More than a dozen places in South Australia recorded their hottest September day as temperatures soared 10 to 15 degrees Celsius above average, ABC News reports.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said hot, dry and gusty northerly winds spreading across the state caused the burst of heat. "This time of year we normally see temperatures in the high teens to the low 20s, and for many areas we saw temperatures get into the mid to high 30s," he said. "It felt more like January than September."

September records fell at Port Pirie (35.9C), Kadina (34.4C), Clare (31.5C), Minlaton (35.2C), Edithburgh (34.4C), Parawa (27.7C), Murray Bridge (35.8C), Mount Lofty (27.9C), Roseworthy (35.9C), Edinburgh (35.2C), Parafield (35.6C), Noarlunga (33.2C), Hindmarsh Island (34.4C) and Cape Willoughby (28.1C) on Kangaroo Island.

Adelaide, with more than 100 years of records, had its second hottest September day at 34.4C at 1.36pm; its hottest remains 35.1C, recorded at West Terrace in 1961. Port Augusta was the hottest place in the state at 37.9C, though not a September record there.

A cool change was expected overnight and the next day, bringing temperatures back to the low 20s for most of the state for the rest of the week, with widespread cloud, showers and possible thunderstorms through southern parts on Thursday and Friday.

Photo: Orderinchaos / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Source: ABC Rural