Thursday, 30 September 2004

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - VICTORIA

Above average rains across Central Victoria in September 2004

Rainfall:

Central areas of Victoria received above average rainfall during September.  Towns such as Kerang received 63mm (average of 39mm) and Echuca 62mm (average of 40), along with the Mornington Peninsula area 120mm (average 72mm) were the most notable recipients of above average totals.  It was the wettest September since 1993 for the Kerang area when 104mm was recorded.  A 2 day total of 40mm was recorded between the 8th and 9th, which is the best 2 day total since Nov 2000 and highlights the lack of substantial rainfall events in recent years for that area.
Dry weather dominated the western and eastern thirds of the State during September.  In the northwest, Mildura received 8.8 mm (normal: 27.8 mm); in the southwest, Casterton received 52 mm (normal: 71.2 mm); in the northeast, Omeo received 56.0 mm (normal: 59.4 mm).
The highest daily total for the month was recorded at Point Hicks when 87.6mm fell on the 6th.

Temperature:

Daytime temperatures were generally slightly below normal in most districts, whilst night-time temperatures were generally above normal near the coast and near to normal inland.  
In the northwest, Mildura minimum and maximum temperatures averaged 7.1 deg C to 20.2 deg C (normals: 7.4/20.2); in the southwest, Casterton minimum and maximum temperatures averaged 7.3 deg C to 16.0 deg C (normals: 6.5/16.3); in the northeast, Omeo minimum and maximum temperatures averaged 3.1 deg C to 13.9 deg C (normals: 2.5/14.5); whilst in the southeast, Sale minimum and maximum temperatures averaged 5.8 deg C to 16.7 deg C (normals: 5.8/16.9).
The warmest day was September 26, when Mildura recorded 31.6 deg C, whilst the coldest night was that of September 10/11, when Mt Hotham registered minus 7.2 deg C.

Melbourne:

Rainfall was above average with 65mm, above the average of 53mm.  Rainfall was spread evenly across the month with the heaviest fall on the 8th when 16mm fell.
Minimum and maximum temperatures averaged 9.8 deg C to 17.2 deg C (normals: 8.7/17.2).  The warmest day in the city was on the 21st when the temperature reached 24.6°C.

Included in this summary are a table of State extremes, some new records, and summaries for sites across the State.

Please contact us for further information.

Victoria Climate Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Dr Harvey Stern (03) 9669 4949
Mr Neal Moodie (03) 9669 4906
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

Extremes

Weather extremes during September 2004
Highest temperature Hottest day	31.6 °C	Mildura Airport on 26th
Highest mean daily maximum temperature Warmest days on average	20.5 °C	Mildura Airport
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature Coolest days on average	2.4 °C	Mt Hotham
Lowest daily maximum temperature Coldest day	-2.3 °C	Mt Hotham on 11th
Lowest temperature Coldest night	-7.2 °C	Mt Hotham on 12th
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature Coldest nights on average	-1.7 °C	Mt Hotham
Highest mean daily minimum temperature Mildest nights on average	9.9 °C	Melbourne Regional Office
Highest daily minimum Warmest night	16.4 °C	Melbourne Regional Office on 22nd and Portland (Cashmore Airport) on 22nd
Highest total rainfall Wettest overall	128.8 mm	Point Hicks (Lighthouse)
Lowest total rainfall Driest overall	9.4 mm	Mildura Airport
Highest daily rainfall Wettest day	87.6 mm	Point Hicks (Lighthouse) on 6th

Records

Record Highest Mean Daily Minimum Temperature for September
	Mean daily minimum temperature for September 2004 (°C)	Previous highest for September		Years of record
Bairnsdale Airport	6.7	= 6.7	in 1998	24

Summaries

Summary statistics for September 2004
	Maximum temperatures for September (°C)			Minimum temperatures for September (°C)			Rainfall for September (mm)
	Mean for 2004	Difference from normal	Highest for 2004	Mean for 2004	Difference from normal	Lowest for 2004	Total for 2004	Normal total
Albury Airport	17.0		23.0	6.3		1.6	52
Bairnsdale Airport	16.9		24.4	6.7		1.5	49
Ballarat Aerodrome	13.3	-0.3	20.3	5.0	+0.2	-0.2	63	64
Benalla	17.3	+0.1	23.0	6.2	+0.9	1.0	81	68
Bendigo Airport	16.3		25.4	4.6		-1.0	62
Cape Otway Lighthouse	14.2	-0.6	25.0	9.0	+0.4	5.0	90	92
Castlemaine Prison	15.3	-0.4	23.6	5.0	+0.2	-1.2	70	59
Cerberus	15.6		23.6	7.7		3.2	120
Colac	13.8		21.7	6.7		1.3	45
Coldstream	15.7		22.0	6.6		2.1	99
East Sale Airport	16.7	-0.1	24.6	5.9	+0.1	0.3	62	53
Echuca Aerodrome	17.7	-0.4	27.6	5.6	-0.7	0.4	62	40
Geelong Airport	16.3		25.7	7.0		2.6	55
Hamilton Airport	14.7		24.6	6.3		1.8	48
Horsham	17.1	-0.2	27.2	4.9	-0.9	-1.0	47	45
Kerang	18.2	-0.4	28.3	6.3	-0.7	1.1	63	39
Kilmore Gap	12.2		18.1	5.7		0.4	94
Lake Eildon Goulburn Murray Water	16.3	+0.2	22.5	6.0	+0.5	0.1	111	84
Longerenong	16.7	-0.4	27.4	4.7	-0.8	-0.8	36	42
Mangalore Airport	16.4	-0.3	21.7	5.4	-0.1	0.7	62	58
Maryborough	16.1	-0.1	24.1	5.5	-0.1	-0.9	48	54
Melbourne Regional Office	17.3	+0.1	24.6	9.9	+1.2	4.6	65	53
Mildura Airport	20.5	+0.4	31.6	7.3	-0.1	1.4	9	28
Morwell	16.8		25.2	6.9		1.7	80
Mt Hotham	2.4		10.3	-1.7		-7.2	101
Nhill	17.0	-0.5	28.0	5.1	-0.4	-0.4	29	42
Noojee	14.9		24.1	6.2		1.2	122
Orbost	16.7		25.8	8.0		3.5	64
Ouyen	19.7	-0.2	31.1	7.0	+0.3	1.2	27	33
Point Hicks	16.7	+0.6	24.7	9.6	+0.2	2.2	129	79
Portland	14.7		26.1	7.9		2.1	69
Shepparton Airport	17.0		24.8	5.4		0.6	76
Stawell Aerodrome	15.6		24.9	5.8		1.0	44
Swan Hill Aerodrome	18.3		29.0	5.6		0.0	55
Wangaratta Aero	16.8		21.9	5.1		-0.6	55
Warracknabeal Museum	17.6		28.5	6.5		0.6	41	40
Warrnambool Airport Ndb	15.3		24.4	6.8		1.4	70
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	14.0	+0.1	24.0	9.6	+0.5	5.5	106	100
Wonthaggi	15.7	-0.1	23.9	8.4	+0.9	3.5	120	84
Yarrawonga	17.5		25.7	4.8		0.3	43

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 3 PM on Thursday 30 September 2004 . Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

Long term averages are calculated using the WMO standard of 1961 to 1990.

Localities with blank averages may not have long enough records for a WMO average. However, climate averages for nearby Victoria localities are available here.

Please use the following localities to cover these regions: Coldstream for the Yarra Glen area; Ceberus for the Mornington Peninsula; Morwell for the Latrobe Valley; Mangalore for Seymour; Mt Hotham for the Alpine area.

Daily Weather Observations for selected Victoria localities are available here.

Please contact us for further information.

Victoria Climate Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Dr Harvey Stern (03) 9669 4949
Mr Neal Moodie (03) 9669 4906
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au