Tuesday, 5 January 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0
Victoria in December 2009
Generally warm with near normal rainfall.
Details Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary
December rainfall was close to normal in most Districts, slightly above normal in the northwest of the State, and slightly below normal in the east.
Daytime temperatures were above normal throughout, averaging between 2 and 3 deg C above normal in the far southwest, the northeast and east, and between 1 and 2 deg C above normal in other Districts.
Overnight temperatures were above normal by about half a deg C in most Districts, the exception being a small area near the Grampians, where overnight temperatures were about half a deg C below normal.
Melbourne's average maximum temperature was 25.9 deg C (normal: 24.2 deg C), whilst the city's overnight minimum averaged 14.7 deg C (normal: 12.9 deg C). 55.0 mm of rain fell (normal: 59.1 mm).
The warmth during the month may be explained in terms of the persistence of high pressure systems over the north Tasman Sea, Mean Sea Level Pressures being up to 4 hPa above long-term normals in this region, which directed northerly winds across the State.
Some sites had their highest December temperature on record.
Some sites had their coldest December day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.
Some sites had their highest December mean daily maximum temperature for at least 10 years.
Some sites had their warmest December night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.
Some sites had their highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 10 years.
Further information
Dr Harvey SternClimate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au
Maps
Anomaly in mean maximum temperature
Mean maximum temperature
Anomaly in mean minimum temperature
Mean minimum temperature
Rainfall deciles
Rainfall totals
Details Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest December temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest temperature in December 2009 (°C) |
Previous highest for December |
Years of record |
Average for December |
|||
| Mallacoota | 41.6 | on the 17th | 37.7 | on the 21st in 2005 | 17 | 21.8 |
| Record lowest December daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in December 2009 (°C) |
Previous lowest for December |
Years of record |
Average for December |
|||
| Shepparton Airport | 18.7 | on the 8th | 19.4 | on the 23rd in 2007 | 14 | 28.7 |
| Highest December mean daily maximum temperature for at least 10 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for December 2009 (°C) |
Most recent higher for December |
Years since higher |
Average for December |
||
| Kyabram DPI | 30.5 | 30.7 | in 1994 | 15 | 27.9 |
| Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag | 29.3 | 31.2 | in 1994 | 15 | 27.3 |
| Record highest December daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in December 2009 (°C) |
Previous highest for December |
Years of record |
Average for December |
|||
| Mildura Airport | 28.9 | on the 24th | = 28.9 | on the 4th in 1970 | 64 | 14.8 |
| Echuca Aerodrome | 29.0 | on the 24th | 27.5 | on the 7th in 1990 | 53 | 13.4 |
| Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag | 27.2 | on the 24th | 24.5 | on the 11th in 1980 | 45 | 12.2 |
| Kyabram DPI | 27.4 | on the 24th | 26.5 | on the 7th in 1990 | 43 | 12.4 |
| Strathbogie | 23.1 | on the 24th | 22.5 | on the 7th in 1990 | 30 | 9.3 |
| Bendigo Airport | 24.9 | on the 24th | 22.6 | on the 22nd in 2006 | 19 | 11.5 |
| Wallan (Kilmore Gap) | 23.7 | on the 24th | 23.2 | on the 12th in 1998 | 17 | 9.9 |
| Mount Nowa Nowa | 23.6 | on the 17th | 22.7 | on the 31st in 2005 | 15 | 11.8 |
| Shepparton Airport | 26.7 | on the 24th | 25.3 | on the 22nd in 2006 | 14 | 12.3 |
| Stawell Aerodrome | 23.5 | on the 24th | 22.1 | on the 12th in 1998 | 14 | 11.0 |
| Swan Hill Aerodrome | 30.1 | on the 24th | 24.8 | on the 22nd in 2006 | 14 | 13.2 |
| Highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 10 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for December 2009 (°C) |
Most recent higher for December |
Years since higher |
Average for December |
||
| Gabo Island Lighthouse | 15.5 | 15.7 | in 1980 | 29 | 14.3 |
Details Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for December 2009 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for December (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for December (°C) |
Rainfall for December (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for December 2009 |
Diff from average |
Highest for December 2009 |
Mean for December 2009 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for December 2009 |
Total for December 2009 |
Average for December |
Rank of December 2009 |
Fraction of December average |
|||
| North Mallee (district 76) | ||||||||||||
| Mildura Airport | 31.5 | +1.4 | 40.9 | 16th | 15.6 | +0.8 | 8.8 | 9th | 13.0 | 23.3 | average | 56% |
| Ouyen (Post Office) | 31.2 | +1.0 | 41.6 | 16th | 14.9 | +1.3 | 8.5 | 11th | 18.4 | 24.5 | average | 75% |
| Walpeup Research | 31.0 | +1.3 | 42.0 | 23rd | 14.2 | +0.7 | 7.3 | 4th | 18.6 | 23.5 | average | 79% |
| South Mallee (district 77) | ||||||||||||
| Hopetoun Airport | 30.5 | 41.6 | 23rd | 13.0 | 6.9 | 11th | 28.6 | |||||
| Swan Hill Aerodrome | 31.3 | +1.2 | 41.1 | 23rd | 14.2 | +1.0 | 8.4 | 11th | 8.6 | 20.6 | average | 42% |
| North Wimmera (district 78) | ||||||||||||
| Nhill Aerodrome | 28.8 | 40.2 | 23rd | 12.3 | 6.6 | 4th | 25.6 | |||||
| Warracknabeal Museum | 29.3 | +0.7 | 40.4 | 23rd | 12.7 | +0.6 | 7.6 | 18th | 27.6 | 25.7 | average | 107% |
| South Wimmera (district 79) | ||||||||||||
| Edenhope Airport | 27.3 | 41.3 | 23rd | 10.8 | 4.0 | 4th | 27.2 | |||||
| Grampians (Mount William) | 18.4 | 30.5 | 16th | 8.1 | 2.2 | 18th | 48.2 | |||||
| Horsham Aerodrome | 28.9 | +0.5 | 40.6 | 23rd | 10.4 | +0.1 | 5.0 | 4th | 26.6 | 27.6 | average | 96% |
| Horsham Polkemmet Rd | 29.5 | +1.8 | 41.3 | 16th | 10.3 | -1.3 | 5.1 | 4th | 32.6 | 27.7 | average | 118% |
| Kanagulk | 28.2 | 41.2 | 23rd | 10.1 | 4.4 | 9th | 27.6 | |||||
| Longerenong | 29.6 | +2.0 | 41.5 | 16th | 10.3 | -0.9 | 4.0 | 9th | 32.8 | 27.2 | high | 121% |
| Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) | 21.7 | 33.6 | 16th | 10.1 | 3.9 | 18th | 24.6 | |||||
| Stawell Aerodrome | 27.3 | +1.0 | 38.9 | 16th | 11.6 | +0.6 | 6.3 | 9th | 27.8 | 32.0 | average | 87% |
| Lower North (district 80) | ||||||||||||
| Charlton | 30.1 | 40.4 | 23rd | 12.9 | 6.8 | 4th | 30.2 | |||||
| Echuca Aerodrome | 30.6 | +1.7 | 40.5 | 23rd | 13.5 | +0.1 | 7.5 | 4th | 11.0 | 28.7 | average | 38% |
| Kerang | 31.1 | +1.4 | 41.4 | 23rd | 14.3 | +0.9 | 8.2 | 11th | 8.4 | 27.4 | average | 31% |
| Kyabram DPI | 30.5 | +2.6 | 40.2 | 23rd | 13.2 | +0.8 | 7.1 | 9th | 9.2 | 31.9 | low | 29% |
| Upper North (district 81) | ||||||||||||
| Bendigo Airport | 28.7 | +1.8 | 39.4 | 23rd | 11.7 | +0.2 | 4.9 | 9th | 19.0 | 40.6 | average | 47% |
| Shepparton Airport | 29.6 | +0.9 | 40.2 | 23rd | 12.3 | 0.0 | 6.9 | 9th | 10.8 | 27.5 | average | 39% |
| Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag | 29.3 | +2.0 | 38.6 | 23rd | 12.7 | +0.5 | 5.2 | 9th | 12.6 | 33.3 | average | 38% |
| Yarrawonga | 31.7 | +1.9 | 40.3 | 17th | 13.6 | +0.6 | 7.4 | 9th | 8.8 | 33.5 | low | 26% |
| Lower Northeast (district 82) | ||||||||||||
| Beechworth Woolshed | 29.7 | +2.2 | 37.3 | 17th | 9.4 | -1.1 | 4.1 | 9th | 11.7 | 57.1 | low | 20% |
| Benalla Airport | 30.4 | 39.1 | 23rd | 11.9 | 5.1 | 9th | 15.2 | |||||
| Corryong Airport | 30.4 | 39.6 | 17th | 10.7 | 4.6 | 12th | 33.8 | |||||
| Dartmouth Reservoir | 28.5 | +1.8 | 36.2 | 17th | 11.8 | +0.3 | 5.7 | 12th | 28.6 | 72.0 | low | 40% |
| Hunters Hill | 24.2 | +1.6 | 32.0 | 17th | 13.1 | +1.4 | 4.2 | 11th | 41.2 | 73.3 | average | 56% |
| Rutherglen Research | 30.8 | +1.6 | 39.9 | 17th | 11.1 | -0.3 | 4.8 | 9th | 16.0 | 43.4 | low | 37% |
| Strathbogie | 25.7 | +1.2 | 34.7 | 23rd | 8.9 | -0.4 | 2.6 | 9th | 30.2 | 55.8 | average | 54% |
| Wangaratta Aero | 31.0 | +2.0 | 40.0 | 17th | 11.3 | -0.2 | 5.1 | 9th | 12.6 | 39.0 | average | 32% |
| Upper Northeast (district 83) | ||||||||||||
| Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport) | 20.3 | 27.9 | 17th | 6.3 | -0.8 | 2nd | 62.6 | 55.8 | average | 112% | ||
| Falls Creek | 16.4 | +1.4 | 23.5 | 17th | 7.1 | +1.0 | -1.5 | 11th | 57.8 | 102.7 | average | 56% |
| Mount Buller | 15.7 | +1.2 | 22.8 | 30th | 7.2 | +1.1 | -1.3 | 11th | 114.2 | 88.3 | average | 129% |
| Mount Hotham | 14.7 | +1.1 | 21.9 | 30th | 6.1 | +0.6 | -2.6 | 11th | 66.4 | 95.8 | average | 69% |
| Omeo | 25.4 | 35.0 | 17th | 8.6 | 2.7 | 2nd | 33.0 | |||||
| East Gippsland (district 84) | ||||||||||||
| Combienbar AWS | 24.8 | +2.0 | 36.8 | 17th | 11.7 | +0.6 | 6.8 | 11th | 61.8 | 72.5 | average | 85% |
| Gabo Island Lighthouse | 21.7 | +1.8 | 33.3 | 17th | 15.5 | +1.2 | 12.4 | 11th | 23.4 | 66.9 | low | 35% |
| Gelantipy | 22.6 | +1.4 | 33.1 | 17th | 9.7 | +0.3 | 2.8 | 2nd | 62.4 | 61.0 | average | 102% |
| Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road) | 23.1 | 36.5 | 16th | 13.3 | 8.9 | 15th | 42.6 | |||||
| Mallacoota | 23.5 | +1.7 | 41.6 | 17th | 13.7 | +0.4 | 9.4 | 15th | 32.0 | 71.8 | low | 45% |
| Mount Nowa Nowa | 23.9 | +1.8 | 36.4 | 31st | 12.6 | +0.8 | 8.4 | 11th | 60.4 | 81.9 | low | 74% |
| Orbost | 24.9 | 39.7 | 17th | 12.7 | 7.9 | 2nd | 58.0 | 60.0 | average | 97% | ||
| Orbost (Comparison) | 25.0 | +1.5 | 39.4 | 17th | 11.4 | -0.4 | 4.1 | 9th | 52.8 | 77.7 | average | 68% |
| Point Hicks (Lighthouse) | 24.3 | +2.5 | 36.2 | 24th | 14.8 | +0.7 | 11.0 | 15th | 32.6 | 72.2 | low | 45% |
| West Gippsland (district 85) | ||||||||||||
| Bairnsdale Airport | 25.6 | +2.2 | 38.6 | 31st | 11.8 | +0.7 | 7.1 | 15th | 50.2 | 59.1 | average | 85% |
| East Sale Airport | 24.9 | +1.6 | 38.2 | 16th | 11.2 | -0.1 | 6.6 | 9th | 37.6 | 54.0 | average | 70% |
| Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) | 25.2 | +1.2 | 37.4 | 31st | 11.1 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 9th | 56.2 | 68.1 | average | 83% |
| Mount Baw Baw | 14.8 | +0.6 | 24.8 | 16th | 6.3 | +0.8 | -1.0 | 9th | 100.4 | |||
| Mount Moornapa | 24.2 | +1.6 | 36.8 | 16th | 11.7 | +0.6 | 7.1 | 9th | 52.6 | 50.7 | average | 104% |
| Noojee (Slivar) | 23.9 | +1.4 | 35.5 | 23rd | 10.3 | +0.6 | 5.3 | 9th | 65.2 | 94.2 | average | 69% |
| Pound Creek | 22.6 | 36.2 | 31st | 10.6 | 4.2 | 15th | 45.4 | |||||
| Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse | 20.9 | +2.1 | 34.9 | 16th | 14.0 | +1.4 | 11.0 | 9th | 60.2 | 63.4 | average | 95% |
| Yarram Airport | 24.5 | 38.6 | 31st | 10.8 | 4.6 | 15th | 34.0 | |||||
| East Central (district 86) | ||||||||||||
| Bundoora (Latrobe University) | 25.6 | +0.9 | 39.5 | 23rd | 12.9 | +0.7 | 7.9 | 9th | 38.7 | 63.8 | low | 61% |
| Cerberus | 23.0 | +0.9 | 37.7 | 23rd | 11.9 | +0.1 | 6.1 | 15th | 43.8 | 51.8 | average | 85% |
| Coldstream | 25.7 | +0.8 | 37.8 | 23rd | 9.8 | +0.5 | 4.4 | 2nd | 53.2 | 47.9 | average | 111% |
| Coldstream Comparison | 26.0 | 38.1 | 23rd | 9.7 | 4.3 | 2nd | 52.8 | |||||
| Cranbourne Botanic Gardens | 24.2 | +1.0 | 38.0 | 23rd | 11.4 | -0.3 | 8.0 | 1st | 31.3 | 61.5 | low | 51% |
| Essendon Airport | 25.3 | +1.0 | 38.8 | 23rd | 13.1 | +1.5 | 7.7 | 9th | 38.8 | 51.4 | average | 75% |
| Ferny Creek (Dunns Hill) | 20.7 | +0.8 | 32.5 | 23rd | 10.4 | +0.2 | 5.6 | 11th | 70.8 | 84.0 | average | 84% |
| Frankston AWS | 23.2 | +1.0 | 37.3 | 23rd | 14.2 | +0.5 | 10.4 | 9th | ||||
| Melbourne Airport | 25.1 | +0.7 | 38.6 | 23rd | 12.7 | +0.8 | 7.7 | 9th | 35.8 | 48.4 | average | 74% |
| Melbourne Regional Office | 25.9 | +1.7 | 39.2 | 16th | 14.7 | +1.8 | 9.6 | 9th | 55.0 | 59.1 | average | 93% |
| Moorabbin Airport | 24.8 | +1.0 | 39.2 | 23rd | 13.0 | +0.5 | 8.6 | 1st | 34.4 | 58.7 | low | 59% |
| Rhyll | 22.3 | +0.8 | 33.3 | 30th | 14.3 | +0.9 | 9.8 | 11th | 50.6 | 42.5 | average | 119% |
| Scoresby Research Institute | 25.1 | +1.3 | 37.9 | 23rd | 11.7 | -0.1 | 5.9 | 2nd | 53.8 | 75.3 | average | 71% |
| Viewbank (ARPANSA) | 25.9 | +0.5 | 38.9 | 23rd | 12.8 | +0.5 | 7.3 | 9th | 45.0 | 65.5 | low | 69% |
| Wallan (Kilmore Gap) | 23.5 | +2.0 | 35.4 | 23rd | 10.7 | +0.8 | 6.0 | 11th | 36.2 | 43.6 | average | 83% |
| Wonthaggi | 23.2 | +1.4 | 37.0 | 16th | 12.1 | +0.6 | 8.1 | 15th | 59.2 | 60.5 | average | 98% |
| West Central (district 87) | ||||||||||||
| Avalon Airport | 25.3 | +1.4 | 40.9 | 16th | 11.9 | +0.3 | 6.9 | 9th | 30.0 | 29.7 | average | 101% |
| Grovedale (Geelong Airport) | 24.7 | +2.1 | 40.4 | 16th | 10.7 | -0.3 | 5.8 | 9th | 32.6 | 40.6 | average | 80% |
| Laverton RAAF | 24.9 | +1.2 | 40.0 | 23rd | 12.8 | +0.9 | 7.6 | 9th | 32.4 | 45.7 | average | 71% |
| Sheoaks | 25.4 | +2.3 | 38.6 | 16th | 10.4 | +0.2 | 4.0 | 4th | 28.0 | 32.8 | average | 85% |
| North Central (district 88) | ||||||||||||
| Castlemaine Prison | 26.5 | +1.2 | 37.2 | 23rd | 10.9 | +0.2 | 3.4 | 5th | 35.2 | 41.2 | average | 85% |
| Eildon Fire Tower | 25.3 | +1.8 | 35.2 | 23rd | 11.6 | +0.6 | 5.8 | 11th | 27.8 | 36.1 | average | 77% |
| Lake Eildon | 28.2 | +2.0 | 36.9 | 30th | 11.3 | +0.4 | 5.1 | 9th | 29.2 | 55.7 | low | 52% |
| Mangalore Airport | 29.3 | +2.4 | 39.3 | 23rd | 12.6 | +0.8 | 7.0 | 9th | 20.6 | 40.4 | low | 51% |
| Maryborough | 27.5 | +0.9 | 38.5 | 23rd | 11.5 | +0.2 | 5.8 | 9th | 33.9 | 37.6 | average | 90% |
| Redesdale | 27.9 | +1.7 | 38.4 | 23rd | 10.2 | +0.3 | 3.7 | 9th | 22.2 | 37.7 | average | 59% |
| Western Plains (district 89) | ||||||||||||
| Ararat Prison | 26.1 | +1.7 | 38.1 | 23rd | 9.5 | +0.3 | 4.0 | 9th | 35.8 | 36.6 | average | 98% |
| Ballarat Aerodrome | 24.0 | +1.5 | 35.5 | 23rd | 9.7 | +0.3 | 2.5 | 9th | 32.0 | 51.3 | average | 62% |
| Westmere | 26.5 | 41.0 | 16th | 8.9 | 2.4 | 15th | 37.2 | |||||
| West Coast (district 90) | ||||||||||||
| Aireys Inlet | 22.4 | +1.6 | 39.2 | 16th | 12.4 | +0.3 | 8.2 | 9th | 48.4 | 40.3 | high | 120% |
| Cape Nelson Lighthouse | 21.0 | +1.6 | 40.1 | 31st | 13.4 | +0.5 | 9.3 | 26th | 43.0 | 40.8 | average | 105% |
| Cape Otway Lighthouse | 20.8 | +0.9 | 37.6 | 16th | 13.0 | +1.0 | 9.2 | 21st | 40.2 | 52.9 | average | 76% |
| Casterton | 25.4 | 39.2 | 16th | 9.9 | 3.5 | 4th | 40.8 | |||||
| Casterton Showgrounds | 26.4 | +2.1 | 39.2 | 30th | 10.0 | -0.4 | 4.8 | 4th | 39.2 | 41.1 | average | 95% |
| Colac (Mount Gellibrand) | 24.0 | 39.1 | 16th | 10.6 | 5.6 | 9th | 51.8 | 39.8 | high | 130% | ||
| Dartmoor | 25.1 | 40.7 | 31st | 10.7 | 5.7 | 26th | 40.2 | |||||
| Hamilton Airport | 25.5 | +1.7 | 39.6 | 16th | 9.5 | +0.1 | 4.3 | 14th | 39.6 | 44.1 | average | 90% |
| Mortlake Racecourse | 24.5 | +1.5 | 39.8 | 16th | 9.5 | +0.4 | 3.4 | 4th | 46.2 | 41.8 | average | 111% |
| Port Fairy AWS | 22.7 | +1.7 | 40.5 | 31st | 12.5 | +0.2 | 7.6 | 9th | 42.0 | 40.7 | average | 103% |
| Portland (Cashmore Airport) | 21.3 | +1.3 | 37.8 | 31st | 10.9 | +0.1 | 4.6 | 26th | 42.8 | 49.5 | average | 86% |
| Warrnambool Airport NDB | 23.3 | +0.8 | 40.0 | 16th | 9.9 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 26th | 46.4 | 46.3 | average | 100% |
| Weeaproinah | 19.4 | +1.6 | 33.8 | 16th | 9.6 | +0.3 | 6.1 | 9th | 113.8 | 113.2 | average | 101% |
Details Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list the main features of the weather in Victoria using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Tuesday 5 January 2010. 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.
Further information
Dr Harvey SternClimate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au
