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

Victoria in October 2007

Summary - based on data available at 9.00am 1 November 2007.

Warm and dry.

 

Rainfall

Rainfall was well below normal throughout the State. The driest District was the South Mallee with only 4.0 mm (normal: 36.0 mm). The wettest District was the Upper Northeast with 47.9 mm (normal: 104.8 mm). The heaviest individual town rainfall was 156.4 mm at Weeaproinah. The driest individual town rainfall was 0.0 mm at Kerang. The wettest single day 49.8 mm at Mount Buller on the 1st. Some sites had their lowest total October rainfall on record. Some sites had their lowest total October rainfall for at least 10 years.

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures were about 2 deg C above normal in most Districts. The hottest day was 38.6 °C at Hopetoun Airport on the 21st. The warmest days on average were 25.8 °C at Mildura Airport. The coolest days on average were 8.1 °C at Mt Hotham. The coldest day was -0.1 °C at Mt Baw Baw on the 16th. Some sites had their highest October temperature on record. Some sites had their highest October mean daily maximum temperature on record. Some sites had their highest October mean daily maximum temperature for at least 10 years.

Minimum temperature

Overnight temperatures were slightly above normal in most Districts but in the western third of the State they were slightly below normal. The coldest night was -5.7 °C at Mt Hotham on the 17th. The coolest nights on average were 1.4 °C at Mt Hotham. The warmest nights on average were 11.6 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse and also 11.6 °C at Melbourne Regional Office.The warmest nights were 23.2 °C at Mt Nowa Nowa on the 22nd and 23.1 at Melbourne on the 28th. Some sites had their lowest October temperature on record. Some sites had their warmest October night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record. Some sites had their highest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 10 years.

Wind

Widespread damage from strong winds was reported on the 28th. The strongest wind gust during the month was 133 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 16th.

Explanation

A La Niña event is well established in the Pacific. The main characteristics are colder than average temperatures along the equator both on and below the surface, stronger than average Trade Winds and reduced cloudiness. Computer models forecast the La Niña to last until at least early 2008. However, this La Niña has been late to develop by historical standards. In the past, most significant La Niña events were established by winter's end, with widespread above-average rain falling over Australia's eastern half. With such a late-developing La Niña, the associated Australian rainfall response may differ from past episodes. Indeed it has been largely absent to date.

Australia's climate over recent months has been influenced by the unusually cool ocean temperatures to the north, and particularly northwest, of the continent. A marked cooling trend began in June when, historically, these waters would have been expected to warm as the La Niña evolved in the Pacific. These cooler than normal waters inhibit the formation of northwest cloudbands, which are a major source of winter and spring rain for central and southeastern Australia during La Niña years. During October there has been a slight warming of the ocean to the north and northwest of the continent.

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

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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	38.6 °C at Hopetoun Airport on the 21st
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	25.8 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	8.1 °C at Mt Hotham
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	-0.1 °C at Mt Baw Baw on the 16th
Coldest night Lowest temperature	-5.7 °C at Mt Hotham on the 17th
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	1.4 °C at Mt Hotham
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	11.6 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse 11.6 °C at Melbourne Regional Office
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	23.2 °C at Mt Nowa Nowa on the 22nd
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	156.4 mm at Weeaproinah
Driest overall Lowest total rainfall	0.0 mm at Kerang
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	49.8 mm at Mount Buller on the 1st
Highest wind gust	133 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 16th

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Records

Record lowest total October rainfall
	Total rainfall for October 2007 (mm)	Previous lowest for October		Years of record	Normal for October
Kerang	0.0	= 0.0	in 1914	113	37.3
Melbourne Airport	4.4	8.4	in 2006	38	55.0
Bendigo Airport	0.6	2.0	in 2006	16	43.6

Lowest total October rainfall for at least 10 years
	Total rainfall for October 2007 (mm)	Most recent lower for October		Years since lower	Normal for October
Maryborough	3.2	1.3	in 1914	93	49.0

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Record highest October temperature
	Highest temperature in October 2007 (°C)		Previous highest for October		Years of record	Normal for October
Mangalore Airport	36.3	on the 21st	35.9	on the 12th in 2006	49	20.3
Kerang	38.5	on the 21st	37.8	on the 12th in 2004	45	22.7
Rutherglen Research	35.1	on the 21st	= 35.1	on the 13th in 2006	43	20.8
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	35.6	on the 21st	35.2	on the 12th in 2006	43	20.8
Kyabram DPI	36.4	on the 21st	36.3	on the 30th in 1965	41	21.0
Wangaratta Aero	35.8	on the 21st	35.0	on the 13th in 2006	20	20.9
Bendigo Airport	35.5	on the 21st	= 35.5	on the 12th in 2006	16	19.9
Frankston AWS	32.5	on the 21st	30.7	on the 12th in 2004	16	17.4
Gelantipy	28.0	on the 21st	27.8	on the 13th in 2006	15	16.1
Yarrawonga	36.4	on the 21st	36.0	on the 12th in 2006	14	21.8
Eildon Fire Tower	30.6	on the 21st	30.4	on the 12th in 2006	12	16.1
Shepparton Airport	36.8	on the 21st	36.3	on the 12th in 2006	12	21.2

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Record highest October mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for October 2007 (°C)	Previous highest for October		Years of record	Normal for October
Laverton RAAF	21.8	= 21.8	in 1961	65	19.1

Highest October mean daily maximum temperature for at least 10 years
	Mean daily maximum temperature for October 2007 (°C)	Most recent higher for October		Years since higher	Normal for October
Laverton RAAF	21.8	21.8	in 1961	46	19.1
Orbost (Comparison)	21.4	21.6	in 1981	25	19.7

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Record highest October daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in October 2007 (°C)		Previous highest for October		Years of record	Normal for October
Essendon Airport	21.3	on the 28th	19.2	on the 12th in 2006	38	8.0
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	20.8	on the 28th	20.2	on the 23rd in 1980	25	8.6
Edi Upper	18.6	on the 22nd	16.6	on the 31st in 1990	20	7.1
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	17.0	on the 22nd	16.7	on the 26th in 1997	14	6.5
Eildon Fire Tower	21.2	on the 22nd	20.4	on the 13th in 2006	12	7.0
Mt Nowa Nowa	23.2	on the 22nd	22.2	on the 13th in 2006	12	8.8
Shepparton Airport	19.0	on the 22nd	17.8	on the 18th in 2006	12	7.0
Stawell Aerodrome	18.2	on the 22nd	18.0	on the 16th in 1996	12	7.1
Horsham Aerodrome	17.0	on the 22nd	= 17.0	on the 29th in 2005	11	5.4

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Record lowest October temperature
	Lowest temperature in October 2007 (°C)		Previous lowest for October		Years of record	Normal for October
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	-2.5	on the 9th	-1.5	on the 16th in 2004	48	7.2
Wangaratta Aero	-3.3	on the 8th	-3.1	on the 9th in 2006	20	6.5
Geelong Airport	1.1	on the 18th	1.2	on the 10th in 2006	18	7.6

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Highest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 10 years
	Mean daily minimum temperature for October 2007 (°C)	Most recent higher for October		Years since higher	Normal for October
Edi Upper	8.5	8.7	in 1991	15	7.1

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Summaries

In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for October 2007
	Maximum temperatures for October (°C)				Minimum temperatures for October (°C)				Rainfall for October (millimetres)
	Mean for October 2007	Diff from normal	Highest for October 2007		Mean for October 2007	Diff from normal	Lowest for October 2007		Total for October 2007	Normal for October	Rank of October 2007	Fraction of October normal
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	25.8	+2.0	37.2	21st	10.0	+0.3	3.7	9th	8.2	30.2	low	27%
Ouyen	25.3	+1.7	37.3	21st	7.9	-0.9	1.9	13th	8.1	35.2	low	23%
Walpeup Research	25.0	+2.0	37.5	21st	8.5	-0.3	2.8	13th	5.6	34.2	very low	16%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	24.9		38.6	21st	6.2		-1.4	17th	4.8
Swan Hill Aerodrome	25.3	+2.0	38.3	21st	7.7	+0.1	1.1	17th	1.4	20.6	low	7%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill	23.0	+1.9	36.6	21st	5.7	-1.3	-2.2	8th	11.2	39.5	low	28%
Nhill Aerodrome	23.0		36.9	21st	6.6		0.0	8th	13.6
Warracknabeal Museum	23.7	+2.0	37.0	21st	7.4	-0.3	0.6	9th	5.4	41.9	very low	13%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	20.1		34.5	21st	6.9		-0.4	17th	15.8
Grampians	12.2		26.7	21st	3.1		-1.6	7th	56.4
Horsham Aerodrome	22.6	+1.4	37.0	21st	4.9	-0.5	-1.0	7th	8.4	36.1	low	23%
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	22.7	+1.8	36.5	21st	5.6	-1.6	-2.5	9th	11.0	43.2	low	25%
Kanagulk	20.1		35.8	21st	5.9		-0.7	8th	15.2
Longerenong	22.8	+2.0	36.3	21st	5.3	-1.4	-2.1	8th	7.4	40.2	low	18%
Stawell Aerodrome	20.5	+1.2	35.4	21st	7.2	0	0.1	7th	6.4	38.7	low	17%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	24.3		37.1	21st	7.4		0.9	17th	1.4
Kerang	25.4	+2.7	38.5	21st	9.2	+0.4	3.3	13th	0.0	37.3	lowest	0%
Kyabram DPI	23.8	+2.8	36.4	21st	8.0	+0.6	1.7	8th	2.0	42.3	very low	5%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	22.2	+2.3	35.5	21st	6.6	+0.4	-0.7	17th	0.6	43.6	lowest	1%
Shepparton Airport	23.9	+2.7	36.8	21st	7.6	+0.6	1.0	10th	5.0	35.0	very low	14%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	23.4	+2.6	35.6	21st	7.1	-0.5	0.2	8th	5.8	47.8	very low	12%
Yarrawonga	24.8	+3.1	36.4	21st	8.1	+1.1	0.0	8th	5.8	35.6	low	16%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport	23.4		35.3	21st	6.1		-1.6	8th	16.9
Corryong Airport	23.1		32.3	22nd	4.8		-2.6	8th	33.4
Dartmouth Reservoir	21.6	+1.4	31.5	22nd	6.2	-0.6	-0.4	13th	44.8	100.9	low	44%
Hunters Hill	17.2	+1.9	27.0	21st	8.3	+1.8	0.0	13th	16.0	91.4	very low	18%
Rutherglen Research	23.9	+3.1	35.1	21st	5.3	-0.9	-4.1	8th	18.2	58.3	low	31%
Strathbogie	18.8	+1.1	30.9	21st	5.6	+0.4	-1.6	8th	31.2	86.9	low	36%
Wangaratta Aero	23.7	+2.8	35.8	21st	5.4	-1.0	-3.3	8th	10.8	54.2	low	20%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain	15.1		23.9	21st	4.0		-4.4	8th	54.4
Edi Upper	21.9	+2.3	31.8	23rd	8.5	+1.4	2.4	17th	19.6	85.2	low	23%
Falls Creek	10.2	+1.5	18.9	22nd	2.3	+1.1	-4.8	17th	69.6	120.3	low	58%
Mount Buller	9.6	+1.3	19.4	21st	2.3	+1.1	-4.5	17th	95.8	150.4	normal	64%
Mt Hotham	8.1	+1.2	17.1	21st	1.4	+1.0	-5.7	17th	86.0	107.3	normal	80%
Omeo	19.5		29.8	21st	6.0		-2.2	8th	34.6
Omeo Comparison	19.8	+1.6	29.7	21st	5.6	+1.0	-1.8	8th	38.8	68.3	low	57%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	20.1	+2.2	31.1	21st	8.6	+0.9	3.1	13th	55.4	93.1	very low	60%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	18.7	+1.8	27.8	22nd	11.6	+0.4	7.7	13th	57.4	72.5	normal	79%
Gelantipy	17.9	+1.9	28.0	21st	6.7	+1.1	0.7	8th	40.4	66.1	low	61%
Lakes Entrance	19.7		28.5	28th	9.4		2.5	18th	37.0
Mallacoota	20.0	+1.3	30.5	21st	10.5	+1.0	5.8	18th	36.0	80.7	low	45%
Mt Nowa Nowa	20.0	+1.3	33.8	21st	9.5	+0.7	4.9	13th	27.8	62.9	very low	44%
Orbost	20.7		33.2	21st	9.5		3.5	18th	30.2
Orbost	21.4	+1.7	33.3	21st	8.8	+0.5	1.8	18th	30.2	75.4	low	40%
Point Hicks	20.0	+1.5	28.8	21st	11.5	+0.6	7.5	4th	51.4	77.5	low	66%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	21.0	+1.4	31.8	21st	7.8	+0.3	0.5	18th	27.8	59.9	very low	46%
East Sale Airport	20.7	+1.6	31.1	21st	7.5	0	0.8	18th	22.0	59.1	very low	37%
Morwell	20.5	+1.3	33.3	21st	7.3	-0.2	0.4	7th	38.0	77.4	very low	49%
Mt Baw Baw	9.2		20.8	21st	2.1		-3.8	7th	122.8
Mt Moornapa	19.6	+1.3	31.3	21st	8.5	+0.6	4.3	13th	35.8	80.3	very low	45%
Noojee	18.8	+1.0	31.0	21st	7.1	+0.5	0.9	18th	46.8	115.5	very low	41%
Pound Creek	18.5		26.8	27th	8.5		1.7	20th	76.8
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	16.4	+0.7	27.6	21st	10.4	+0.4	7.4	7th	80.0	92.1	normal	87%
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora	21.1	+1.8	32.9	21st	9.4	+0.9	2.5	18th	15.2	66.3	very low	23%
Cerberus	19.1	+1.0	28.7	21st	8.6	-0.1	1.8	7th	38.0	69.8	low	54%
Coldstream	20.6	+1.5	33.2	21st	6.6	+0.2	-0.7	18th	17.2	65.3	low	26%
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	19.3	+0.7	32.0	21st	8.9	0	3.0	18th	46.9	79.6	low	59%
Essendon Airport	21.2	+2.3	32.9	21st	9.3	+1.4	2.5	7th	12.2	62.2	very low	20%
Ferny Creek	16.2	+1.1	29.2	21st	7.2	0	3.0	7th	33.0	93.5	very low	35%
Frankston AWS	17.9	+0.5	32.5	21st	10.9	+0.5	6.9	18th
Melbourne Airport	21.2	+2.1	33.3	21st	8.9	+0.4	2.0	7th	4.4	55.0	lowest	8%
Melbourne Regional Office	21.4	+1.7	33.5	21st	11.6	+1.9	5.7	7th	17.6	64.0	very low	26%
Moorabbin Airport	20.6	+1.6	34.1	21st	10.0	+0.9	3.5	18th	27.4	70.5	very low	39%
Phillip Island Penguin Reserve	18.0	+0.1	27.3	27th	9.6	+0.6	1.0	10th	48.5	69.5	low	70%
Rhyll	18.3	+0.8	26.2	27th	10.7	+0.4	7.5	7th	41.0	62.0	low	66%
Scoresby Research Institute	20.4	+1.6	32.9	21st	9.0	+0.2	3.3	20th	24.0	86.3	very low	28%
Viewbank	21.5		33.5	21st	9.6		2.8	7th	20.0
Wallan	17.3	+1.8	30.3	21st	6.9	+0.4	2.3	4th	7.8	50.1	very low	16%
Wonthaggi	18.8	+0.8	28.0	27th	9.0	+0.2	4.6	20th	68.5	87.6	normal	78%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	21.2	+1.6	30.8	27th	8.4	+0.6	1.2	18th	18.8	51.0	very low	37%
Geelong Airport	19.7	+1.2	29.4	27th	7.7	+0.1	1.1	18th	23.0	55.2	low	42%
Laverton RAAF	21.8	+2.7	35.0	21st	8.9	+0.7	1.3	7th	14.2	57.5	very low	25%
Point Wilson	18.0	+0.6	27.5	21st	10.4	-0.2	5.8	7th
Sheoaks	19.1	+1.4	33.5	21st	7.3	+0.1	0.3	7th	24.6	55.8	very low	44%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	20.3	+1.3	34.3	21st	6.7	+0.2	-1.0	7th	6.8	60.0	very low	11%
Eildon Fire Tower	18.1	+2.0	30.6	21st	8.0	+1.0	3.0	13th	20.8	51.5	very low	40%
Lake Eildon	21.4	+1.8	33.0	21st	7.5	+0.3	0.4	8th	18.8	79.6	very low	24%
Mangalore Airport	23.2	+2.9	36.3	21st	6.8	-0.4	-0.3	4th	4.0	48.5	very low	8%
Maryborough	21.6	+1.6	35.0	21st	7.9	+0.7	2.5	17th	3.2	49.0	very low	7%
Redesdale	21.0	+2.2	34.5	21st	5.0	-0.3	-2.1	7th	6.8	52.7	very low	13%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	19.3	+1.5	33.9	21st	5.6	-0.4	-3.1	7th	14.2	59.5	very low	24%
Ballarat Aerodrome	17.9	+1.4	29.7	21st	5.6	-0.6	-2.4	7th	14.2	68.0	very low	21%
Westmere	18.7		33.1	21st	4.8		-2.5	17th	24.2
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	19.0	+1.3	29.3	27th	9.0	-0.2	3.9	7th	26.0	62.8	very low	41%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	17.1	+0.1	26.6	18th	9.9	-0.4	6.1	20th	52.8	49.8	normal	106%
Cape Otway Lighthouse	16.7	+0.4	26.1	18th	9.6	-0.1	5.2	7th	57.8	80.1	normal	72%
Casterton	18.4		31.3	21st	6.7		-0.6	9th	34.6
Casterton Showgrounds	19.0	+0.1	32.5	21st	7.3	0	1.1	9th	39.2	59.0	normal	66%
Colac	17.1		28.6	21st	6.9		1.5	7th	21.6
Hamilton Airport	18.2	+0.7	32.3	21st	6.1	-0.4	-0.1	7th	28.0	58.8	very low	48%
Mortlake Racecourse	18.3	+0.7	31.4	21st	5.8	-0.4	-1.2	17th	25.4	54.9	low	46%
Port Fairy AWS	18.3	+0.3	27.5	27th	8.7	-0.5	3.1	20th	55.4	52.2	normal	106%
Portland	16.7	0	27.6	21st	7.9	-0.4	3.5	20th	38.2	62.1	low	62%
Warrnambool Airport Ndb	17.5	-0.1	28.0	21st	7.1	+0.1	0.9	17th	39.0	66.6	low	59%
Weeaproinah	13.8	+0.3	25.5	21st	6.1	-0.5	2.3	7th	156.4	174.9	normal	89%

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Notes

Further information

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

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