Thursday, 2 January 2014 - Annual Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in 2013: 3rd warmest year on record

Victoria in 2013 was characterised by:

• the 3rd warmest overall temperature on record
• the 3rd warmest maximum and minimum temperatures on record
• high rainfall totals along parts of the coast.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Mostly close to normal rainfall

Preliminary rainfall data indicate that Victoria has recorded near average rainfall for the State as a whole. However, some coastal parts reported above average rainfall while much of the northeast was more than 100 mm drier than normal. Large parts of the State recorded below average to very much below average rainfall during summer 2012-13 with autumn also drier than usual. Winter delivered above average rainfall to most parts tending to very much above average in the south, while spring saw above average rainfall in southern coastal areas but below average rainfall in the north.

The wettest station overall was Falls Creek (Rocky Valley) in the Alpine region with 2530.8 mm and the driest overall was Mildura Airport in the far northwest with 213.6 mm. The wettest single day was 14 June when Mount Baw Baw recorded 145.4 mm, however most stations outside of Gippsland reported 24 hour totals of less than 40 mm. Some sites had their highest daily rainfall on record and others their highest annual rainfall on record, whilst a couple of stations reported their lowest total rainfall on record.

Overall, Victoria's area-average rainfall was 608.46 mm, which is 92% of the 1961-90 average of 660.19 mm. There is a map of rainfall deciles below. A couple of stations reported their lowest total rainfall on record.

Overall temperatures the 3rd warmest on record

Mean temperatures (the average of maximum and minimum temperatures) were warmer than normal in 2013. The area average mean temperature was 15.14 °C, which is 1.04 °C warmer than the 1961-90 average of 14.10 °C. That makes 2013 the 3rd warmest on record for mean temperature. The warmest station on average was Mildura Airport in the far northwest with 18.3 °C and the coolest on average was Mount Hotham in the alpine region with 5.2 °C.

Daytime temperatures 3rd warmest on record

Victoria's area-averaged maximum temperature was 21.16 °C, which is 1.30 °C warmer than the 1961-90 average of 19.86 °C, making 2013 Victoria's 3rd hottest year on record for daytime temperatures. Several stations reported their warmest year for maximum temperatures.

Many locations reported their hottest temperature for 2013 in early January when widespread heat affected much of the country including 45.7 °C at Yarrawonga on 5 January, the highest temperature of 2013. Mallacoota had their highest temperature on record . Victoria also experienced a significant heatwave in the first weeks of March.

The coldest day was 19 August when Mount Hotham recorded -5.2 °C. The warmest days on average were recorded at Mildura Airport with 25.7 °C, whilst Mount Hotham recorded the coolest on average with 8.4 °C. There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.

Overnight temperatures the 3rd warmest on record

The area-averaged minimum temperature was 9.12 °C, which is 0.78 °C warmer than the 1961-90 average of 8.34 °C, making 2013 Victoria's 3rd warmest year on record for minimum temperatures. The coldest night of the year was 13 September when Mount Hotham recorded -8.1 °C and much of the Alpine region recorded overnight temperatures up to 8 °C cooler than usual for September. The warmest night was 5 January when Echuca Aerodrome recorded 29.0 °C; Melbourne Regional Office reported a midnight temperature of 34.7 °C (the 3rd warmest on record). Viewbank had their lowest temperature on record and other stations their warmest year for minimum temperatures. The coolest nights on average were recorded at Mount Hotham with 2.0 °C, whilst Gabo Island Lighthouse recorded the warmest on average with 12.8 °C. There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.

Wind

The strongest wind gust was 165 km/h recorded at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on 26 September.

Further information

Victorian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956

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Extremes in 2013
Hottest day	45.7 °C at Yarrawonga on 5 Jan
Warmest days on average	25.7 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average	8.4 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day	-5.2 °C at Mount Hotham on 19 Aug
Coldest night	-8.1 °C at Mount Hotham on 13 Sep
Coolest nights on average	2.0 °C at Mount Hotham
Warmest nights on average	12.8 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Warmest night	29.0 °C at Echuca Aerodrome on 5 Jan
Warmest on average overall	18.3 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest on average overall	5.2 °C at Mount Hotham
Wettest overall	2530.8 mm at Falls Creek (Rocky Valley)
Driest overall	213.6 mm at Mildura Airport
Wettest day	145.4 mm at Mount Baw Baw on 14 Jun
Highest wind gust	165 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on 26 Sep

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps

Anomaly in mean maximum temperature

Anomaly in mean minimum temperature

Rainfall deciles

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Month by month
January 2013 saw the warmest January maximum temperatures on record in the far east. Temperatures were very much above average over the rest of the east, tending to above average in the west. Maximum temperatures were 10th warmest on record. Minimum temperatures were above average in East Gippsland but close to normal in most other parts. Rainfall was the lowest on record for January over large parts of the centre and south. January rainfall was 8th driest on record.
Daytime temperatures in February were very much above average in the south tending to above average in the north. Maximum temperatures were 10th warmest on record. Night-time temperatures were very much above average along the southwest coast and above average for the rest of the State. Rainfall was average to above average for most of the State.
March2013 delivered the hottest March temperatures on record along parts of the southwest coast between the Surf Coast and Warrnambool. Daytime temperatures were very much above average in the south tending to above average in the north, averaging 5th warmest on record. Night-time temperatures were very much above average over western and central districts tending to above average in the east, averaging 8th warmest on record. Rainfall was above average in the North East district, below average over large parts of the west, and close to normal elsewhere.
Daytime temperatures in April were warmer than normal in the west and close to average in the east. Overnight temperatures were also above average in parts of the north and east of the State, but were close to normal elsewhere. Rainfall was below average to very much below average across the State except for East Gippsland and the Mallee where it was mostly close to normal.
May delivered very much above average daytime temperatures to parts of the South West district. They were mostly above average elsewhere, except for the North East district where they were close to normal. Night-time temperatures were mostly close to normal. Rainfall was mostly close to normal except for East Gippsland where it was below to very much below average.
Daytime temperatures were mostly above average during June . Overnight temperatures were above average in parts of East Gippsland and the Mallee districts but were close to normal in most other parts. Most of Gippsland and the Central, Mallee and Wimmera districts recorded above average to very much above average rainfall, the State observing its 10th wettest June on record.
Maximum temperatures in July 2013 were the highest on record over parts of East Gippsland and eastern parts of the Central district. Elsewhere, they were very much above average tending to above average in the far west. Maximum temperatures were 4th warmest on record. Nights were the warmest on record around Omeo and very much above average in most other parts, and 8th warmest for the State as a whole. Rainfall was very much above average in parts of the South West, Wimmera and North East districts but below average tending to lowest on record in East Gippsland.
August daytime temperatures were mostly above average except for parts of the North East and Northern Country districts where they were close to normal. Overnight temperatures were the warmest on record for August for parts of the South West and Central districts, and 2nd warmest on record for the State as a whole. They were very much above average in most other parts. Rainfall was the highest on record for August over the far southwest and above average over most of the south.
September2013 was the warmest on record for maximum temperatures in the Mallee, South West and the Central district. Elsewhere, maximum temperatures were very much above average, averaging 2nd warmest for Victoria overall. Average night-time temperatures were the warmest on record for September over most of the State. Rainfall was mostly close to normal.
October daytime temperatures were above average in the parts of the north and far east but elsewhere they were typical. Overnight temperatures were warmer than usual in parts of the south but cooler than usual in parts of the north. Rainfall was above average in the South West and below average in parts of the Northern Country and North East districts. Elsewhere, rainfall totals were close to normal.
November maximum temperatures were cooler than normal in the southwest, while minimum temperatures were below average in the northwest. Conditions were drier than normal in the north and west.
December was drier than normal in parts of the west. Daytime temperatures were above average for most of the state. Overnight temperatures were warmer than usual over most of Gippsland.

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Record highest daily rainfall
	Highest daily rainfall in 2013 (mm)		Previous annual wettest		Years of record
Dellicknora (Tellicura)	136.0	on 29 Jan	127.0	on 28 Jan 1920	97
Balook	184.2	on 14 Jun	161.4	on 3 Feb 2005	15
Broken River at Benalla	91.2	on 28 Feb	75.2	on 1 Mar 2012	14
Gardiners Creek @ Gardiner	64.4	on 1 Jun	63.0	on 27 Nov 2011	11
Nhill Aerodrome	65.6	on 12 Jun	65.4	on 12 Jan 2011	11

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Record highest total annual rainfall
	Total rainfall for 2013 (mm)	Previous annual wettest		Years of record	Annual average
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	1157.2	1040.8	in 1992	31	836.1
Port Fairy AWS	952.0	923.0	in 2007	19	702.9
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	997.6	868.6	in 2001	18	714.8
Strathbogie (Mount Wombat)	1149.8	1076.4	in 2010	11	642.9
Angler's Rest (Big River at Joker Creek)	929.8	928.4	in 2012	10	640.0

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Record lowest total annual rainfall
	Total rainfall for 2013 (mm)	Previous annual driest		Years of record	Annual average
Avoca (Homebush)	367.0	379.2	in 1997	16	525.2
Balook (Mount Tassie)	840.6	850.2	in 2009	13	1091.6

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Record highest temperature
	Highest temperature in 2013 (°C)		Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Mallacoota	42.0	on 18 Jan	41.6	on 1 Feb 2011	21	19.3

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Record highest annual mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for 2013 (°C)	Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Ouyen (Post Office)	25.3	24.9	in 1982	75	23.6
Mildura Airport	25.7	25.2	in 2009	66	23.8
Ararat Prison	20.4	= 20.4	in 2007	43	19.1
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	20.1	20.0	in 2009	41	19.0
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	18.6	18.4	in 2012	30	17.6
Mortlake Racecourse	20.2	20.1	in 2007	21	19.1
Port Fairy AWS	19.4	19.3	in 2007	21	18.6
Redesdale	21.4	= 21.4	in 2006	19	20.2
Mount Nowa Nowa	19.8	19.7	in 2009	17	18.9
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	18.4	18.1	in 2012	16	17.5
Swan Hill Aerodrome	24.7	24.6	in 2009	16	23.7
Warrnambool Airport NDB	19.6	19.5	in 2009	14	18.9
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	19.2	18.9	in 2007	12	18.2

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Record lowest temperature
	Lowest temperature in 2013 (°C)		Previous annual coolest		Years of record	Annual average
Viewbank	-1.3	on 23 Jun	= -1.3	on 20 Aug 2003	15	9.8

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Record highest annual mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for 2013 (°C)	Previous annual warmest		Years of record	Annual average
Ouyen (Post Office)	10.6	= 10.6	in 2009	75	9.6
Wonthaggi	10.8	10.6	in 2001	41	9.6
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	10.0	9.9	in 2011	30	9.3
Aireys Inlet	11.1	= 11.1	in 2007	21	10.6
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	12.0	11.9	in 2007	16	11.4
Warrnambool Airport NDB	9.2	9.0	in 2011	14	8.4

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for 2013
	Maximum temperatures (°C)				Minimum temperatures (°C)				Rainfall (millimetres)
	Mean for 2013	Diff from average	Highest for 2013		Mean for 2013	Diff from average	Lowest for 2013		Total for 2013	Average annual total	Rank of 2013	Fraction of annual average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	25.7	+1.9	45.0	17 Jan	10.9	+0.6	-1.9	10 Jul	213.6	290.8	low	73%
Ouyen (Post Office)	25.3	+1.7	45.0	4 Jan	10.6	+1.0	0.5	10 Jul	244.5	331.3	low	74%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	24.3		45.4	17 Jan	9.0		-1.7	9 Jul	216.0
Swan Hill Aerodrome	24.7	+1.0	45.4	5 Jan	9.6	+0.4	-1.9	1 Aug	235.6	308.8	low	76%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome	22.6		43.8	4 Jan	9.3		0.5	2 May	374.8	330.5	high	113%
Warracknabeal Museum	23.1	+0.8	43.9	4 Jan	9.2	+0.5	-1.0	9 Jul	345.1	397.7	average	87%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	21.3		43.7	4 Jan	9.1		-0.4	9 Jul	521.8
Grampians (Mount William)	13.1		35.1	4 Jan	5.3		-2.4	20 Aug	1277.4
Horsham Aerodrome	22.4	+0.3	44.2	4 Jan	7.6	+0.5	-2.2	10 Jul	399.6	381.1	average	105%
Kanagulk	21.2		43.6	4 Jan	8.4		-2.0	10 Jul	510.4
Longerenong	22.5	+1.0	43.9	4 Jan	8.1	+0.2	-2.2	10 Jul	361.2	417.4	average	87%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis)	16.5		38.0	4 Jan	7.5		-0.5	21 Jul	630.2
Stawell Aerodrome	20.8	+0.2	41.9	4 Jan	9.0	+0.6	-1.2	20 Jun	417.2	488.6	average	85%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	23.6		43.6	20 Dec	9.1		-1.8	9 Jul	298.0
Echuca Aerodrome	23.7	+1.5	43.0	19 Dec	9.5	+0.2	-1.5	1 Aug	346.5	427.5	low	81%
Kerang	24.3	+1.4	44.5	5 Jan	10.2	+0.8	-1.0	1 Aug	313.4	374.4	average	84%
Kyabram	23.2	+1.6	41.9	5 Jan	9.3	+0.8	-1.3	26 Jun	370.0	448.2	average	83%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	22.0	+1.1	41.5	20 Dec	8.6	+0.8	-2.2	1 Aug	511.4	516.5	average	99%
Shepparton Airport	22.8	+0.5	42.2	7 Jan	9.0	+0.5	-1.9	26 Jun	383.0	446.8	average	86%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	22.4	+1.1	41.2	7 Jan	8.8	+0.5	-2.1	20 Jun	397.9	484.1	low	82%
Yarrawonga	23.7	+0.9	45.7	5 Jan	9.1	+0.2	-2.3	9 Jul	377.8	456.3	average	83%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport	22.8		44.0	5 Jan	8.6		-1.9	18 Oct	501.0
Corryong Airport	22.1		43.5	18 Jan	6.7		-5.0	22 Jun	834.3
Hunters Hill	17.3	+1.0	36.8	5 Jan	8.3	+0.5	-1.6	20 Aug	1191.4	1193.6	average	100%
Rutherglen Research	23.0	+1.3	44.5	5 Jan	7.0	-0.3	-3.5	22 Jun	543.8	587.8	average	93%
Strathbogie	19.2	+0.7	40.7	5 Jan	6.7	+0.6	-4.3	22 Jun	851.4	967.0	average	88%
Wangaratta Aero	22.9	+0.8	44.6	5 Jan	7.7	+0.2	-2.5	22 Jun	492.4	609.0	low	81%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport)	14.8	+0.4	33.0	5 Jan	3.6	+0.4	-6.9	13 Sep	998.8	803.4	high	124%
Falls Creek	9.9	+0.6	27.5	6 Jan	3.1	+0.6	-6.9	20 Aug	1307.6	1261.7	average	104%
Mount Buller	10.1	+0.9	28.7	5 Jan	3.3	+0.6	-6.1	20 Aug	1591.4	1538.3	average	103%
Mount Hotham	8.4	+0.5	26.0	5 Jan	2.0	+0.1	-8.1	13 Sep	1691.2	1422.4	average	119%
Omeo	19.1		38.1	18 Jan	5.2		-6.4	13 Sep	619.4
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	19.0	+1.0	39.7	4 Jan	9.5	+0.6	1.3	13 Sep	1155.4	985.5	high	117%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	19.2	+1.4	33.0	8 Jan	12.8	+0.6	5.3	21 Jul	802.6	942.9	average	85%
Gelantipy	17.4	+1.0	37.3	18 Jan	7.2	+0.6	-2.3	13 Sep	816.8	779.0	average	105%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road)	20.1		40.2	4 Jan	10.4		0.0	12 Jul	854.2
Mallacoota	20.1	+0.8	42.0	18 Jan	11.2	+0.4	1.3	22 Jul	953.0	936.8	average	102%
Mount Nowa Nowa	19.8	+0.9	41.5	4 Jan	10.4	+0.5	2.0	13 Sep	623.8	809.0	low	77%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	20.1	+1.1	40.7	18 Jan	12.5	+0.5	4.0	13 Sep	1104.3	964.1	high	115%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	21.0	+0.8	43.5	4 Jan	8.7	+0.4	-0.9	22 Jun	723.4	646.7	average	112%
East Sale Airport	20.6	+1.0	44.3	4 Jan	8.7	+0.6	-1.3	9 Jun	572.5	599.5	average	95%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	20.9	+0.9	41.2	4 Jan	8.5	+0.3	-1.6	9 Jul
Mount Baw Baw	9.6	+0.3	27.3	5 Jan	3.0	+0.1	-5.6	13 Sep	1844.0
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	17.5	+1.1	35.7	4 Jan	12.6	+1.3	5.7	5 Jul	1359.0	1056.2	v high	129%
Yarram Airport	20.1		41.4	4 Jan	9.0		-1.5	11 Jul	726.4
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	20.9	+0.9	40.8	4 Jan	10.2	+0.6	-1.3	23 Jun	690.1	674.2	average	102%
Cerberus	19.8	+0.8	40.7	4 Jan	10.2	+0.5	-1.5	22 Jun	806.6	738.1	average	109%
Coldstream	21.2	+1.0	40.1	17 Jan	7.7	+0.4	-5.1	23 Jun	660.4	741.8	average	89%
Coldstream Comparison	21.2		40.0	17 Jan	7.5		-5.2	23 Jun	658.0
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	20.0	+0.7	39.5	17 Jan	10.1	+0.5	-0.2	22 Jun	921.8	835.5	average	110%
Essendon Airport	20.9	+1.3	41.7	17 Jan	10.6	+1.4	-0.8	10 Jul	604.6	591.9	average	102%
Ferny Creek	17.3		36.4	4 Jan	9.3		1.2	20 Aug
Frankston AWS	19.3	+0.7	38.4	4 Jan	11.9	+0.3	3.2	21 Jun
Melbourne Airport	20.9	+1.2	41.5	4 Jan	10.2	+0.7	-0.4	13 Sep	558.6	547.4	average	102%
Melbourne Regional Office	21.5	+1.7	41.1	4 Jan	12.2	+2.0	1.5	23 Jun	638.4	649.4	average	98%
Moorabbin Airport	20.7	+1.0	41.5	4 Jan	10.7	+0.6	-1.9	23 Jun	644.6	715.8	low	90%
Rhyll	19.4	+0.9	37.1	19 Dec	12.3	+0.7	5.1	20 Aug	843.6	699.3	high	121%
Scoresby Research Institute	20.9	+1.4	40.1	17 Jan	10.1	+0.6	-1.7	23 Jun	832.4	866.0	average	96%
Viewbank	21.3	+0.6	41.0	17 Jan	10.2	+0.4	-1.3	23 Jun	669.2	679.1	average	99%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	17.8	+1.2	38.2	7 Jan	8.6	+0.7	1.1	3 Aug	701.0	696.2	average	101%
Wonthaggi	19.7	+0.9	40.1	4 Jan	10.8	+1.2	1.6	22 Jun	1143.1	939.5	high	122%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	21.1	+0.9	43.0	4 Jan	9.7	+0.4	-1.6	22 Jun	434.8	462.3	average	94%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse)	20.6		42.2	4 Jan	10.2		-0.2	22 Jun	452.8
Laverton RAAF	20.7	+1.0	41.7	4 Jan	10.2	+0.9	-1.5	23 Jun	493.6	541.4	average	91%
Sheoaks	19.8	+1.1	40.9	4 Jan	8.6	+0.2	-1.5	23 Jun	492.8	505.4	average	98%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	20.5	+0.7	39.5	17 Jan	8.4	+0.8	-1.5	5 May	534.8	599.0	low	89%
Eildon Fire Tower	18.6	+0.8	37.2	7 Jan	8.9	+0.5	0.9	20 Aug	598.8	648.7	average	92%
Lake Eildon	21.5	+1.1	40.0	20 Dec	8.4	+0.5	-2.8	23 Jun	722.8	852.3	low	85%
Mangalore Airport	22.1	+1.1	42.6	20 Dec	8.8	+0.5	-2.2	21 Jun	459.2	572.4	low	80%
Maryborough	21.5	+1.0	41.4	4 Jan	8.6	+0.6	-1.4	10 Jul	489.7	529.1	average	93%
Redesdale	21.4	+1.2	41.3	20 Dec	7.7	+0.4	-1.5	18 Oct	559.8	580.4	average	96%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	20.4	+1.3	41.0	4 Jan	7.7	+0.7	-3.2	20 Jun	436.4	588.2	low	74%
Ballarat Aerodrome	18.6	+1.2	39.0	4 Jan	7.2	+0.2	-4.3	9 Jul	570.2	693.9	low	82%
Westmere	20.2		42.6	4 Jan	7.1		-2.8	20 Jun	469.0
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	19.2	+1.0	43.3	4 Jan	11.1	+0.5	3.6	20 Aug	703.4	638.5	average	110%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	18.4	+0.9	41.9	4 Jan	12.0	+0.6	3.9	9 Jul	997.6	714.8	highest	140%
Casterton	20.3		42.9	4 Jan	8.7		-2.5	9 Jul	631.8
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	19.2	+1.0	42.1	4 Jan	9.2	+0.4	2.4	20 Aug	567.8	541.7	average	105%
Dartmoor	20.2		44.4	4 Jan	9.0		-1.9	9 Jul	821.6
Hamilton Airport	19.8	+0.7	42.4	4 Jan	8.2	+0.6	-2.1	9 Jul	558.8	618.6	low	90%
Mortlake Racecourse	20.2	+1.1	42.8	4 Jan	8.0	+0.5	-2.6	9 Jul	559.8	579.7	average	97%
Port Fairy AWS	19.4	+0.8	43.1	4 Jan	10.9	+0.5	1.4	9 Jul	952.0	702.9	highest	135%
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	18.6	+1.0	42.1	4 Jan	10.0	+0.7	0.7	9 Jul	1157.2	836.1	highest	138%
Portland NTC AWS	17.9		40.0	4 Jan	11.9		2.9	9 Jul
Warrnambool Airport NDB	19.6	+0.7	43.0	4 Jan	9.2	+0.8	-1.8	24 Jun	793.0	735.6	high	108%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Further information

Victorian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956

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