Monday, 31 January 2005

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - VICTORIA

Wettest January in 21 years for parts of Western Victoria

Parts of Western Victoria recorded their wettest January in 21 years with rainfall totals almost twice the average.  Nhill recorded 68mm during January, the highest since 69mm was recorded in 1984, whilst Longerenong  recorded 64mm, the highest since 1984 when 68mm fell.  There were some spectacular rainfall totals recorded during thunderstorms towards the end of the month.  Geelong recorded 86mm in 2 hours and 20 minutes during the evening of the 26th, including 2cm hail and wind gusts over 110km/h.  Lookout Hill, North West of Ballarat, recorded 49mm in 1 hour during the evening of the 27th.

Rainfall elsewhere in the state was above average in the North East, and South of the state, and dry through Central Victoria and the Far East.  See Map.  There were several lengthy dry spells during January punctuated by thunderstorm activity on the 4th, 20th and 26-27th, resulting in the non-uniform spread of rainfall across the state.

Temperatures were very slightly above average across the state with pockets of below average temperatures in the North East and North West of the state.  The first 10 days of the month were below average, followed by a 2 week period of above average temperatures, and finished off with a period of below average temperatures.  The hottest day was recorded on the 11th with 42.4°C recorded at Horsham.

Melbourne recorded 23.8mm for the month on 10 days, well below the average of 47mm.  Temperatures were above average in the city, with maximum temperatures averaging 26.4°C, +0.5°C above average, and average minimum temperatures of 15.9°C, +0.8°C above average.  There were 5 days above 35°C, the highest since 2003, one day above average.

Included in this summary are a table of State extremes, 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 January 2005
Highest temperature Hottest day	42.4 °C	Horsham (Polkemmet) on 11th
Lowest temperature Coldest night	-3.1 °C	Mt Hotham on 7th
Highest total rainfall Wettest overall	115.6 mm	Geelong Airport
Highest daily rainfall Wettest day	100.0 mm	Geelong Airport on 27th

Summaries

Summary statistics for January 2005
	Maximum temperatures for January (°C)			Minimum temperatures for January (°C)			Rainfall for January (mm)
	Mean for 2005	Difference from normal	Highest for 2005	Mean for 2005	Difference from normal	Lowest for 2005	Total for 2005	Normal total
Albury Airport	31.0	+0.3	37.1	15.3	-0.1	7.5	70	59
Bairnsdale Airport	25.8	+0.4	36.8	12.9	+0.3	6.3	59	56
Ballarat Aerodrome	25.2	+0.1	36.0	11.2	+0.1	4.9	34	43
Benalla	30.2	-0.5	37.5	15.2	+0.9	6.5	33	39
Bendigo Airport	29.0	+0.2	38.9	13.6	-0.7	5.6	22	37
Cape Otway Lighthouse	21.3	+0.5	37.6	13.7	+0.3	8.3	53	43
Castlemaine Prison	27.2	-1.2	36.8	12.3	-0.4	4.8	41	37
Cerberus	24.0	-1.3	35.9	13.3	-2.6	7.3	54	42
Colac	24.9	-1.1	38.2	12.0	+1.1	7.5	52	39
Coldstream	26.6	-1.5	35.4	11.0	+1.2	2.9	29	55
East Sale Airport	25.9	+0.6	35.7	12.8	0	5.7	32	49
Echuca Aerodrome	30.8	+0.1	39.1	14.7	-0.1	7.1	15	36
Geelong Airport	25.2	+0.7	40.4	12.6	-0.6	6.4	116	32
Hamilton Airport	26.6	-0.5	40.2	11.2	+0.4	6.0	17	29
Horsham	29.8	0	42.4	12.6	-0.9	5.9	22	27
Kerang	31.3	0	40.5	15.4	+0.2	7.1	24	31
Kilmore Gap	23.8	na	32.9	11.7	na	5.3	33	na
Lake Eildon Goulburn Murray Water	28.4	+0.3	35.1	12.7	+0.5	5.6	41	50
Longerenong	29.7	+0.2	41.5	12.8	0	3.5	65	28
Mangalore Airport	29.8	+0.7	38.0	14.0	+0.3	3.3	10	41
Maryborough	28.3	-0.3	38.7	13.1	+0.1	6.3	25	38
Melbourne Regional Office	26.4	+0.5	38.8	15.9	+0.8	10.5	24	47
Mildura Airport	32.4	+0.5	42.2	16.7	+0.2	9.2	19	22
Morwell	26.8	+1.2	36.1	12.6	+0.1	5.3	44	56
Mt Hotham	15.2	-0.9	21.2	7.4	+0.6	-3.1	111	88
Nhill	29.8	+0.1	42.3	12.3	-0.6	4.5	68	25
Noojee	24.7	na	33.9	11.3	na	5.2	63	na
Orbost	25.7	+0.3	35.6	13.8	+0.4	6.4	44	63
Ouyen	31.3	-0.8	42.2	15.7	+0.4	9.0	41	21
Point Hicks	24.3	+1.1	33.0	16.0	+0.5	12.5	30	64
Portland	22.3	+0.6	39.7	12.1	+0.1	5.6	27	33
Shepparton Airport	30.5	+0.7	38.2	14.4	+0.1	6.9	14	38
Stawell Aerodrome	28.6	+0.9	40.1	12.4	-0.2	5.5	33	36
Swan Hill Aerodrome	31.3	0	41.0	15.5	+2.9	8.0	57	36
Wangaratta Aero	30.4	-0.8	37.8	12.6	-1.6	5.6	32	48
Warracknabeal Museum	30.6	+0.3	41.5	13.8	+0.2	6.0	50	27
Warrnambool Airport Ndb	24.3	+1.8	39.3	11.0	-0.4	5.5	59	49
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	20.6	+0.2	30.2	15.2	+0.9	11.6	28	51
Wonthaggi	23.9	+0.3	34.9	13.7	+1.2	8.9	52	48
Yarrawonga	30.9	na	38.3	14.8	na	6.7	26	na

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 PM on Monday 31 January 2005 . 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; Cerberus 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