Monday, 2 April 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in March 2007
Warm, mostly average rainfall - wet in NE, dry in SW

Summary

Victoria through March 2007 experienced warmer than normal days and nights, but rainfall returned to the 1961−1990 average across most of the state, except for a small region covering the Otway Ranges and another east of Orbost, where it was drier than average, however Victoria’s Alpine catchment areas enjoyed above average falls, with Noojee receiving a twenty-year record March total rainfall of 105.6 mm.

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Details

170 mm at Mt Buller in two days, was the heaviest such fall in Victoria since February 2005.

Rainfall

Regarding rainfall, the highest reported monthly total was 308.4 mm at Mount Buller. The driest overall was 4.8 mm at Longerenong. The wettest single day 115.4 mm at Mount Buller on the 21st.

Some sites had their highest total March rainfall on record.

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

Temperature

 

Maximum temperature

Regarding maximum temperatures, the hottest day was 40.2°C at Echuca Aerodrome on the 3rd. The warmest days on average were 28.9°C at Mildura Airport, followed by 28.9°C at Wangaratta Aero, followed by 28.9°C at Yarrawonga. The coolest days on average were 13.6°C at Mt Hotham. The coldest day was 1.8°C at Mt Hotham on the 30th.

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

Minimum temperature

Regarding minimum temperatures, the coldest night was −3.1°C at Mt Hotham on the 25th. The coolest nights on average were 5.8°C, also at Mt Hotham. The warmest nights on average were 15.9°C at Gabo Island Lighthouse. The warmest night was 23.9°C at Mildura Airport on the 16th.

Wind

The strongest wind gust was 117 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 30th.

Melbourne

Melbourne's mean minimum temperature was 15.2 deg C (1.1 deg C above normal), whilst Melbourne's mean maximum temperature was 25.8 deg C (1.7 deg C above normal). 41.2 mm of rain fell, close to the normal of 43.5 mm. The night of March 22/23, when a minimum temperature of 24.4 deg C  was recorded, was Melbourne's warmest night ever to occur after the equinox. 37.4 deg C recorded on March 23, was the highest temperature recorded this late in the season since 1940 (when it was 37.8 deg C on 29 March).

Further information

Dr Harvey Stern
Climate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

Extremes

Hottest day
Highest temperature		 40.2°C at Echuca Aerodrome on the 3rd
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 28.9°C at Mildura Airport
28.9°C at Wangaratta Aero
28.9°C at Yarrawonga
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 13.6°C at Mt Hotham
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 1.8°C at Mt Hotham on the 30th
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 −3.1°C at Mt Hotham on the 25th
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 5.8°C at Mt Hotham
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 15.9°C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 23.9°C at Mildura Airport on the 16th
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 308.4 mm at Mount Buller
Driest overall
Lowest total rainfall		 4.8 mm at Longerenong
Wettest day
Highest daily rainfall		 115.4 mm at Mount Buller on the 21st
Highest wind gust
 117 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 30th

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Records

Record highest total March rainfall
Total rainfall
for March 2007 (mm) 		Previous highest
for March		 Years of
record		 Normal for
March
Mount Buller 308.4 226.1 in 1950 24

Highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years
Total rainfall
for March 2007 (mm) 		Most recent higher
for March		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
March
Noojee (Slivar) 105.6 126.2 in 1987 20


Highest March mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for March 2007 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for March		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
March
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 20.8 22.9 in 1940 66 19.5
Moorabbin Airport 25.4 25.9 in 1985 22 23.8


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Summaries

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

Summary statistics for March 2007
Maximum temperatures
for March
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for March
(°C)		 Rainfall
for March
(millimetres)
Mean for
March
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Highest for
March
2007		 Mean for
March
2007		 Diff
from
normal		 Lowest for
March
2007		 Total for
March
2007		 Normal
for
March		 Rank of
March
2007		 Fraction of
March
normal
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 28.9 +0.6 39.4 23rd 14.8 +0.8 8.6 25th 15.0 20.8 normal 72%
Ouyen 28.6 +0.1 38.7 23rd 13.5 +0.3 7.5 25th 20.3 26.5 normal 77%
Walpeup Research 27.9 −0.2 39.5 23rd 13.3 −0.3 7.3 25th 19.4 24.9 normal 78%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 28.3   39.2 23rd 12.9 7.3 25th 27.0
Swan Hill Aerodrome 28.5   38.6 3rd 13.6 7.9 25th 14.6
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill 27.1 +0.5 37.7 23rd 11.3 −0.1 2.5 25th 9.8 23.5 normal 42%
Nhill Aerodrome 27.6   38.0 23rd 11.9 4.4 25th 9.0
Warracknabeal Museum 27.5   37.8 23rd 12.6 6.0 25th 26.8 25.3 normal 106%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 26.1   34.7 22nd 11.3 4.0 25th 11.4
Grampians 17.0   26.7 23rd 7.7 2.6 25th 30.4
Horsham 27.3 +0.8 38.8 23rd 11.4 −0.5 6.0 29th 9.6 23.1 low 42%
Horsham Aerodrome 27.3 39.0 23rd 10.8 3.0 25th 8.8
Kanagulk 26.0 34.2 22nd 11.7 4.5 25th 13.0
Longerenong 27.3 +0.9 38.3 23rd 11.6 +0.1 1.7 25th 4.8 22.5 low 21%
Stawell Aerodrome 25.6 36.9 23rd 11.9 4.6 25th 5.4
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 27.6 36.8 23rd 13.3 7.2 25th 40.6
Echuca Aerodrome 28.3 +0.9 40.2 3rd 13.5 +0.5 7.4 25th 32.0 33.3 normal 96%
Kerang 28.5 +0.7 39.0 3rd 14.1 +0.6 8.7 26th 12.8 31.7 normal 40%
Kyabram DPI 27.9 +1.5 39.3 3rd 13.7 +1.4 8.1 25th 34.0 31.9 normal 107%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 26.5 35.9 23rd 12.5 5.9 18th 34.4
Shepparton Airport 28.3 38.7 3rd 13.3 6.7 26th 30.2
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 27.5 +1.2 38.3 3rd 12.9 +1.1 6.9 26th 33.2 35.0 normal 95%
Yarrawonga 28.9 38.7 3rd 14.1 8.5 25th 33.8
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed 27.7 36.5 3rd 11.0 5.0 25th 51.4
Benalla Airport 28.3 37.0 3rd 13.1 8.0 25th 51.1
Corryong Airport 28.0 35.3 3rd 11.9 4.4 31st 43.2
Dartmouth Reservoir 26.5 35.3 3rd 11.9 3.8 31st 43.0
Hunters Hill 22.5 30.0 3rd 12.3 4.5 25th 58.2
Rutherglen Research 28.6 +1.0 37.7 3rd 12.7 +1.5 6.3 31st 30.6 36.2 normal 85%
Strathbogie 24.6 34.2 3rd 10.3 3.4 26th 78.6 58.1 high 135%
Wangaratta Aero 28.9 37.6 3rd 12.0 5.9 9th 39.0
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Falls Creek 14.8 22.6 3rd 6.4 −1.9 25th 242.2
Mount Buller 15.3 23.8 3rd 7.3 −1.9 25th 308.4
Mt Hotham 13.6 21.5 3rd 5.8 −3.1 25th 306.4
Mt Hotham Airport 19.3 28.2 3rd 6.9 −0.4 6th 53.4
Omeo 23.3 32.7 3rd 9.7 3.3 18th 49.0
Omeo Comparison 23.1 +0.1 32.8 3rd 9.2 +1.3 3.4 18th 46.2 57.2 normal 81%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 21.9 32.7 23rd 12.2 6.7 25th 41.8
Gabo Island Lighthouse 21.6 +0.7 26.0 3rd 15.9 +0.1 12.5 26th 25.4 74.8 low 34%
Gelantipy 20.6 30.9 3rd 10.1 4.3 26th 49.4
Lakes Entrance 22.5 36.0 23rd 12.9 8.3 26th 62.8
Mallacoota 22.7 33.3 23rd 14.6 9.3 27th 33.0
Mt Nowa Nowa 22.4 35.4 3rd 12.7 7.5 25th 57.2
Orbost 23.6 36.7 23rd 13.1 7.8 26th 35.8
Orbost 24.0 −0.2 36.3 23rd 12.6 +0.2 6.7 26th 33.7 66.9 low 50%
Point Hicks 22.8 +0.7 36.5 23rd 14.7 −0.5 10.0 30th 31.7 66.9 low 47%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 23.5 35.5 23rd 12.0 7.0 14th 50.8
East Sale Airport 23.7 +0.1 35.9 23rd 11.4 −0.3 5.6 18th 61.2 57.1 normal 107%
Morwell 25.3 36.4 23rd 11.4 4.3 25th 57.4
Mt Baw Baw 13.9 22.1 3rd 6.3 −0.7 25th 137.0
Mt Moornapa 22.2 34.6 15th 12.0 7.2 25th 71.2
Noojee 23.8 34.5 3rd 9.8 4.4 26th 105.6
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 20.8 +1.3 35.7 23rd 15.2 +0.6 10.7 30th 56.6 70.3 normal 81%
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora 25.9 36.0 23rd 13.2 6.2 26th 49.0
Cerberus 24.0 37.1 23rd 12.6 6.2 13th 32.2
Coldstream 26.0 36.8 3rd 10.5 2.7 18th 73.2
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 24.7 36.8 23rd 12.5 6.8 26th 43.0
Dunns Hill 21.4 31.7 23rd 11.4 7.0 25th 71.6
Essendon Airport 25.5 37.1 23rd 13.3 6.8 26th 44.4 41.0 high 108%
Frankston AWS 23.3 33.0 22nd 14.7 10.5 26th
Kilmore Gap 22.4 33.1 23rd 11.3 6.0 25th 55.6
Melbourne Airport 25.5 +1.4 37.5 3rd 13.2 +0.5 7.2 26th 36.4 36.8 normal 99%
Melbourne Regional Office 25.8 +1.7 37.4 23rd 15.2 +1.1 9.2 26th 41.2 43.5 normal 95%
Moorabbin Airport 25.4 +1.6 37.4 23rd 13.5 +0.4 6.6 26th 40.8 51.3 normal 80%
Rhyll 23.3 32.6 23rd 15.2 11.5 24th 45.4
Scoresby Research Institute 25.3 +1.3 36.6 23rd 12.3 −0.4 5.2 18th 46.8 59.7 normal 78%
Viewbank 25.9 36.5 23rd 13.2 6.4 26th 53.6
Wonthaggi 24.3 +1.7 36.1 23rd 12.5 +0.5 7.4 13th 49.4 61.6 normal 80%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 25.1 39.1 23rd 12.8 7.2 25th 24.2
Geelong Airport 24.2 38.4 23rd 12.7 8.1 25th 17.6
Laverton RAAF 25.0 +1.0 37.8 23rd 13.2 +0.5 6.8 26th 28.8 35.1 normal 82%
Point Wilson 22.2 34.1 23rd 15.3 10.2 25th
Sheoaks 24.2 37.2 23rd 11.6 4.8 18th 27.4
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 25.2 +0.1 34.8 3rd 11.7 +0.8 2.9 25th 36.8 38.5 normal 96%
Eildon Fire Tower 24.0 34.2 3rd 12.0 6.5 25th 58.6
Lake Eildon 27.1 +1.7 36.1 3rd 11.5 +0.8 5.5 25th 75.6 49.7 high 152%
Mangalore Airport 27.2 +1.0 38.5 3rd 13.2 +0.8 7.6 25th 50.4 38.1 high 132%
Maryborough 25.9 +0.3 35.9 23rd 12.0 +0.1 6.0 25th 19.4 33.0 normal 59%
Redesdale 25.9 35.9 3rd 11.7 7.0 31st 47.8 36.1 normal 132%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 24.8 +1.1 35.7 23rd 10.1 +0.4 0.2 25th 14.4 38.1 low 38%
Ballarat Aerodrome 23.9 +1.4 34.9 23rd 11.0 +0.7 4.7 25th 30.6 42.9 normal 71%
Lookout Hill 18.8 29.2 23rd 8.4 3.2 25th 33.0
Westmere 25.2 35.4 23rd 10.5 4.0 18th 17.4
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 23.0 36.7 23rd 13.8 10.4 25th 25.8
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 20.5 30.5 22nd 14.3 10.3 25th 29.6
Cape Otway Lighthouse 21.1 +1.0 35.9 23rd 14.1 +0.6 8.8 18th 24.8 62.6 very low 40%
Casterton 25.2 33.9 10th 11.1 3.4 25th 24.2
Casterton Showgrounds 25.2 +0.6 33.5 10th 11.3 +0.3 4.3 25th 26.2 35.4 normal 74%
Colac 23.8 35.7 15th 11.9 7.3 25th 22.6
Hamilton Airport 24.5 33.1 22nd 11.0 4.7 25th 16.0
Heywood Forestry 21.6 34.0 22nd 10.2 −0.6 3.4 26th 21.6 47.9 low 45%
Mortlake Racecourse 25.0 35.6 23rd 10.5 3.4 25th 19.4
Port Fairy AWS 21.6 33.4 22nd 13.1 9.6 26th 27.4
Portland 21.6 32.2 22nd 11.2 3.6 25th 34.6
Warrnambool Airport Ndb 23.4 34.3 23rd 11.3 4.6 25th 34.0
Weeaproinah 18.8 30.1 23rd 10.7 5.8 18th 71.8 115.4 low 62%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Monday 2 April 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

Dr Harvey Stern
Climate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au