MEDIA RELEASE

May rainfall was above average across much of Victoria's north, but below average elsewhere, Bureau of Meteorology figures (to 9am, 31 May 1999) released today show.

The widespread rain in northern Victoria last weekend was encouraging, but falls were not heavy south of the Divide, and long-term serious and severe deficiencies in western and southern districts (since October 1996) were not eliminated by the weekend rain.

For example, in the Mallee, Mildura received 32 millimetres (normal 27mm) in May, contributing to an autumn total of only 47mm (normal 73mm) and a record-lowest total of 506mm for the 32 months ended May (normal 766mm).

However, in the North East, Benalla received 104mm (normal 71mm) during the month, and the autumn total was a useful 242mm (normal 170mm).

In South Gippsland, Leongatha received only 68mm (normal 92mm) during the month, contributing to an autumn total of only 166mm (normal 228mm) and a record-lowest total of only 1928mm for the 32 months ended May (normal 2351mm).

In Central Victoria, Melbourne received 63mm (normal 68mm) during the month, contributing to an autumn total of 153mm (normal 164mm), but the total for the 32 months ended May is a record-lowest 1280 mm (normal 1728mm).

In the Western District, Hamilton received only 36mm (normal 69mm) during the month, contributing to an autumn total of only 114 mm (normal 163mm) and a record-lowest total of only 1386mm for the 32 months ended May (normal 1800mm).

MAY TEMPERATURES
Temperatures were mostly mild, but there were some isolated very cold days in May.

The scenario in Melbourne (a mostly mild month, but with a very cold spell mid-month) was typical of most of Victoria. Melbourne's average maximum temperature was 18.5 degrees Celsius (normal 17.1 deg).

On 15 May, with a top temperature of only 10.2 deg, the city experienced the coldest May maximum for 22 years, and snow was reported in the outer suburbs. The average minimum temperature was 10.5 deg (normal 9.5 deg), but the minimum temperature on 16 May (3.1 deg) was the coldest in May since 1981.

Ends

For further information: Harvey Stern, climate meteorologist, tel: (03) 9669 4949, e-mail: h.stern@bom.gov.au
or, after hours, the senior forecaster, tel: (03) 9669 4921.

For information on the Web: http://www.bom.gov.au