Thursday, 1 March 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in February 2007
Hot and Dry

Summary

Victoria has experienced a generally hot and dry February with prolonged periods between rainfall events.  The Gippsland area received very heavy rainfall on the final day of the month.  A prolonged hot spell during the middle of the month saw temperatures exceed the mid to high 30 degree mark for 3 to 4 days across most of the State.  A stagnant trough system was responsible for the prolonged period of humid conditions experienced in the second half of the month.  This system was responsible for a number of thunderstorms across various parts of the State.

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Melbourne Summary

Melbourne’s average maximum temperature for February was 29.0 deg C (3.0 deg C above average). The average minimum temperature for February was 18.3 deg C (2.7 deg C above average). Melbourne had four consecutive days when the maximum temperature exceeded 35.0 deg C (15th 35.3, 16th 37.2, 17th 37.4 & 18th 38.5). The last time at least 4 consecutive days above 35 deg C occurred in February was from 15th to 19th Feb 1968.   February’s rainfall total of 13.2 mm was well below the February average of 45.8 mm. There was a prolonged period of humid conditions during the second half of the month with tropical like conditions being experienced in Melbourne.

Rainfall

Overall the majority of the State experienced average rainfall including the Mallee, Wimmera, Lower/Upper North, Northeast and Western Plains Districts, whilst the West and North Central area experienced below average rainfall, and the West Coast recorded very much below average rainfall.

However, despite some average to below average rainfall figures recorded throughout most of the State, East  and West Gippsland Districts had significant falls recorded on the 11th & 28th. Genoa recorded 110.4 mm on the 11th, whilst Cabbage Tree 93.0 mm, Orbost  87.6 mm, and Mt. Nowa Nowa 71.2 mm received heavy falls on the 28th.

The wettest overall was 242.6 mm at Genoa, and the driest overall was 2.0 mm at Cape Nelson Lighthouse, followed by 2.0 mm at Walpeup Research.

Some sites had their highest total February rainfall for at least 20 years.

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures for February 2007throughout the State were 1 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than the average. The Mallee, South Wimmera and Lower/Upper North Districts experienced temperatures in excess of 3 degrees above average, with Mildura recording the highest temperature for the month of 42.8 degrees Celsius on the 5th.

The lowest maximum temperature for the month was at Mt. Baw Baw recording 11.0 degrees Celsius on the 27th, and Weeaproinah  recording 13.8 degrees Celsius on the 7th.

Some sites had their highest February mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest February mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years.

Minimum temperature

Minimum temperatures were also very much above average across the majority of the State.  The Southern edge of Port Philip Bay recorded record warm overnight temperatures.

Some sites had their warmest February night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Some sites had their highest February mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest February mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years.

Further information

Mr Neal Moodie
Climatatologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

Extremes

Hottest day
Highest temperature		 42.8°C at Mildura Airport on the 5th
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 34.7°C at Ouyen (Post Office)
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 18.0°C at Mt Hotham
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 10.3°C at Mt Hotham on the 27th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 3.1°C at Coldstream on the 1st
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 9.1°C at Mt Hotham
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 18.3°C at Melbourne Regional Office
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 26.6°C at Cape Otway Lighthouse on the 18th
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 242.6 mm at Genoa
Driest overall
Lowest total rainfall		 2.0 mm at Cape Nelson Lighthouse
2.0 mm at Walpeup Research
Wettest day
Highest daily rainfall		 110.4 mm at Genoa on the 11th
Highest wind gust
 109 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 11th

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Records

Highest total February rainfall for at least 20 years
Total rainfall
for February 2007 (mm) 		Most recent higher
for February		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
February
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 87.6 166.9 in 1973 34 40.2


Record highest February mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for February 2007 (°C) 		Previous highest
for February		 Years of
record		 Normal for
February
Essendon Airport 29.3 29.2 in 1968 38
Lake Eildon 32.9 32.5 in 1997 36 28.6
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) 30.9 30.2 in 2000 24
Mount Buller 20.3 19.6 in 2000 21

Highest February mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for February 2007 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for February		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
February
Echuca Aerodrome 34.5 35.0 in 1898 109 30.7
Mangalore Airport 33.0 34.2 in 1983 24 29.3
Kyabram DPI 33.2 33.9 in 1983 23 29.8
Noojee (Slivar) 28.5 30.1 in 1983 22
Dartmouth Reservoir 32.8 33.8 in 1983 20


Record highest February mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for February 2007 (°C) 		Previous highest
for February		 Years of
record		 Normal for
February
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 17.1 16.9 in 2000 127 15.1
Ararat Prison 14.2 14.1 in 1997 38 10.9
Essendon Airport 16.6 16.2 in 1947 38
Moorabbin Airport 16.7 16.6 in 1981 36 14.1
Bairnsdale Airport 14.7 14.5 in 2001 26

Highest February mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for February 2007 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for February		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
February
Omeo Comparison 12.0 12.4 in 1973 32 9.5
Casterton Showgrounds 14.7 15.2 in 1971 31 12.1


Record highest February daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in February 2007 (°C) 		Previous highest
for February		 Years of
record		 Normal for
February
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 25.2 on the 18th 22.4 on the 3rd in 1993 25


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Summaries

 In the following table, certain key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to identify.

Summary statistics for February 2007
Maximum temperatures
for February
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for February
(°C)		 Rainfall
for February
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Highest for
February
2007		 Mean for
February
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Lowest for
February
2007		 Total for
February
2007		 Normal
for
February		 Rank of
February
2007		 Fraction of
February
normal
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 34.6 +3.0 42.8 5th 18.2 +1.7 12.0 7th 3.2 16.4 normal 20%
Ouyen 34.7 +2.8 42.6 5th 15.7 +0.4 6.8 7th 8.0 23.3 normal 34%
Walpeup Research 34.5 +2.8 42.3 5th 17.5 +1.9 9.3 7th 2.0 21.3 low 9%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 34.5 42.7 5th 16.4 10.2 8th 11.8
Swan Hill Aerodrome 34.3 42.2 5th 17.1 9.6 1st 7.4
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill 32.6 +2.8 38.5 5th 14.3 +1.3 6.9 1st 15.4 18.5 normal 83%
Nhill Aerodrome 33.4 39.7 5th 15.1 8.6 1st 13.2
Warracknabeal Museum 33.3 40.6 5th 16.3 10.0 8th 19.2 20.3 normal 95%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 31.4 38.5 17th 14.4 8.4 7th 2.8
Grampians 22.3 29.2 5th 12.1 3.5 6th 35.4
Horsham 32.8 +3.0 39.4 5th 14.3 +0.7 7.9 1st 5.8 21.7 low 27%
Horsham Aerodrome 32.9 39.0 5th 14.2 8.0 1st 23.2
Kanagulk 31.1 37.5 17th 14.7 8.0 1st 7.2
Longerenong 32.9 +3.1 40.0 5th 15.0 +1.7 7.3 8th 21.8 20.3 high 107%
Stawell Aerodrome 31.0 37.9 5th 15.0 10.1 1st 66.2
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 33.7 41.0 5th 16.7 10.0 1st 29.0
Echuca Aerodrome 34.5 +3.8 40.6 6th 17.7 +2.7 13.8 28th 6.8 21.8 normal 31%
Kerang 34.1 +2.9 41.5 5th 17.4 +2.0 10.5 1st 35.8 20.1 high 178%
Kyabram DPI 33.2 +3.4 40.3 5th 17.2 +2.6 11.0 1st 10.2 23.8 normal 43%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 32.4 40.1 5th 16.3 11.2 1st 15.0
Shepparton Airport 33.8 39.6 5th 16.7 9.4 1st 7.8
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 32.6 +3.1 38.9 5th 16.3 +2.1 10.8 1st 23.2 23.9 high 97%
Yarrawonga 34.1 40.2 3rd 17.4 9.8 1st 40.2
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed 32.9 38.6 3rd 15.6 12.4 1st 30.9
Benalla Airport 33.6 39.4 5th 17.1 11.4 1st 19.0
Corryong Airport 33.5 39.3 3rd 15.6 12.4 1st 55.0
Dartmouth Reservoir 32.8 38.0 3rd 15.6 12.8 17th 53.8
Hunters Hill 27.8 34.0 3rd 15.7 10.8 27th 51.6
Rutherglen Research 33.5 +2.4 39.3 3rd 16.5 +2.7 11.3 1st 23.2 30.2 normal 77%
Strathbogie 30.0 35.7 5th 13.7 7.9 1st 30.6 38.9 normal 79%
Wangaratta Aero 34.0 40.1 3rd 15.5 9.7 1st 13.6
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Falls Creek 19.4 25.5 5th 9.7 5.4 1st 94.2
Mount Buller 20.3 26.5 4th 11.3 7.8 25th 49.6
Mt Hotham 18.0 24.2 4th 9.1 5.1 1st 67.6
Mt Hotham Airport 23.2 31.0 5th 9.7 3.4 1st 69.6
Omeo 27.3 36.7 5th 12.2 4.4 1st 84.4
Omeo Comparison 27.0 +1.3 36.6 6th 12.0 +2.5 4.6 1st 69.8 39.2 high 178%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 27.1 37.0 5th 14.9 7.5 1st 160.0
Gabo Island Lighthouse 22.7 +1.1 24.6 22nd 16.6 0 11.9 1st 117.4 58.4 very high 201%
Gelantipy 24.5 33.7 5th 13.2 6.0 1st 105.6
Lakes Entrance 24.2 30.4 18th 15.2 8.4 1st 67.8
Mallacoota 25.0 30.3 21st 16.8 8.0 1st 109.6
Mt Nowa Nowa 26.2 33.9 18th 16.1 9.8 1st 113.8
Orbost 27.1 34.8 18th 15.5 6.2 1st 138.6
Orbost 27.4 +1.5 34.9 18th 14.6 +0.9 5.3 1st 129.9 47.4 very high 274%
Point Hicks 25.0 +1.4 31.9 18th 17.1 +1.1 11.4 1st 89.1 55.4 high 161%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 27.4 38.5 5th 14.7 4.8 1st 108.4
East Sale Airport 28.3 +2.7 37.3 5th 14.8 +1.7 6.0 1st 109.6 30.4 very high 361%
Morwell 30.9 39.2 18th 15.1 7.2 1st 55.8
Mt Baw Baw 18.4 24.0 5th 10.3 4.1 25th 57.2
Mt Moornapa 26.7 36.2 5th 15.2 9.5 1st 18.2
Noojee 28.5 35.4 5th 12.4 4.4 1st 37.6
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 21.4 +0.7 28.5 16th 17.1 +2.1 13.1 1st 87.6 40.2 very high 218%
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora 29.5 38.5 18th 16.2 10.8 1st 17.5
Cerberus 27.4 38.1 18th 16.0 8.7 2nd 27.0
Coldstream 30.9 37.4 18th 13.8 3.1 1st 47.8
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 28.8 37.1 17th 15.7 10.9 9th 24.8
Dunns Hill 25.5 33.5 18th 14.2 7.1 1st 27.2
Essendon Airport 29.3 38.7 18th 16.6 10.6 9th 22.8 38.3 normal 60%
Frankston AWS 27.4 35.1 17th 17.4 12.6 1st
Kilmore Gap 28.0 35.3 5th 14.1 7.8 1st 40.8
Melbourne Airport 29.6 +3.1 38.2 18th 16.4 +2.5 10.1 1st 12.0 41.6 low 29%
Melbourne Regional Office 29.0 +3.0 38.5 18th 18.3 +2.7 13.3 9th 13.2 45.8 low 29%
Moorabbin Airport 28.8 +2.6 39.0 18th 16.7 +2.6 10.9 9th 12.2 41.8 normal 29%
Rhyll 26.5 35.7 17th 17.6 13.8 1st 21.0
Scoresby Research Institute 29.0 +2.4 36.2 5th 15.5 +1.4 8.3 1st 4.0 43.5 very low 9%
Viewbank 30.5 38.7 18th 16.5 10.5 1st 20.6
Wonthaggi 27.1 +2.5 38.8 18th 15.6 +2.7 8.5 1st 17.3 33.1 normal 52%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 28.4 40.6 18th 16.6 11.5 2nd 16.4
Geelong Airport 26.9 39.5 18th 16.1 10.7 5th 15.4
Laverton RAAF 28.3 +2.4 39.4 18th 16.7 +2.6 11.8 9th 19.2 43.3 normal 44%
Point Wilson 24.8 36.1 18th 17.8 14.4 1st
Sheoaks 28.2 37.7 18th 15.0 9.8 2nd 26.2
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 30.8 +1.6 38.1 5th 15.6 10.3 9th 36.7 33.9 normal 108%
Eildon Fire Tower 29.8 35.5 5th 15.6 9.7 8th 30.0
Lake Eildon 32.9 +4.4 38.5 5th 15.3 +2.8 7.6 1st 36.4 37.0 normal 98%
Mangalore Airport 33.0 +3.7 40.4 5th 16.6 +2.4 10.9 1st 11.8 28.7 normal 41%
Maryborough 31.6 +2.7 38.2 5th 15.1 +1.6 5.3 11th 50.0 33.3 high 150%
Redesdale 31.7 39.1 5th 15.2 11.0 9th 34.0 30.5 normal 111%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 29.9 +3.1 36.7 5th 14.2 +3.3 9.0 8th 16.0 34.7 normal 46%
Ballarat Aerodrome 29.1 +3.9 36.2 18th 13.9 +2.2 9.2 8th 18.0 37.2 normal 48%
Lookout Hill 24.4 31.4 5th 12.6 4.9 1st 40.0
Westmere 29.4 36.7 18th 13.8 7.8 8th 9.8
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 24.8 39.6 18th 16.2 13.0 1st 27.4
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 22.3 39.8 17th 16.3 13.4 1st 2.0
Cape Otway Lighthouse 22.1 +0.8 36.9 18th 16.1 +2.0 12.6 9th 20.6 39.1 normal 53%
Casterton 29.5 37.9 17th 14.2 7.3 10th 3.0
Casterton Showgrounds 29.5 +2.0 37.2 17th 14.7 +2.6 9.0 1st 10.0 20.9 normal 48%
Colac 27.5 37.9 18th 14.7 9.6 1st 12.4
Hamilton Airport 28.5 36.6 17th 13.2 7.2 1st 6.0
Heywood Forestry 26.6 +1.9 39.0 17th 6.5 2nd 6.9 26.3 low 26%
Mortlake Racecourse 28.5 37.9 17th 13.7 5.8 1st 4.0
Port Fairy AWS 23.9 39.5 17th 15.8 10.8 2nd 3.6
Portland 24.0 38.2 17th 14.7 10.8 2nd 4.8
Warrnambool Airport Ndb 26.0 38.9 17th 13.5 5.9 9th 6.0
Weeaproinah 22.4 32.1 18th 13.1 8.0 8th 100.6 78.2 high 129%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Thursday 1 March 2007. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Normals are long-term means based on observations from the years 1961 to 1990. They are not shown for sites with less than 20 years of record in that time, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of "normal" rain.

The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site, based on the decile ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3, normal in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Further information

Mr Neal Moodie
Climatologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au