Coldest September morning in 6 South Australia towns, dust storm warning
Six towns in South Australia shivered through the coldest September morning ever on September 17, 2019. Meanwhile, Adelaide is expected to hit 30 °C (86 °F) for the first time this spring season on September 19 before the temperatures plummet again starting September 20.
The town of Yunta experienced the coldest weather on the morning of September 17, with a temperature of -3.2 °C (26.24 °F) recorded after 06:00 LT.
Meanwhile, Murray Bridge faced the morning with a temperature of -3.1 °C (26.42 °F), Snowtown with -2.3 °C (27.86 °F), Kingscote with -2.2 °C (28.04 °F), and Kadina with -1.7 °C (28.94 °F). Strathalbyn was the coldest with a low of -0.2 °C (31.64 °F). The entire area of Adelaide had a record low of 8 °C (46.4 °F) at 02:30 LT.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Vince Rowlands said the unusually cold morning was mainly the result of clear skies and light winds. "It just allows the heat to escape from the atmosphere and we just get those really cold temperatures," he said.
Another cold start for #SouthAustralia. Some record September low temperatures recorded up to 6:30am: -3.2°C Yunta, -3.1°C Murray Bridge, -2.3°C Snowtown, -2.2°C Kingscote, -1.7°C Kadina and -0.2°C Strathalbyn Racecourse.
Check out observations at: https://t.co/ADiBiO86LW pic.twitter.com/ixOYutxT8o— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) September 17, 2019
Cold overnight temperatures observed due to clear skies and light winds associated with a high pressure system near southern #SouthAustralia. Coldest was -3.5 at Keith, then -2.9 at Kadina, #Adelaide dropped to 4.5C, reaching 17 today. All forecasts at https://t.co/Qefpsgbk3b pic.twitter.com/fqBMijzgzC
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) September 16, 2019
A dramatic cool down is expected by Friday, September 20, accompanied by strong winds.
"A large area of the state is very dry and that could potentially produce fairly widespread areas of dust," Matt Collopy, senior forecaster of Bureau of Meteorology, said.
The weather is predicted to drop at 16 °C (60.8 °F) with up to 15 mm (0.6 inches) of rain combined with gusts and dust storm.
Collopy said strong winds up to 100 km/h (62 mph) are forecast to hit Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Kingscote, Port Lincoln, Roxby Downs, and Whyalla on Thursday morning, September 19.
A hot, windy and dusty day for much of #SouthAustralia tomorrow, including #Adelaide. A Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds has been issued. Check details here: https://t.co/Jcp8MwQcGC Keep up to date and follow advice from @SA_SES @SAHealth @SAPoliceNews pic.twitter.com/xF5sU8XtlC
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) September 18, 2019
Northerly winds have reached gale force over Eyre Peninsula & Yorke Peninsula. Winds averaged 60-65 km/h at Cleve & Minlaton, gusts of 93 km/h at Cleve, 95 km/h at Minlaton. Severe Weather Warning is current. Check the observations here: https://t.co/Q281Sfuzvy
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) September 19, 2019
SES acting duty officer David O'Shannessy prompted motorists to be aware of surroundings and "avoid being under large trees that could fall under high winds."
Dr. Nicola Spurrier, SA health acting chief medical officer, recommended people suffering from respiratory problems to stay out of the dust.
Raised dust ahead of a cold front expected to pass through #southaustralia tomorrow (Thursday, 19 September) has prompted a warning to motorists from the @SA_SES .https://t.co/z7AXBDn0nJ pic.twitter.com/I7a6xCC6GK
— SA SES (@SA_SES) September 18, 2019
'Stay indoors': Warning for asthma sufferers as #SouthAustralia braces for possible dust storms | https://t.co/c6OxumAo51 @abcnews @BOM_SA @SA_SES @SAHealth pic.twitter.com/ycDafPiDbf
— ABC Emergency (@ABCemergency) September 18, 2019
Featured image: GFS/TropicalTidbits
Thanks to the SSW at 10hPa above the South Pole and the jet stream at 250hPa