Tuesday, 2 February 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in January 2010:

Warm days. Generally drier than normal.

Overall, across the State of Victoria, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced. Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past. Total rainfall for the month was generally slightly less than that usually recorded.

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

Overall, across the State of Victoria, total rainfall for the month was generally slightly less than that usually recorded.

Specifically over the southern districts, the average percentage of normal received during the past month was 73%, whilst over the northern plains, the average percentage of normal received during the past month was 62%.

In Melbourne city, total rainfall for the month was 22.6 mm, this being much less than that usually recorded (normal 47.4 mm, percentage of normal received during the past month 48%).

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

Temperature

Overall, across the State of Victoria, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced., whilst daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past.

Specifically over the southern districts, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.1°C), whilst daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.4°C). Over the northern plains, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0°C), whilst daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 2°C). .

In Melbourne city, under the influence of the heat island effect (cities are usually warmer than their rural surroundings, especially at night, because of heat stored in bricks and concrete and trapped between close-packed buildings), overnight minimum temperatures were much warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 15.9°C (departure from normal 1.6°C). Daytime maximum temperatures were much warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 27.5°C (departure from normal 1.6°C).

Some 20 kilometres northwest of the city centre, Melbourne Airport, is more typical of the Melbourne metropolitan area. This is because, being located in a somewhat rural setting, it is away from most of the influence of the heat island effect. Here, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced and averaged 13.9°C (departure from normal 0.3°C). Daytime maximum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 27°C (departure from normal 0.8°C).

Some sites had their highest January temperature on record. Some sites had their coldest January day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.

Some sites had their lowest January temperature on record. Some sites had their highest January daily minimum temperature on record. Melbourne's overnight (11th/12th) minimum temperature of 30.6°C equalled the all-time "warmest night" record (for any month), which was set during the night of 31 January/1 February 1902.

There is a map of mean maximum temperatures below.

There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.

There is a map of mean minimum temperatures below.

There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.

Discussion of synoptic patterns

The Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) pattern for the month was typical of January, showing a ridge of high pressure extending from waters to the south of the Bight towards Victoria, and thereby directing a mostly S to SE airflow across the State. This flow was stronger than usual, MSLP being below normal over the west Tasman Sea, and above normal to the south of the Bight. Notwithstanding this anomalous southerly flow, which one might have expected to result in lower than usual temperatures, the average temperature of the air in the lower atmosphere over Victoria was above normal (hence the warmer than usual weather). Conversely, the average relative humidity of the air in the lower atmosphere over Victoria was below normal (hence the drier than usual weather).

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Extremes in January 2010
Hottest day	45.7 °C at Avalon Airport on the 11th
Warmest days on average	34.7 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average	17.0 °C at Mount Baw Baw
Coldest day	2.7 °C at Mount Baw Baw on the 18th
Coldest night	-3.5 °C at Mount Hotham on the 17th/18th
Coolest nights on average	7.9 °C at Mount Baw Baw
Warmest nights on average	17.1 °C at Albury Airport AWS 17.1 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Warmest night	30.6 °C at Melbourne on the 11th/12th
Wettest overall	210.6 mm at Falls Creek (Rocky Valley)
Highest wind gust	133 km/h at Eildon Fire Tower on the 1st

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps

Anomaly in mean maximum temperature

Mean maximum temperature

Anomaly in mean minimum temperature

Mean minimum temperature

Rainfall deciles

Rainfall totals

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest January temperature
	Highest temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Port Fairy AWS	44.3	on the 11th	42.9	on the 22nd in 2006	19	22.3
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	42.4	on the 11th	41.2	on the 22nd in 2006	15	20.9
Warrnambool Airport NDB	44.0	on the 11th	43.7	on the 29th in 2009	12	24.2

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Record lowest January daily maximum temperature
	Lowest daily maximum temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous lowest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	15.5	on the 18th	16.2	on the 13th in 1983	40	23.7
Mount Baw Baw	2.7	on the 18th	3.0	on the 6th in 2005	12	17.8

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Record highest January daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous highest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Maryborough	28.9	on the 12th	26.4	on the 21st in 1997	46	12.8
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	26.6	on the 12th	26.0	on the 12th in 1982	46	14.0
Castlemaine Prison	28.5	on the 12th	= 28.5	on the 29th in 2009	39	12.9
Mount Buller	20.2	on the 12th	20.0	on the 30th in 2009	23	8.6
Bendigo Airport	27.3	on the 12th	26.6	on the 21st in 1997	19	13.9
Yarrawonga	29.3	on the 12th	28.0	on the 24th in 2001	17	15.7
Coldstream	24.4	on the 12th	24.2	on the 21st in 1997	16	11.6
Shepparton Airport	29.1	on the 12th	27.8	on the 17th in 2007	14	15.0
Stawell Aerodrome	26.9	on the 12th	26.0	on the 21st in 1997	14	13.4

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Record lowest January temperature
	Lowest temperature in January 2010 (°C)		Previous lowest for January		Years of record	Average for January
Ferny Creek (Dunns Hill)	4.7	on the 18th	4.8	on the 18th in 2004	19	12.1
Mount Moornapa	5.6	on the 18th	5.8	on the 3rd in 2009	17	13.2
Combienbar AWS	4.5	on the 18th	5.5	on the 2nd in 2009	16	13.4
Mount Nowa Nowa	6.4	on the 18th	6.5	on the 7th in 2000	15	14.1
Eildon Fire Tower	4.0	on the 18th	4.6	on the 2nd in 2009	14	13.4
Mount Baw Baw	-2.0	on the 18th	-1.6	on the 2nd in 2009	12	8.8

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for January 2010
	Maximum temperatures for January (°C)				Minimum temperatures for January (°C)				Rainfall for January (millimetres)
	Mean for January 2010	Diff from average	Highest for January 2010		Mean for January 2010	Diff from average	Lowest for January 2010		Total for January 2010	Average for January	Rank of January 2010	Fraction of January average
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS	34.4	+2.5	42.4	12th	17.1	+0.8	8.7	19th	21.0	36.2	average	58%
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	34.7	+2.5	44.2	10th	16.9	+0.3	9.9	19th	8.8	20.5	average	43%
Ouyen (Post Office)	34.2	+1.9	45.4	10th	16.2	+0.8	9.9	19th	8.2	20.3	average	40%
Walpeup Research	34.1	+2.4	45.0	10th	15.6	+0.4	7.7	19th	13.6	21.2	average	64%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	33.4		44.6	10th	13.9		6.9	19th	23.2
Swan Hill Aerodrome	34.2	+1.3	44.5	10th	15.3	-0.6	9.0	19th	38.4	23.4	high	164%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome	32.0		43.6	11th	12.7		7.1	19th	6.6
Warracknabeal Museum	32.3	+1.6	44.2	11th	13.3	-0.7	7.2	19th	6.4	24.2	low	26%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	29.6		43.3	11th	11.6		5.2	24th	21.4
Grampians (Mount William)	21.2		35.3	11th	9.6		1.8	18th	23.2
Horsham Aerodrome	31.6	+0.6	44.1	11th	11.4	-1.0	4.6	30th	15.4	22.4	average	69%
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	31.6	+1.8	44.6	11th	11.2	-1.9	5.1	19th	8.2	23.0	average	36%
Kanagulk	30.3		43.3	11th	11.2		6.1	7th	17.2
Longerenong	32.0	+2.1	44.6	11th	11.6	-1.3	4.9	19th	16.2	23.9	average	68%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis)	24.8		38.0	11th	11.8		3.4	18th	32.2
Stawell Aerodrome	30.1	+0.9	42.7	11th	12.7	-0.7	6.2	19th	18.6	31.1	low	60%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	32.9		44.2	11th	13.8		6.9	19th	16.4
Echuca Aerodrome	33.2	+2.3	43.6	11th	14.6	-0.5	8.8	19th	31.0	27.3	average	114%
Kerang	33.6	+2.1	44.6	11th	15.2	+0.1	8.9	19th	37.6	22.8	high	165%
Kyabram DPI	33.1	+3.1	43.8	11th	14.5	+0.2	7.1	19th	37.6	31.9	average	118%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	31.5	+2.0	43.0	11th	13.6	-0.3	7.5	4th	13.6	29.6	low	46%
Shepparton Airport	32.9	+1.0	43.0	11th	14.5	-0.5	8.7	19th	7.0	20.2	low	35%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	31.9	+2.4	42.1	11th	14.3	+0.3	7.6	19th	20.4	32.4	average	63%
Yarrawonga	34.3	+1.9	43.9	12th	15.7	0.0	8.5	19th	32.4	28.0	high	116%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed	33.1	+2.4	41.2	12th	13.2	-0.2	3.3	19th	41.8	45.0	average	93%
Benalla Airport	33.3		42.7	11th	14.2		6.9	19th	20.0
Corryong Airport	33.5		41.2	12th	13.9		4.2	19th	41.8
Dartmouth Reservoir	31.2	+2.1	38.4	11th	14.3	+0.7	5.5	19th	103.6	61.1	high	170%
Hunters Hill	27.5	+1.9	34.7	11th	15.4	+1.3	4.0	18th	50.2	57.8	average	87%
Rutherglen Research	33.8	+2.5	42.6	12th	14.1	+0.4	5.1	19th	33.8	36.0	average	94%
Strathbogie	28.8	+1.6	39.1	11th	11.0	-0.5	5.4	19th	50.0	46.7	average	107%
Wangaratta Aero	34.1	+2.3	43.4	12th	13.8	-0.3	7.1	20th	22.6	39.6	average	57%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport)	23.1		30.3	12th	8.6		0.9	18th	69.6	49.0	high	142%
Edi Upper	31.6	+1.7	39.2	12th	14.2	+0.3	6.6	19th	95.2	57.4	high	166%
Falls Creek	18.9	+1.4	25.8	11th	9.5	+1.0	-2.5	18th	194.8	105.9	high	184%
Mount Buller	18.5	+1.4	26.5	11th	9.8	+1.2	-2.7	18th	91.4	68.5	high	133%
Mount Hotham	17.4	+1.3	24.3	12th	8.6	+0.9	-3.5	18th	121.6	95.2	average	128%
Omeo	27.5		37.9	11th	11.2		4.1	18th	51.6
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	26.7	+1.5	38.6	12th	13.0	-0.4	4.5	18th	59.6	74.5	average	80%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	22.8	+1.6	32.1	9th	17.1	+1.4	11.8	18th	15.2	70.6	low	22%
Gelantipy	24.8	+1.0	36.0	11th	11.7	+0.2	3.1	18th	80.0	64.1	high	125%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road)	24.8		40.6	12th	14.9		10.0	18th	56.0
Mallacoota	25.0	+1.0	38.6	9th	16.0	+0.6	10.8	18th	15.2	63.7	low	24%
Mount Nowa Nowa	25.5	+0.8	39.3	9th	13.8	-0.3	6.4	18th	55.8	59.6	average	94%
Orbost	27.0		41.4	12th	14.4		8.9	18th	52.0	40.0	high	130%
Orbost (Comparison)	27.0	+1.6	40.6	12th	13.9	+0.7	8.8	30th	50.0	66.7	average	75%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	25.4	+1.7	40.2	12th	16.0	+0.3	8.8	20th	44.1	62.4	average	71%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	27.4	+1.7	41.1	12th	13.6	+0.9	8.2	18th	33.2	49.9	low	67%
East Sale Airport	27.4	+2.0	39.2	9th	13.4	+0.6	7.4	4th	33.2	45.5	average	73%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	29.0	+2.8	40.1	9th	12.6	+0.1	5.2	4th	26.0	49.3	low	53%
Mount Baw Baw	17.0	-0.8	29.0	11th	7.9	-0.9	-2.0	18th	128.8	96.0	high	134%
Mount Moornapa	27.0	+1.8	38.1	9th	12.8	-0.4	5.6	18th	46.4	61.7	average	75%
Noojee (Slivar)	26.7	+1.7	40.6	11th	11.2	0.0	5.0	24th	71.6	67.7	average	106%
Pound Creek	24.9		38.0	31st	11.7		2.4	24th	35.8
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	21.8	+1.6	36.1	11th	14.9	+0.9	10.8	18th	34.8	51.1	average	68%
Yarram Airport	26.4		39.1	9th	12.2		4.3	4th	21.8
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	27.3	+0.9	43.6	11th	14.2	+0.2	8.9	18th	53.7	47.1	average	114%
Cerberus	24.8	+0.6	42.7	11th	13.6	-0.1	7.6	26th	28.2	36.3	average	78%
Coldstream	28.5	+0.8	42.4	11th	11.1	-0.5	4.8	24th	59.4	44.5	average	133%
Coldstream Comparison	28.6		42.9	11th	11.0		4.7	24th	59.4
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	25.8	+0.6	43.0	11th	13.2	-0.2	8.0	24th	41.9	53.5	average	78%
Essendon Airport	27.2	+0.9	43.4	11th	14.2	+0.9	8.9	18th	30.8	43.2	average	71%
Ferny Creek (Dunns Hill)	22.4	+0.2	37.2	11th	11.4	-0.7	4.7	18th	75.4	66.0	average	114%
Melbourne Airport	27.0	+0.8	42.5	11th	13.9	+0.3	8.6	24th	27.2	41.3	average	66%
Melbourne Regional Office	27.5	+1.6	43.6	11th	15.9	+1.6	10.4	18th	22.6	47.4	low	48%
Moorabbin Airport	26.4	+0.8	43.9	11th	14.3	+0.2	8.8	24th	46.0	44.5	average	103%
Rhyll	24.1	+0.6	39.0	11th	15.6	+0.5	10.3	18th	26.6	35.7	average	75%
Scoresby Research Institute	27.2	+1.1	42.1	11th	13.2	+0.1	6.9	24th	55.0	52.7	average	104%
Viewbank (ARPANSA)	27.6	-0.1	43.1	11th	13.9	-0.3	8.6	18th	71.8	37.6	highest	191%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	25.8	+1.2	39.1	11th	11.6	-0.6	5.6	18th	68.4	47.7	high	143%
Wonthaggi	24.9	+1.1	42.6	11th	13.2	+0.3	8.0	24th	30.0	48.2	average	62%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	27.0	+0.9	45.7	11th	13.6	-0.4	8.6	18th	9.2	28.7	low	32%
Grovedale (Geelong Airport)	25.5	+1.1	44.9	11th	12.4	-0.5	7.0	24th	18.0	33.3	average	54%
Laverton RAAF	26.7	+1.1	44.7	11th	14.7	+1.1	9.5	18th	21.2	39.0	average	54%
Sheoaks	26.6	+1.1	42.5	11th	11.4	-0.8	6.0	24th	20.8	32.4	low	64%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	29.8	+1.8	41.6	11th	12.9	0.0	3.9	19th	19.0	37.6	low	51%
Eildon Fire Tower	27.4	+0.1	38.6	11th	12.9	-0.5	4.0	18th	85.0	32.7	highest	260%
Lake Eildon	30.8	+2.1	41.3	11th	12.6	0.0	7.5	18th	85.0	46.4	high	183%
Mangalore Airport	31.7	+2.1	42.9	11th	14.1	0.0	6.7	18th	31.4	37.0	average	85%
Maryborough	30.3	+1.6	42.8	11th	13.1	+0.3	8.2	18th	17.9	29.8	average	60%
Redesdale	30.8	+1.9	42.0	11th	12.1	-0.9	6.6	18th	15.2	32.4	average	47%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	28.5	+1.8	40.7	11th	10.6	-0.4	3.4	19th	34.0	37.9	average	90%
Ballarat Aerodrome	26.9	+1.9	39.9	11th	11.0	+0.2	5.8	18th	25.8	38.1	average	68%
Westmere	28.4		44.2	11th	9.3		3.1	24th	30.6
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	23.0	+0.5	37.7	31st	13.6	-0.2	8.3	18th	51.2	33.9	high	151%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	21.9	+1.0	42.4	11th	14.7	+0.2	9.6	5th	12.2	30.5	low	40%
Cape Otway Lighthouse	21.8	+0.4	35.5	11th	13.9	+0.6	9.2	18th	14.4	43.8	low	33%
Casterton	27.6		42.4	11th	11.0		4.5	18th	12.0
Casterton Showgrounds	28.5	+1.4	42.5	11th	10.9	-0.9	6.0	24th	15.6	29.2	low	53%
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	25.8		43.9	11th	11.8		6.3	18th	20.6	28.5	average	72%
Dartmoor	26.6		44.2	11th	10.9		5.1	24th	21.6
Hamilton Airport	27.6	+1.4	43.3	11th	10.3	-0.6	4.9	24th	12.0	32.3	low	37%
Mortlake Racecourse	26.6	+1.1	44.0	11th	9.3	-1.5	2.0	24th	23.6	30.5	average	77%
Port Fairy AWS	23.1	+0.8	44.3	11th	13.5	-0.3	7.6	24th	16.2	29.4	average	55%
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	22.0	+0.3	40.8	11th	11.2	-0.9	3.0	24th	16.4	33.7	low	49%
Warrnambool Airport NDB	24.4	+0.2	44.0	11th	10.7	-0.8	3.8	24th	25.6	32.2	average	80%
Weeaproinah	20.7	+1.0	38.1	11th	10.7	-0.1	5.3	24th	71.8	86.6	average	83%

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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