.
During
the month Adelaide
endured 17 consecutive days with a maximum temperature at or above 30°C. This was the
longest spell of temperatures above this mark ever recorded in
Adelaide, the previous record being 14 days in 1956 and 1930.
The
hot spell also included an official
heatwave (5 consecutive days
or more at or above 35°C) of 8 days, from 13 February to 20 February.
During this heatwave the maximum temperature peaked at 44.3°C on 14
February, the
hottest ever February day in Adelaide and the third
hottest day ever experienced in Adelaide. The hottest day in Adelaide
was 12 January 1939, when temperature reached 46.1°C.
The following country locations also recorded highest ever February maximums:
Port Lincoln (44.2, previously 43.4, 3/2/1993)
Snowtown (45.2, previously 44.8, 16/2/1983)
Nuriootpa (43.0,
previously 42.1, 20/2/1980)
The mean maximum
temperature for February 2004 was 32.2°C, which is 2.8°C above the
normal February mean maximum of 29.4°C. The mean February maximum
last year was 29.2°C. This has been the warmest February since 2000
when the mean maximum was 32.3°C.
The mean maximum
temperature for summer was 29.0°C, which is 0.7°C above the average
of 28.3°C. Last summer the mean maximum temperature was 29.5°C.
The mean minimum
temperature for February 2004 was 17.8°C, which is 0.6°C above the
normal February mean minimum of 17.2°C. Last February, the mean
minimum was 17.4°C.
The mean minimum
temperature for summer was 16.5°C, which is equal to the average of
16.5°C. Last summer the mean minimum temperature was 17.2°C.