Friday, 29 May 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in May 2009.

This table is based on  preliminary data

This statement was prepared before all data for the period were available. This may affect some of the statistics presented.

Most of Victoria has experienced a relatively dry May, although a rainfall event towards the end of the month eased the situation across the western third of the State. Rainfall was well above average across the Wimmera, slightly above average across the Mallee, near to or slightly below average in the Western District, and well below average elsewhere. West Gippsland's Erica, with 19.2 mm, and Willow Grove, with 21.6 mm, and the Central District's Altona, with 5.2 mm, Bundoora, with 10.5 mm, and Scoresby, with 12.4 mm, were among those places experiencing their driest May on record.

Daytime temperatures averaged mostly between half a degree and one degree above normal, whilst overnight temperatures mostly averaged close to normal. However, there were a few very warm nights during a late-month spell when Melbourne City experienced its warmest May night on record, with a minimum temperature of 18.0 deg C during the night of May 24/25.

Synoptic Patterns

The first week was dominated by a strengthening high pressure system, which gradually built over waters to the south of the Bight. A ridge from this high stretched towards Victoria, and its stabilising influence was only briefly interupted by a few minor frontal passages. During the second week, the high moved eastwards across the State and it weakened as it moved over the Tasman Sea. week three began with strong westerlies pounding the southern half of Victoria,  but a new high soon established itself over the State, prior to moving over the Tasman Sea and intensifying.

In concert with a deep low off the south Queensland coast, a blocking pair was formed. Moist easterly winds between the two systems allowed for widespread fogs to form overnight, especially in the south.

The fourth week opened with Victoria's weather continuing to be controlled by the blocking pair, but on the 25th, an approaching front and cloud band produced useful rain over the western third of the State. The block eroded the strength of this approaching system and, as a consequence, rain was light in other parts of the State. Following the frontal passage, a new high developed well to the south of the Bight and moved eastwards, reaching Tasmania by month's end.

An archive of previous monthly summaries for Victoria is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.

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Summaries

This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for 1 May to 31 May 2009
Maximum temperatures
for 1 May to 31 May
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for 1 May to 31 May
(°C)		 Rainfall
for 1 May to 31 May
(millimetres)
Mean for
1 May to 31 May
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
1 May to 31 May
2009		 Mean for
1 May to 31 May
2009		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
1 May to 31 May
2009		 Total for
1 May to 31 May
2009		 Average
for
1 May to 31 May		 Rank of
1 May to 31 May
2009		 Fraction of
1 May to 31 May
average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 19.3 +0.3 23.0 21st 7.7 +0.3 3.1 30th 9.2 25.2 low 37%
Ouyen 18.9 0.0 23.8 24th 7.9 +0.6 4.7 30th 19.8 31.9 average 62%
Walpeup Research 18.6 +0.1 23.8 24th 8.0 0.0 4.9 29th 38.6 31.7 average 122%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 19.0   23.5 21st 7.2   3.4 13th 26.6
Swan Hill Aerodrome 19.2 +0.3 22.2 22nd 7.3 +1.3 3.3 30th 10.0 16.7 low 60%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome 18.0   22.8 24th 7.0   2.4 12th 30.8
Warracknabeal Museum 18.5 +0.6 22.6 21st 7.3 +0.6 4.4 3rd 48.7 40.0 average 122%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 16.8   21.8 21st 7.2   2.1 12th 26.8
Grampians 8.7   14.2 21st 4.0   1.3 30th 125.4
Horsham Aerodrome 18.0 +0.4 22.6 21st 6.0 +1.0 0.8 12th 59.8 31.8 high 188%
Horsham Polkemmet Rd 17.9 +0.6 22.6 21st 6.6 +0.4 2.4 12th 60.2 46.7 average 129%
Kanagulk 16.8   21.7 22nd 7.4   2.8 3rd 49.6
Longerenong 17.6 +0.4 22.1 24th 6.3 +0.1 0.8 12th 60.4 42.0 high 144%
Pyrenees 11.2   16.1 21st 6.1   3.4 28th 46.2
Stawell Aerodrome 16.7 +0.3 21.8 21st 7.1 +1.1 2.9 3rd 61.2 39.6 high 155%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 18.7   22.3 21st 7.1   3.0 30th 18.4
Echuca Aerodrome 19.4 +1.6 23.0 23rd 6.3 −0.2 2.3 1st 13.2 40.5 low 33%
Kerang 19.2 +1.1 23.0 23rd 7.8 +0.6 3.9 30th 11.8 35.8 low 33%
Kyabram DPI 18.9 +1.8 22.7 23rd 6.5 +0.4 2.2 1st 18.4 43.1 low 43%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 18.1 +1.5 22.6 24th 6.1 +0.9 1.7 1st 20.0 47.1 low 42%
Shepparton Airport 18.8 +1.0 23.0 23rd 5.7 +0.4 0.4 31st 9.6
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 18.7 +1.4 22.7 24th 5.7 0.0 0.0 1st 13.6 45.8 low 30%
Yarrawonga 19.3 +1.2 24.0 23rd 5.5 −0.7 1.0 29th 11.4 34.4 low 33%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport 19.1   23.4 23rd 4.8   0.2 1st 17.4
Corryong Airport 17.4   22.1 23rd 2.0   −2.6 31st 10.0
Dartmouth Reservoir 17.3 +1.2 20.7 9th 3.7 −1.2 −0.8 1st 23.0 87.5 low 26%
Hunters Hill 13.2 +1.3 17.5 23rd 6.0 +0.3 1.4 17th 67.2
Rutherglen Research 18.7 +1.8 22.7 23rd 3.7 −0.7 −1.6 29th 2.6 51.6 very low 5%
Strathbogie 15.4 +0.8 18.9 23rd 3.3 −0.4 −1.9 1st 29.8 97.8 low 30%
Wangaratta Aero 18.7 +1.1 23.2 23rd 3.4 −1.0 −0.6 31st 16.2 62.0 low 26%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain 11.3   15.3 23rd 0.0   −3.8 17th 10.8
Edi Upper 18.2 +1.4 21.7 23rd 5.8 −0.6 1.9 1st 36.9 103.3 low 36%
Falls Creek 6.8 +0.9 12.8 23rd 0.7 +0.1 −2.9 28th 60.4
Mount Buller 6.4 +0.1 12.6 23rd 1.3 0.0 −2.9 28th 30.2 152.3 very low 20%
Mount Hotham 5.0 +0.4 11.6 23rd −0.1 −0.1 −4.3 1st 97.2
Omeo 15.7   20.2 23rd 2.1   −3.3 19th 11.2
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 14.5 +0.2 18.9 24th 7.4 −0.4 5.1 18th 24.0
Gabo Island Lighthouse 17.1 +0.2 22.3 15th 12.1 +0.5 8.7 11th 31.4 100.4 low 31%
Gelantipy 13.4 +0.4 18.0 25th 4.9 0.0 2.0 18th 11.8
Lakes Entrance 17.6   24.8 15th 7.8   2.2 19th 16.0
Mallacoota 17.6 +0.1 22.1 15th 9.3 −0.1 3.2 19th 19.4 87.8 very low 22%
Mount Nowa Nowa 16.2 +0.1 21.0 25th 8.5 −0.3 5.2 6th 31.6 55.1 average 57%
Orbost 18.1   22.9 25th 8.1   3.4 19th 35.2
Orbost 18.6 +0.7 22.9 25th 7.1 −0.2 1.5 19th 33.5 69.9 average 48%
Point Hicks 17.0 0.0 21.7 25th 11.1 −0.1 5.9 11th 36.2 96.9 low 37%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 18.2 +0.7 22.8 24th 5.8 −0.9 0.5 1st 15.0 43.7 very low 34%
East Sale Airport 17.2 +0.4 20.4 24th 5.0 −1.2 0.1 1st 24.8 52.1 low 48%
Morwell 16.8 −0.1 22.1 24th 6.4 −0.2 0.7 1st 21.0 51.8 low 41%
Mount Baw Baw 6.6   12.9 23rd 1.6   −1.2 1st 61.0
Mount Moornapa 15.1 −0.1 22.0 24th 8.1 +0.1 5.9 13th 16.2 50.6 very low 32%
Noojee 15.6 +0.3 21.0 24th 5.4 −0.4 −1.0 1st 26.2 78.9 very low 33%
Pound Creek 16.4   22.4 24th 7.1   0.9 19th 38.6
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 14.8 −0.2 17.2 25th 11.9 +0.4 10.2 16th 59.8 113.8 low 53%
Yarram Airport 17.1   21.0 25th 6.5   0.7 19th 14.8
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora 16.9 +0.2 23.3 23rd 7.7 −0.4 3.0 3rd 10.5 51.1 lowest 21%
Cerberus 16.4 −0.2 21.5 24th 7.7 −0.4 1.9 19th 30.8 63.4 low 49%
Coldstream 16.9 +0.2 21.2 23rd 4.6 −0.8 −0.3 31st 10.8 65.6 very low 16%
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 16.3 0.0 21.0 24th 8.0 −0.5 2.9 19th 25.1 58.1 low 43%
Essendon Airport 17.2 +1.1 23.9 23rd 7.9 +0.3 2.8 22nd 10.0 48.9 very low 20%
Ferny Creek 12.3 −0.1 18.0 22nd 8.0 +0.3 5.0 5th 30.4
Frankston AWS 16.0 0.0 20.7 25th 10.1 −0.4 6.0 31st
Melbourne Airport 17.1 +0.5 23.0 23rd 7.6 −0.7 3.2 19th 11.6 40.2 very low 29%
Melbourne Regional Office 18.0 +1.3 22.8 23rd 9.6 +1.0 5.8 1st 10.8 55.9 very low 19%
Moorabbin Airport 16.6 −0.5 21.7 25th 7.8 −0.9 3.3 19th 17.6 72.4 very low 24%
Rhyll 16.4 +0.1 21.2 24th 10.9 +0.1 8.3 19th 22.8 54.6 very low 42%
Scoresby Research Institute 16.5 0.0 21.9 23rd 6.5 −1.8 1.5 5th 12.4 90.9 lowest 14%
Viewbank 17.2 0.0 22.8 23rd 7.3 −0.5 2.9 5th 15.0
Wallan 13.7 +0.9 19.4 23rd 7.4 +0.4 4.2 30th 17.8
Wonthaggi 16.6 −0.2 23.5 24th 8.5 −0.1 4.5 1st 52.3 97.4 low 54%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 17.1 −0.3 20.5 25th 8.1 +0.6 4.1 2nd 11.8 37.5 low 31%
Grovedale 16.6 −0.4 19.6 23rd 8.2 +0.7 3.8 19th 20.2 49.9 average 40%
Laverton RAAF 17.0 +0.1 21.8 25th 7.7 −0.1 1.9 22nd 9.8 47.8 very low 21%
Sheoaks 15.8 +0.3 20.9 23rd 7.0 −0.3 1.8 22nd 10.2
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 16.8 +1.1 21.6 21st 5.6 +0.2 0.2 28th 20.0 57.0 low 35%
Eildon Fire Tower 14.4   19.1 23rd 7.0   4.4 1st 14.0
Lake Eildon 17.4 +1.2 21.9 24th 4.9 −1.1 1.1 29th 27.4 79.0 low 35%
Mangalore Airport 18.0 +1.0 22.5 23rd 6.8 +0.5 1.7 1st 7.2 54.9 very low 13%
Maryborough 17.3 +1.0 21.9 21st 6.7 +0.6 2.3 2nd 20.2 48.9 low 41%
Redesdale 17.3 +1.1 21.4 21st 5.9 +0.7 1.9 1st 23.4 55.8 average 42%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 15.9 +0.5 21.0 21st 5.6 +0.1 0.1 22nd 53.8 54.6 average 99%
Ballarat Aerodrome 14.9 +1.1 19.0 22nd 5.6 −0.1 0.6 11th 19.8 65.1 very low 30%
Westmere 15.7   20.9 22nd 6.2   0.4 30th 41.2
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 15.6 −0.5 20.4 24th 9.9 0.0 6.9 5th 33.6 50.9 low 66%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 16.1 −0.1 21.1 22nd 11.4 +0.5 7.4 5th 39.4
Cape Otway Lighthouse 15.1 −0.3 19.5 24th 10.9 +0.9 6.3 5th 38.0 89.3 very low 43%
Casterton 16.3   21.6 21st 7.2   2.5 12th 36.8
Casterton Showgrounds 16.9 +0.2 21.1 21st 6.7 −0.5 2.4 2nd 45.6 61.4 average 74%
Colac 15.0   18.3 24th 8.1   5.5 2nd 20.0
Dartmoor 16.5   21.0 21st 7.3   1.6 30th 32.6
Hamilton Airport 15.4 −0.4 19.8 22nd 7.0 +0.5 2.7 11th 54.2 50.6 average 107%
Mortlake Racecourse 16.0 −0.2 21.1 22nd 6.6 −0.1 0.8 30th 47.8 50.4 average 95%
Port Fairy AWS 16.8 −0.1 21.9 22nd 9.7 +0.5 5.2 2nd 62.8 64.0 average 98%
Portland 15.6 −0.2 20.0 22nd 8.7 +0.4 4.4 22nd 53.2 76.2 average 70%
Warrnambool Airport NDB 16.3 −0.4 20.6 22nd 7.7 +0.5 2.7 12th 59.6
Weeaproinah 12.2 +0.1 16.8 23rd 8.0 +0.6 3.9 5th 181.2 197.3 average 92%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 3 pm on Friday 29 May 2009. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages are long-term means based on observations from all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site. They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of long-term average 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, average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Based on preliminary data

This statement was prepared before all data for the period were available. This may affect some of the statistics presented.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The outlook for winter rainfall may be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

The outlook for winter temperatures may be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Long-Term Climate Averages

Long term climate averages may be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/

Further information

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