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Ever wondered about South Australia’s temperature and rainfall records? Here they are.

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From South Australia’s record high temperatures and lows, to the highest rainfall days, months and years, here’s some data that might surprise you.

As South Australia starts to really kick into Winter weather with chilly mornings, and rainy days, we thought we’d do some digging to find out some of SA’s temperature records. We’ve also included some info on where we sit in the national records, plus June’s record lows.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Temperature and Rainfall Records

Highest Temperature

  1. 50.7°C – 2 January 1960 – Oodnadatta Airport (Station no. 17043, Lat: −27.56, Long: 135.45)
  2. 50.3°C – 3 January 1960 – Oodnadatta Airport (Station no. 17043, Lat: −27.56, Long: 135.45)
  3. 49.9°C – 19 December 2019 – Nullarbor (Station no. 18106, Lat: −31.45, Long: 130.90)

Lowest Temperature

  1. −8.2°C – 20 July 1976 – Yongala (Station no. 19062, Lat: −33.03, Long: 138.75)
  2. −8.1°C – 16 June 1959 – Yongala (Station no. 19062, Lat: −33.03, Long: 138.75)
  3. −7.9°C – 10 July 1958 – Yongala (Station no. 19062, Lat: −33.03, Long: 138.75)

Rainfall – Highest Daily

  1. 272.6 mm – 14 March 1989 – Motpena (Station no. 17098, Lat: −31.19, Long: 138.28)
  2. 247.0 mm – 14 March 1989 – Nilpena (Station no. 17113, Lat: −31.01, Long: 138.23)
  3. 246.0 mm – 14 March 1989 – Balcanoona (Station no. 17010, Lat: −30.53, Long: 139.30)

Rainfall – Highest Monthly

  1. 676.0 mm – March 1989 – Balcanoona (Station no. 17010, Lat: −30.53, Long: 139.30)
  2. 536.0 mm – January 1974 – Innamincka (Station no. 17028, Lat: −27.72, Long: 140.76)
  3. 466.1 mm – April 1889 – Mintaro (Station no. 21033, Lat: −33.93, Long: 138.68)

Rainfall – Highest Annual

  1. 1852.6 mm – 1917 – Aldgate (Station no. 23768, Lat: −35.02, Long: 138.75)
  2. 1850.0 mm – 1909 – Mount Lofty (Station no. 23766, Lat: −35.02, Long: 138.72)
  3. 1839.5 mm – 1917 – Stirling (Station no. 23745, Lat: −35.03, Long: 138.72)

So where does SA sit in the National totals? We thought you’d never ask.

NATIONAL WEATHER EXTREMES – TEMPERATURE & RAINFALL

Highest Temperature (by State)

  • Western Australia: 50.7°C – 13 January 2022 – Onslow Airport (Station no. 5017, Lat: −21.67, Long: 115.11)
  • South Australia: 50.7°C – 2 January 1960 – Oodnadatta Airport (Station no. 17043, Lat: −27.56, Long: 135.45)
  • New South Wales: 50.1°C – 11 January 1939 – Wilcannia Post Office (Station no. 46043, Lat: −31.56, Long: 143.37)
  • Queensland: 49.5°C – 24 December 1972 – Birdsville Police Station (Station no. 38002, Lat: −25.90, Long: 139.35)
  • Victoria: 48.8°C – 7 February 2009 – Hopetoun Airport (Station no. 77010, Lat: −35.72, Long: 142.36)
  • Northern Territory: 48.3°C – 2 January 1960 – Finke Post Office (Station no. 15526, Lat: −25.58, Long: 134.57)
    • 48.3°C – 1 January 1960 – Finke Post Office (same station and location)
  • Tasmania: 42.2°C – 30 January 2009 – Scamander (Station no. 92094, Lat: −41.46, Long: 148.26)

Lowest Temperature (by State)

  • New South Wales: −23.0°C – 29 June 1994 – Charlotte Pass (Kosciusko Chalet) (Station no. 71003, Lat: −36.43, Long: 148.33)
  • Tasmania: −14.2°C – 7 August 2020 – Liawenee (Station no. 96033, Lat: −41.90, Long: 146.67)
  • Victoria:
    • −11.7°C – 3 July 1970 – Falls Creek (Station no. 83071, Lat: −36.87, Long: 147.28)
    • −11.7°C – 15 June 1965 – Omeo Comparison (Station no. 83025, Lat: −37.10, Long: 147.60)
  • Queensland:
    • −10.6°C – 12 July 1965 – Warwick (The Hermitage) (Station no. 41004, Lat: −28.21, Long: 152.10)
    • −10.6°C – 23 June 1961 – Stanthorpe (Leslie Parade) (Station no. 41095, Lat: −28.66, Long: 151.93)
  • South Australia: −8.2°C – 20 July 1976 – Yongala (Station no. 19062, Lat: −33.03, Long: 138.75)
  • Northern Territory: −7.5°C – 17 July 1976 – Alice Springs Airport (Station no. 15590, Lat: −23.80, Long: 133.89)
  • Western Australia: −7.2°C – 17 August 2008 – Eyre (Station no. 11019, Lat: −32.25, Long: 126.00)

Rainfall – Highest Daily (by State)

  • Queensland: 907.0 mm – 3 February 1893 – Crohamhurst (Station no. 40062, Lat: −26.81, Long: 152.87)
  • New South Wales: 809.2 mm – 21 February 1954 – Dorrigo (Myrtle Street) (Station no. 59067, Lat: −30.34, Long: 152.71)
  • Western Australia: 747.0 mm – 3 April 1898 – Whim Creek (Station no. 4042, Lat: −20.84, Long: 117.84)
  • Northern Territory: 562.0 mm – 11 January 2020 – Dum In Mirrie Airstrip (Station no. 14277, Lat: −12.64, Long: 130.37)
  • Victoria: 375.0 mm – 22 March 1983 – Tanybryn (Station no. 90076, Lat: −38.68, Long: 143.68)
  • Tasmania: 352.0 mm – 22 March 1974 – St Marys (Cullenswood) (Station no. 92009, Lat: −41.59, Long: 148.13)
  • South Australia: 272.6 mm – 14 March 1989 – Motpena (Station no. 17098, Lat: −31.19, Long: 138.28)

Rainfall – Highest Monthly (by State)

  • Queensland: 5387.0 mm – January 1979 – Bellenden Ker (Top Station) (Station no. 31141, Lat: −17.29, Long: 145.92)
  • New South Wales: 1620.6 mm – January 1974 – Upper Crystal Creek (Station no. 58150, Lat: −28.28, Long: 153.31)
  • Western Australia: 1540.4 mm – January 2011 – Kuri Bay^ (Station no. 1009, Lat: −15.49, Long: 124.52)
  • Northern Territory: 1252.1 mm – January 2003 – Redbank Mine (Station no. 14718, Lat: −17.19, Long: 137.74)
  • Victoria: 989.6 mm – July 1964 – Falls Creek (Station no. 83037, Lat: −36.87, Long: 147.28)
  • Tasmania: 984.0 mm – October 1988 – Mount Mawson (Station no. 95053, Lat: −42.68, Long: 146.58)
  • South Australia: 676.0 mm – March 1989 – Balcanoona (Station no. 17010, Lat: −30.53, Long: 139.30)

Rainfall – Highest Annual (by State)

  • Queensland: 12461.0 mm – 2000 – Bellenden Ker (Top Station) (Station no. 31141, Lat: −17.29, Long: 145.92)
  • Tasmania: 4998.4 mm – 2016 – Mount Read (Station no. 97085, Lat: −41.84, Long: 145.54)
  • New South Wales: 4539.7 mm – 1950 – Tallowwood Point (Station no. 59066, Lat: −30.35, Long: 152.87)
  • Northern Territory: 3866.6 mm – 2011 – Lake Evella (Station no. 14515, Lat: −12.50, Long: 135.80)
  • Victoria: 3738.5 mm – 1956 – Falls Creek (Station no. 83037, Lat: −36.86, Long: 147.28)
  • Western Australia: 2461.8 mm – 2011 – Doongan (Station no. 1025, Lat: −15.38, Long: 126.31)
  • South Australia: 1852.6 mm – 1917 – Aldgate (Station no. 23768, Lat: −35.02, Long: 138.75)

And if you thought this morning felt chilly, here’s the lowest minimum temperatures from around South Australia for Sunday June 14th.

Lowest Daily Minimum Temperatures – South Australia (14 June 2025)

  1. 0.2°C – Loxton Research Centre
  2. 1.6°C – Ernabella (Pukatja)
  3. 1.7°C – Renmark Aero
  4. 2.0°C – Arkaroola
  5. 2.4°C – Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot)
  6. 2.7°C – Lameroo (Austin Plains)
  7. 3.0°C – Karoonda
  8. 3.2°C – Yongala
  9. 3.4°C – Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Aerodrome)
  10. 3.7°C – Yunta Airstrip

And the lowest temperatures in South Australia in June on record? Well, they were a lot colder. This is based on data up to 31 December 2022 (which is what is available on BOM currently).

Lowest Official June Temperatures – South Australia

  1. −8.1°C – Yongala
  2. −7.7°C – Yongala
  3. −7.3°C – Yongala
  4. −7.2°C – Yongala
  5. −7.1°C – Yunta Airstrip
  6. −7.0°C – Yunta Airstrip
  7. −7.0°C – Yunta Airstrip
  8. −7.0°C – Mount Crawford Forest Headquarters
  9. −6.9°C – Yongala
  10. −6.7°C – Gluepot Reserve (Gluepot)

Love finding out more about weather extremes? Here’s the source for your researching pleasure: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/extremes/

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