Thursday, 3 January 2008 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in December 2007
A warm and generally wet month

Summary

December was a generally warm month in Victoria, both by day and night, and also saw above-normal rainfall over much of the state. Maximum temperatures averaged 1.70°C above normal over the state (9th highest on record), whilst minimum temperatures averaged 1.23°C above normal (8th highest on record). Statewide average rainfall was 33% above normal (22nd highest on record), the second successive wet month after a dry winter and early spring.

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Details

Rainfall

Rainfall was above normal in most parts of the state, with the bulk of the rain falling in association with a low-pressure system which approached and then crossed the state between 19 and 23 December. Most areas north of the Divide, except for the northern Mallee, had rainfall 50% to 100% above normal, with some areas between Bendigo and Kerang receiving more than double their December average. Other areas which were more than 50% above normal included the Grampians, and Melbourne’s southern and eastern suburbs. In contrast, most of Gippsland was slightly drier than normal, as were parts of the northern Mallee and the south-west coast west of Port Fairy, but only a few areas were more than 20% below normal.

The highest monthly total was 219.2 mm at Mount Hotham, and the highest daily total was 125.0 mm on 22 December at Stump Hill, north-west of Mansfield. The lowest monthly total was 17.1 mm at Werrimull.

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

There is a map of total rainfall below. There is a map of rainfall deciles below.

Temperature

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures were above average throughout the state. The month was consistently warm (except during the 19−23 December rain event), although without major extremes, until the last few days, when a major heatwave affected most of the state. Monthly averages were 2 to 3°C above normal over most of southern Victoria from West Gippsland westwards, as well as in the Wimmera, whilst they were 1 to 2°C above normal in most of northern Victoria. In most of Gippsland and the far northeast they were less than 1°C above normal.

The hottest day was 44.6°C at Hopetoun Airport on the 31st.

The warmest days on average were 31.8°C at Mildura Airport.

The coolest days on average were 13.7°C at Mt Hotham.

The coldest day was 4.1°C at Mt Baw Baw on the 23rd.

Some sites had their highest December temperature on record.

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

There is a map of mean maximum temperatures below. There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.

Minimum temperature

Minimum temperatures were also above normal statewide, with a marked lack of cold nights. They were between 1 and 2°C above normal over most of northern Victoria (locally more than 2°C along the Murray east of Albury-Wodonga), as well as around Melbourne and in most of Gippsland. They were between normal and 1°C above normal in south-western Victoria and the Wimmera.

The coldest night was −2.1°C at Mt Hotham on the 23rd and 25th.

The coolest nights on average were 6.2°C at Mt Hotham.

The warmest nights on average were 16.3°C at Mildura Airport.

The warmest night was 25.4°C at Ben Nevis on the 31st.

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

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

There is a map of mean minimum temperatures below. There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.

Wind

The strongest wind gusts in Victoria during December occurred in association with the low pressure system of 19−23 December. 135 km/h was observed at Wilsons Promontory on 22 December, and a number of other stations (mostly elevated) exceeded 100 km/h between 21 and 23 December.

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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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	44.6°C at Hopetoun Airport on the 31st
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	31.8°C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	13.7°C at Mt Hotham
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	4.1°C at Mt Baw Baw on the 23rd
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−2.1°C at Mt Hotham on the 23rd −2.1°C at Mt Hotham on the 25th
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	6.2°C at Mt Hotham
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	16.3°C at Mildura Airport
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	25.4°C at Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) on the 31st
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	219.2 mm at Mt Hotham
Driest overall Lowest total rainfall	17.1 mm at Werrimull
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	84.0 mm at Mt Hotham on the 22nd
Highest wind gust	135 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 22nd

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Maps

Anomaly in mean maximum temperature

Anomaly in mean minimum temperature

Rainfall deciles

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Records

Highest total December rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for December 2007 (mm)	Most recent higher for December		Years since higher	Normal for December
Moorabbin Airport	127.2	146.6	in 1954	50	57.8

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Record highest December temperature
	Highest temperature in December 2007 (°C)		Previous highest for December		Years of record	Normal for December
Heywood Forestry	42.5	on the 31st	42.1	on the 10th in 2006	39	22.5
Weeaproinah	36.5	on the 31st	35.5	on the 11th in 1998	27
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	40.9	on the 31st	39.9	on the 9th in 2006	26

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Record highest December mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for December 2007 (°C)	Previous highest for December		Years of record	Normal for December
Heywood Forestry	25.5	24.9	in 1980	45	22.5
Wonthaggi	24.8	24.4	in 2003	38	21.7

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Record highest December mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for December 2007 (°C)	Previous highest for December		Years of record	Normal for December
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	14.7	14.4	in 2003	129	12.8
Walpeup Research	15.6	= 15.6	in 1965	58	13.5
Mangalore Airport	14.5	14.3	in 1975	47	11.7
Kyabram DPI	14.9	14.6	in 1992	41	12.1
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	14.3	13.8	in 1992	24

Highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily minimum temperature for December 2007 (°C)	Most recent higher for December		Years since higher	Normal for December
Echuca Aerodrome	14.8	15.2	in 1965	42	13.1
Walpeup Research	15.6	15.6	in 1965	39	13.5
Moorabbin Airport	14.2	14.3	in 1975	32	12.7
Gabo Island Lighthouse	15.3	15.7	in 1980	27	14.7

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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 December 2007
	Maximum temperatures for December (°C)				Minimum temperatures for December (°C)				Rainfall for December (millimetres)
	Mean for December 2007	Diff from normal	Highest for December 2007		Mean for December 2007	Diff from normal	Lowest for December 2007		Total for December 2007	Normal for December	Rank of December 2007	Fraction of December normal
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	31.8	+1.7	42.8	31st	16.3	+1.4	9.2	23rd	18.8	22.3	normal	84%
Ouyen	31.4	+1.3	43.3	30th	15.2	+1.4	8.3	23rd	39.6	24.6	high	161%
Walpeup Research	31.2	+1.3	42.9	31st	15.6	+2.1	6.6	10th		23.9	low	20%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	31.2		44.6	31st	13.9		5.5	10th	28.6
Swan Hill Aerodrome	29.9		41.5	31st	15.1		8.8	23rd	41.0
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill	28.9	+1.4	43.0	31st	11.6	+0.2	4.8	10th	51.0	26.2	high	195%
Nhill Aerodrome	29.5		43.7	31st	12.5		6.0	8th	41.6
Warracknabeal Museum	30.0	+1.4	42.5	31st	13.7	+1.6	7.4	23rd	35.8	23.6	high	152%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	28.1		43.6	31st	11.3		5.0	25th	35.4
Grampians	18.7		32.7	31st	8.3		1.4	10th	99.4
Horsham Aerodrome	29.6		44.0	31st	11.2		4.0	25th	27.0
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	29.6	+2.3	43.7	31st	11.5	−0.2	5.0	25th	40.6	23.0	very high	177%
Kanagulk	28.5		42.7	31st	11.3		5.0	25th	58.0
Longerenong	29.9	+2.7	44.3	31st	11.4	+0.2	3.6	25th	22.4	23.8	normal	94%
Stawell Aerodrome	27.5		41.7	31st	11.8		4.8	10th	37.8
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	29.9		42.1	31st	14.6		7.7	25th	43.6
Echuca Aerodrome	30.2	+1.7	42.1	30th	14.8	+1.7	8.1	25th	46.8	29.1	high	161%
Kerang	30.8	+1.5	42.3	30th	15.4	+1.8	8.3	10th	53.2	27.7	high	192%
Kyabram DPI	29.5	+1.6	41.2	30th	14.9	+2.8	8.2	23rd	63.6	31.5	high	202%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	28.2		39.9	30th	13.4		6.6	25th	72.8
Shepparton Airport	29.5		41.1	30th	14.6		8.5	10th	60.0
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	28.9	+1.6	39.4	30th	14.2	+2.1	8.1	11th	60.0	36.1	high	166%
Yarrawonga	30.0		40.7	30th	15.6		8.4	25th	56.6
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed	28.4		39.0	30th	12.5		4.8	25th	53.4
Benalla Airport	28.9		39.5	30th	14.3		9.1	23rd	102.8
Corryong Airport	28.8		37.1	30th	12.6		7.3	11th	117.6
Dartmouth Reservoir	27.5		37.2	30th	13.3		8.8	23rd	101.4
Hunters Hill	22.7		32.8	30th	12.8		5.6	25th	152.2
Rutherglen Research	29.9	+0.8	40.1	30th	13.5	+2.4	6.4	25th	53.4	46.0	high	116%
Strathbogie	25.1		36.4	30th	11.3		5.9	11th	93.8	65.7	high	143%
Wangaratta Aero	29.8		39.9	30th	13.3		7.5	11th	74.4
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain	19.5		29.1	31st	7.2		−0.8	25th	74.0
Falls Creek	15.1		25.0	30th	7.2		−1.1	25th	195.2
Mount Buller	14.4		25.0	30th	7.3		−1.9	23rd	141.2
Mt Hotham	13.7		22.7	30th	6.2		−2.1	23rd	219.2
Omeo	23.9		35.6	31st	10.0		2.8	25th	68.8
Omeo Comparison	24.1	+0.8	35.3	31st	9.6	+1.6	3.6	25th	62.8	65.6	normal	96%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	24.2		36.6	31st	12.3		6.0	25th
Gabo Island Lighthouse	21.0	+1.3	25.5	29th	15.3	+0.7	11.4	12th	48.6	82.1	normal	59%
Gelantipy	22.1		35.0	31st	10.5		4.2	25th	50.4
Lakes Entrance	22.7		38.0	29th	13.3		8.0	11th	78.6
Mallacoota	23.2		32.2	29th	14.2		8.6	12th	52.6
Mt Nowa Nowa	23.3		37.9	29th	13.3		7.9	25th	100.4
Orbost	24.4		38.2	29th	13.5		7.5	26th	88.2
Orbost	24.8	+1.1	38.4	29th	12.7	+0.6	6.3	26th	87.4	87.0	normal	100%
Point Hicks	23.1	+1.6	33.2	29th					52.8	74.8	normal	71%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	24.0		37.9	29th	12.2		6.1	11th	72.4
East Sale Airport	24.0	+0.7	38.1	29th	12.6	+1.1	5.9	11th	53.0	57.7	normal	92%
Morwell	25.0		38.5	31st	12.3		4.1	11th	73.2
Mt Baw Baw	14.9		27.5	31st	7.0		−0.7	10th	151.6
Mt Moornapa	23.3		36.2	29th	12.3		7.1	25th	50.6
Noojee	24.6		37.2	31st	11.0		3.9	11th	131.0
Pound Creek	24.2		38.6	31st	11.8		6.3	12th	80.8
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	20.5	+1.9	34.8	31st	14.7	+1.9	11.3	23rd	65.8	63.1	normal	104%
Yarram Airport	24.0		39.1	29th	12.2		4.4	11th	46.8
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora	26.3		40.5	31st	14.3		8.6	26th	79.4
Cerberus	24.9		39.7	31st	13.0		6.4	11th	83.4
Coldstream	26.8		38.6	31st	11.5		4.5	10th	105.0
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	25.4		38.9	31st	12.7		7.5	26th	78.5
Essendon Airport	26.7		41.2	31st	13.9		8.3	26th	69.2	49.9	high	139%
Ferny Creek	21.7		34.9	31st	11.5		6.4	23rd	203.0
Frankston AWS	24.8		38.8	31st	15.0		11.0	26th
Melbourne Airport	26.3	+1.8	40.2	31st	13.7	+1.9	7.1	10th	83.6	47.8	high	175%
Melbourne Regional Office	26.8	+2.7	41.1	31st	15.8	+2.1	10.2	23rd	71.4	58.1	high	123%
Moorabbin Airport	26.2	+2.3	39.9	31st	14.2	+1.6	8.7	26th	127.2	57.8	highest	220%
Phillip Island Penguin Reserve	23.4		33.8	29th	12.6		6.4	8th	59.9
Rhyll	24.1		35.7	31st	15.2		11.1	10th	65.0
Scoresby Research Institute	26.0	+2.3	38.4	31st	13.2	+1.1	5.7	25th	156.4	70.0	highest	223%
Viewbank	27.1		40.4	31st	14.1		7.8	26th	86.2
Wallan	24.0		35.5	29th	11.7		5.5	10th	119.0
Wonthaggi	24.8	+3.1	39.4	31st	12.5	+1.2	7.0	26th	69.6	60.6	normal	115%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	26.1		43.2	31st	12.9		7.0	11th	48.2
Geelong Airport	25.1		43.1	31st	11.7		5.8	11th	54.4
Laverton RAAF	26.2	+2.3	41.1	31st	13.7	+1.7	7.2	10th	69.8	49.4	high	141%
Point Wilson	23.1		40.3	31st	15.0		10.6	23rd
Sheoaks	25.7		41.2	31st	11.1		4.4	26th	45.6
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	26.6	+1.0	39.1	31st	12.6	+1.9	3.5	10th	59.9	41.8	high	143%
Eildon Fire Tower	24.9		36.3	30th	12.8		5.5	25th	22.4
Lake Eildon	27.7	+1.7	38.3	31st	13.1	+2.2	6.0	25th	62.4	60.5	normal	103%
Mangalore Airport	29.0	+2.4	39.7	31st	14.5	+2.8	7.5	23rd	62.6	43.9	high	143%
Maryborough	28.0	+1.9	41.0	31st	12.4	+1.0	5.5	25th	104.0	37.7	highest	276%
Redesdale	28.0		39.8	30th	11.9		3.6	10th	103.6	42.5	very high	244%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	26.6	+2.4	41.0	31st	10.8	+1.6	3.8	10th	43.0	33.8	high	127%
Ballarat Aerodrome	24.9	+2.5	38.2	31st	10.2	+0.6	3.1	11th	65.0	46.6	high	139%
Westmere	26.9		42.4	31st	9.5		3.8	11th	78.2
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	23.3		42.1	31st	12.7		8.3	23rd	73.2
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	22.2		41.8	31st	13.5		8.2	8th	28.6
Cape Otway Lighthouse	21.3	+2.2	39.6	31st	13.3	+1.2	8.7	10th	71.4	57.3	normal	125%
Casterton	26.3		42.2	31st	10.4		3.8	25th	36.2
Casterton Showgrounds	26.7	+2.5	41.8	31st	10.8	+0.3	4.3	25th	36.6	41.5	normal	88%
Colac	24.9		41.3	31st	11.4		6.1	10th	82.2
Hamilton Airport	26.2		41.6	31st	9.9		3.8	10th	54.2
Heywood Forestry	25.5	+3.0	42.5	31st	10.4	+0.1	5.0	8th	31.4	52.4	normal	60%
Mortlake Racecourse	25.3		40.9	31st	10.0		3.3	10th	74.8
Port Fairy AWS	24.0		42.3	31st	13.0		6.8	26th	59.6
Portland	21.9		40.9	31st	10.8		4.3	26th	36.8
Warrnambool Airport Ndb	24.4		40.8	31st	10.3		4.4	26th	58.0
Weeaproinah	20.5		36.5	31st	10.2		5.3	25th	160.8	118.1	high	136%

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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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