Media release - Thursday, 31 August 2000

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - VICTORIAN REGIONAL OFFICE

Dry end to winter as August rains fail

August 2000 was drier than average across most of Victoria, according to preliminary Bureau of Meteorology figures (Table 1) released today. All districts received less than their usual rainfall, with the exception of the Lower and Upper Northeast. Some districts received barely half their average (Table 2).

Nights were colder than usual. The state's lowest minimum temperature was -7.6 deg C at Falls Creek on 17 August. Away from the alps, the month's lowest minimum was -5.0 deg C at Ararat on the 17th. Victoria's highest maximum was 22.0 deg C at Ouyen on the 6th.

The winter as a whole was also mostly dry, with generally near normal temperatures (Table 3), though the Lower Northeast received slightly above average precipitation (Table 4). The state's lowest temperature for winter was -7.8 deg C at Falls Creek on 27 July, while the state's highest reading was 22.0 deg C at Ouyen on 6 August. Away from the alps, the season's lowest temperature was -5.0 deg C at Ararat on 17 August.

The dry winter follows four very dry years, particularly in southern districts. The only parts of Victoria not to have experienced four very dry years are the Lower and Upper Northeast, and also East Gippsland (Table 5).

In Melbourne, August overnight temperatures were close to normal, averaging 7.5 deg C (normal 7.4 deg C). Daytime maxima were above normal, averaging 15.7 deg C (normal 15.0 deg C). 49 mm of rain fell during the month (normal 57mm). The month's lowest temperature was 3.8 deg C on the 17th, while the month's highest reading was 19.4 deg C on the 4th.

Over the winter as a whole, Melbourne received 138 mm of rain (normal 149 mm), while temperatures were slightly above normal - overnight minima averaged 7.6 deg C (normal 7.1 deg C) and daytime maxima averaged 14.9 deg C (normal 14.3 deg C). The winter's lowest temperature was 2.2 deg C on 14 July, while the highest reading was 19.4 deg C on 4 August.

Ends

Further information: Dr Harvey Stern, tel: (03) 9669 4949,
or (after hours) the Senior Forecaster, tel: (03) 9669 4916.