MEDIA RELEASE

Bureau of Meteorology figures released today show that November rainfall across Victoria was above average, except in the South Wimmera where it was slightly below average and on the West Coast where rainfall was 25 per cent below the average.
Mean maximum and minimum temperatures were generally below average.

NOVEMBER RAIN Rainfall was well above normal in the Mallee. Swan Hill recorded 126 millimetres (normal 30mm). Most of this fell in the 24 hours to 9am on 12 November, when 111mm was reported - a record for one day.
In the northern country, Echuca recorded 95mm (normal 30 mm).
In the north-east, Benalla recorded 114mm (normal 46 mm).
The west coast was the driest part of the state. Port Campbell received only 5.4mm (normal 61mm).This is a record low for November. The previous record low was 6mm in 1894.
Melbourne recorded 59mm for the month (normal 57 mm).

SEASONAL RAIN Spring rainfall was normal or above normal across the state, except in East Gippsland where there was a deficiency of 10 per cent.
But rainfall deficiencies for the past 26 months are the worst on record over much of Central Victoria. Melbourne has recorded 994mm since October 1996 (normal 1413mm). The previous record low of 1017mm fell between October 1966 and November 1968.
Rainfall deficiencies are also the worst on record over West and South Gippsland. Leongatha has recorded only 1564mm since October 1996 (normal 1966mm). The previous record low of 1693mm fell between October 1942 and November 1944.

TEMPERATURES The month was a cool one. Average minimum and maximum temperatures were generally one to two degrees below the normal. Melbourne's November average minimum was 11.70C (normal 12.00C), while the average maximum was 21.90C (normal 21.80C).
During spring, temperatures were just slightly cooler than normal.

Ends

For further information contact: Senior forecaster, Victorian Regional Office, (03) 9669 4921