Ben Domensino, 20 Apr 2013, 2:55 AM UTC
Cold night with rain on the way for SA
Widespread rain will quench South Australia's thirst after the coldest April night in more than a decade for the state's east.
Temperatures plummeted in the Murraylands and Lower South East districts on Friday night as clear skies and light winds allowed the day's heat to radiate away from the surface.
Gluepot, Loxton, Renmark and Coonawarra all cooled to a low of minus one degree, making it the coldest April night in 14 years.
In the state's capital, extra blankets would have been pulled from storage as the mercury dropped to just nine degrees, three below average and the coldest morning since November.
A high pressure ridge was responsible for the conditions that brought the nippy night, although a low pressure trough approaching from the west will bring a change in weather.
Thirsty farms and parks across southern and central parts of the state will receive a welcome drink on Sunday as the trough pushes across the state.
Widespread rainfall totals of 10-20mm are likely across the Agricultural Areas. The heaviest falls will occur over the Eyre Peninsula and West Coast, where falls of 20-30mm are likley.
So far this month, almost all of South Australia has seen well below average rainfall due to a lack of significant cold fronts and troughs. Those systems that did cross the state brought little in the way of rain.
Adelaide has only recorded 3mm so far this month, around eight percent of the monthly average and the tenth consecutive month below the long term norm. Elizabeth has not recorded a single drop during April, which has not happened since record keeping began there in 1973.
Further inland, Clare is having the driest April in its 17 years of records, with just 0.4mm recorded to date. In the South East, Coonawarra's 2.8mm so far in April is the lowest total for the month in at least 25 years.
Sunday's rain is sure to be a welcome relief, although it may not be enough to ease farmers' worries.
Unfortunately, there are no indications of further heavy rainfall during the next fortnight, with fronts and troughs baring little moisture once again.
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