Observed climate change: South Australia

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Rainfall in South Australia can vary significantly from year to year, and over decades. This variability means that different generations of farmers can have quite different perceptions of what ‘normal rainfall’ is for the state’s agricultural regions.

Since 1997, these agricultural regions have experienced a marked decline in growingseason (April–September) rainfall (Figure 1). This decline is mostly due to a drying trend in autumn, and, to a lesser extent, in winter (Figure 2). Season breaks are occurring later, and bringing less rainfall.

The spring rainfall trend shows a weak increase since 1950, while the summer rainfall trend shows an increase in the northwest. Overall, the trend in annual rainfall since 1950 shows a decline across the agricultural regions.