Tuesday, 1 August 2006

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - VICTORIA

Variable rainfall and mild nights - Victoria in July 2006

Rainfall Summary

Average to below average rainfall was recorded in most areas during July although parts of Gippsland and northern Victoria received above average rainfall. 

The highest rainfall total for the month was 107.1 mm at Point Hicks (Lighthouse) on the Gippsland coast while Longerenong, in the Wimmera, received the lowest total rainfall of 23.4 mm.

Click here to view maps of rainfall for Victoria, and long term climate trends for Victoria.

Temperature Summary

Maximum temperatures were mostly near normal for July although in the northeast warmer conditions were experienced, with temperatures between 1 and 2 degrees above normal. The highest temperature (21.2 degrees) occurred at Mildura on the 10th.

Unlike June, when there were many cold, frosty nights, minimum temperatures were near normal or slightly higher during July. Eastern Victoria in particular experienced mild nights, with minimum temperatures between 1 and 3 degrees above normal. The mild nights were due to cloud cover, provided by cold fronts and other weather systems, acting like a blanket and trapping heat near the surface. The warmest night (minimum 12.5 degrees) occurred at Geelong Airport on the 17th.

Click here to view maps of temperature for Victoria, and long term climate trends for Victoria.

Significant Weather Systems

In contrast to June, when high pressures systems dominated over Victoria, there were a number of significant cold fronts and low pressure systems during July which brought much needed rain to the state.

Early in the month, on the 2nd, a cold front and associated low pressure system crossed Victoria bringing rain to most areas. The next significant cold front moved over the state on the 11th with strong to gale force winds ahead of and behind the front. Rainfall with this system was only patchy, however, with totals mostly 5 mm or less.

From the 15th to the 17th a low pressure system that had developed over inland Australia moved over northern Victoria and brought widespread significant rainfall to all districts.

A surface low pressure trough and upper level low on the 24th resulted in rain and thunderstorms, particularly in central Victoria. To finish the month, a cold front crossed Victoria on the 30th and 31st bringing rain to most districts and strong winds to southern and mountain areas.

Melbourne Summary

Included in this summary are a table of State extremes and summaries for locations across the State. Visit our maps of rainfall and temperatures for this month.

Please contact us for further information.

Victoria Climate Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Ms Monica Long (03) 9669 4949
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 AM on Tuesday 1 August 2006 . Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

Extremes

Weather extremes during July 2006
Highest temperature Hottest day	21.2 °C	Mildura Airport on 10th
Highest mean daily maximum temperature Warmest days on average	15.4 °C	Mildura Airport and Ouyen (Post Office)
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature Coolest days on average	-0.2 °C	Mt Hotham
Lowest daily maximum temperature Coldest day	-4.2 °C	Mt Hotham on 12th
Lowest temperature Coldest night	-6.7 °C	Mt Hotham on 19th
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature Coldest nights on average	-3.3 °C	Mt Hotham
Highest mean daily minimum temperature Mildest nights on average	9.5 °C	Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Highest daily minimum Warmest night	12.5 °C	Geelong Airport on 17th
Highest total rainfall Wettest overall	107.1 mm	Point Hicks (Lighthouse)
Lowest total rainfall Driest overall	23.4 mm	Longerenong
Highest daily rainfall Wettest day	30.8 mm	Kilmore Gap on 16th

Summaries

Summary statistics for July 2006
	Maximum temperatures for July (°C)			Minimum temperatures for July (°C)			Rainfall for July (mm)
	Mean for 2006	Difference from normal	Highest for 2006	Mean for 2006	Difference from normal	Lowest for 2006	Total for 2006	Normal total
Albury Airport	14.2	+1.4	17.3	3.4	+0.8	-2.8	52	89
Bairnsdale Airport	14.1	-0.2	17.7	5.2	+1.4	-1.7	62	53
Ballarat Aerodrome	11.0	+0.9	13.9	3.0	-0.1	-2.7	48	67
Benalla	14.5	+1.8	18.5	4.1	+1.4	-2.0	63	75
Bendigo Airport	13.1	+1.0	16.3	3.5	0	-1.7	59	63
Cape Otway Lighthouse	12.5	-0.2	15.3	8.7	+1.2	6.1	81	122
Castlemaine Prison	12.2	+0.4	16.0	3.6	+1.3	-3.9	75	61
Cerberus	13.8	+1.0	16.3	6.1	-1.5	-0.2	38	72
Colac	11.5	-1.2	14.3	5.4	+1.5	1.7	31	90
Coldstream	13.5	+0.3	16.5	3.9	+0.7	-4.4	51	78
East Sale Airport	14.3	+0.6	17.5	3.9	+1.0	-2.1	28	43
Echuca Aerodrome	14.5	+0.9	18.3	4.0	+0.5	-0.4	42	42
Geelong Airport	14.1	+0.5	17.0	5.9	+0.8	-0.8	28	52
Hamilton Airport	11.9	-0.3	14.2	3.8	-0.4	-1.2	52	66
Horsham	14.1	+0.7	16.6	2.9	-0.7	-2.5	32	54
Kerang	15.0	+1.0	17.8	4.8	+0.8	0.7	63	39
Kilmore Gap	9.3	+1.5	12.1	4.1	+1.6	0.5	87	83
Lake Eildon	13.2	+1.8	17.1	3.8	+0.3	-2.5	44	104
Longerenong	13.8	+0.4	17.1	3.2	-0.3	-1.7	23	50
Mangalore Airport	13.6	+1.3	16.8	4.5	+1.5	-0.8	50	61
Maryborough	13.0	+0.9	16.0	3.8	+0.5	-0.8	79	59
Melbourne Regional Office	14.5	+0.8	18.4	7.5	+1.0	2.6	51	49
Mildura Airport	15.4	0	21.2	4.3	-0.1	-1.9	28	26
Morwell	14.1	+0.7	17.6	4.6	+0.9	-0.6	30	69
Mt Hotham	-0.2	-0.5	6.3	-3.3	+0.8	-6.7	96	244
Nhill	14.1	+0.4	17.8	2.7	-1.0	-3.0	36	49
Noojee	12.1	+0.2	15.7	3.8	+1.0	-2.0	90	105
Orbost	14.6	-0.3	18.2	6.3	+2.0	0.3	75	74
Ouyen	15.4	+0.1	20.1	4.6	+0.4	0.0	29	31
Point Hicks	14.8	+0.8	18.5	8.6	+0.7	3.2	107	101
Portland	12.9	-0.1	15.3	5.7	-0.4	-1.2	89	104
Shepparton Airport	14.3	+1.5	19.0	4.3	+1.4	-2.5	32	55
Stawell Aerodrome	12.9	+0.7	15.1	3.9	0	-0.2	29	68
Swan Hill Aerodrome	15.0	+0.5	19.1	4.4	+0.3	-0.7	34	35
Wangaratta Aero	14.3	+1.6	18.4	2.6	+0.3	-3.7	55	70
Warracknabeal Museum	14.3	+0.3	18.2	3.9	+0.4	-0.2	29	42
Warrnambool Airport Ndb	13.0	0	15.9	5.4	+0.3	-1.9	69	96
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	12.5	+0.5	17.3	9.5	+1.1	5.5	77	134
Wonthaggi	14.0	+0.7	16.8	6.5	+0.7	2.2	53	104
Yarrawonga	14.3	+0.8	17.4	4.4	+1.2	-0.8	38	48

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 AM on Tuesday 1 August 2006 . 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.
Climate averages for 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
Ms Monica Long (03) 9669 4949
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au