Wednesday, 1 September 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in August 2010: Above average August

• Sixth wettest August in Victoria
• Exceptionally cold daytime temperatures
• Bumper month for snow

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall

A continuous succession of cold fronts passed across the Victorian region during August, resulting in above average rainfall state-wide. Over half the State recorded rainfall in the highest 10% of previous totals, with some locations in the Western district, specifically Weeaproinah, Cape Otway Lighthouse and Apollo Bay, all highest on record.

In fact, Weeaproinah experienced not only their wettest August on record, but also their wettest month on record, with a 628 mm soaking. This equates to almost one third of the usual annual rainfall at Weeaproinah and is more than double the average for August. Numerous locations across the State recorded rainfall of more than twice the average for August, particularly in the Western district and Northern Country.

Significant frontal systems passed across the State, bringing widespread rain and strong winds. A particularly strong low pressure system centred in Bass Strait on the 11th, progressed across the State in the late afternoon through to evening, causing widespread precipitation. This system was associated with the highest daily rainfall for the month with Weeaproinah recording 110.0 mm on the 12th. Substantial snowfalls in Alpine areas were recorded between the 24th and 27th, with snow reported down to low levels.

Temperature

Maximum temperature

Chilly days were experienced throughout Victoria with average maximum temperatures approximately 1.5°C lower than that usually experienced in August. Frequent cloud cover associated with frontal systems prevented daytime heating of the atmosphere, which led to cool daytime temperatures, often remaining below 12°C. In fact, several locations, including Strathbogie and Noojee, observed record low average daytime temperatures for the month.

The Alpine areas experienced icy days throughout August, Mount Hotham the coldest location this month, averaging just -1.3°C. The 25th was the coldest day with Mount Hotham also recording the coldest maximum temperature, -4.7°C and Mount Buller equalling its previous record coldest August day, reaching just -3.5°C.

In contrast, the warmest days on average were observed at Mildura Airport, a mild 15.7°C. More than half the State observed the warmest day on the 30th where sunny spring-like conditions raised temperatures over 18°C. Yet surprisingly, the warmest days of the month were the 19th, with a pleasant 21.4°C recorded at Gabo Island Lighthouse; whilst Mildura Airport reached 21.5°C on the 31st.

Minimum temperature

Minimum temperatures were slightly below average this month, with persistent cloud cover moderating overnight cooling. The coolest nights across the State were the 7th, 8th and 25th, with particularly frosty conditions in the north and west recorded on the 17th. Across the south and east of the State, including the Alpine areas, freezing sub-zero overnight temperatures were recorded on the 25^th, with Mount Hotham observing a very icy -7.6°C.

The lighthouse stations experienced the warmest overnight temperatures again this month, averaging 8.4°C at Cape Nelson Lighthouse and Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse, which was, surprisingly, even warmer than the average at the Melbourne Regional Office (7.6°C).

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Extremes in August 2010
Hottest day	21.5 °C at Mildura Airport on the 31st
Warmest days on average	15.7 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average	-1.2 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day	-4.7 °C at Mount Hotham on the 25th
Coldest night	-7.6 °C at Mount Hotham on the 25th
Coolest nights on average	-5.0 °C at Mount Hotham
Warmest nights on average	8.4 °C at Cape Nelson Lighthouse 8.4 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Warmest night	12.0 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse on the 15th
Wettest overall	628.0 mm at Weeaproinah
Wettest day	110.0 mm at Weeaproinah on the 12th
Highest wind gust	148 km/h at Grampians (Mount William) on the 11th

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Maps

Anomaly in mean maximum temperature

Anomaly in mean minimum temperature

Rainfall deciles

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest total August rainfall
	Total rainfall for August 2010 (mm)	Previous highest for August		Years of record	Average for August
Cape Otway Lighthouse	221.2	206.0	in 2001	149	103.6
Wickliffe	155.2	137.8	in 1939	131	61.0
Beaufort	184.4	151.7	in 1909	120	73.6
Hawkesdale (Post Office)	169.2	165.1	in 1939	118	82.5
Cobden (Post Office)	238.6	231.6	in 1966	116	102.9
Terang	189.0	186.1	in 1966	114	93.0
Apollo Bay	292.4	276.2	in 1939	110	126.8
Weeaproinah	628.0	472.2	in 1939	110	235.4
Willaura (Main Street)	158.6	114.9	in 1955	106	58.5
Lismore (Post Office)	152.6	117.3	in 1951	91	68.8
Rosebud (Country Club)	129.8	128.9	in 1981	60	79.9
Derrinallum (Post Office)	186.0	119.8	in 1975	55	75.0
Caramut	165.5	141.9	in 1970	51	77.2
Charlton (Donald St)	99.8	98.6	in 1985	51	46.4
Donald	116.8	86.2	in 1985	44	42.8
Glenthompson	141.0	127.6	in 2001	43	71.1
Ararat Prison	151.2	135.4	in 1981	42	69.5
Warracknabeal Museum	102.0	96.2	in 1981	42	44.7
Avoca (Homebush)	124.6	115.0	in 1999	23	54.6

Highest total August rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for August 2010 (mm)	Most recent August this high or higher		Years since higher	Average for August
Ballarat Aerodrome	161.0	167.1	in 1909	101	75.3
St Arnaud (Coonooer Bridge)	123.4	125.3	in 1909	101	45.8
Rupanyup (Post Office)	106.2	155.1	in 1909	100	45.3
St Arnaud	124.4	146.9	in 1909	100	56.2
Mornington	130.0	152.9	in 1909	94	71.5
Dunolly	111.3	117.7	in 1920	89	52.8
Skipton Post Office	133.4	168.7	in 1939	70	64.6
Forrest State Forest	264.6	329.8	in 1951	59	129.8
Beeac (Post Office)	127.4	133.6	in 1951	57	69.1
Cressy	106.4	115.1	in 1951	54	54.0
Birregurra (Post Office)	142.0	156.5	in 1955	53	78.5
Daylesford	205.2	237.7	in 1958	52	103.3
Buchan	128.0	128.1	in 1968	42	59.6
Narraport	76.3	80.4	in 1968	42	35.6
Nullawarre	207.6	224.7	in 1970	40	106.5
Penshurst (Post Office)	155.2	169.1	in 1970	40	82.1
Colac (Shire Office)	164.2	169.4	in 1966	37	88.2
Raywood	104.4	105.6	in 1973	37	43.9
Echuca Aerodrome	102.8	115.3	in 1973	36	42.3
Yea	111.0	117.4	in 1975	33	64.5
Bonbeach (Carrum)	102.0	118.2	in 1978	30	67.1
Ballan	119.2	122.0	in 1981	29	70.2
Bannockburn	68.8	81.6	in 1981	29	46.5
Clunes	136.8	163.2	in 1981	29	64.6
Drung Drung	89.2	113.2	in 1981	29	50.1
Maryborough	114.4	133.8	in 1981	29	56.5
Castlemaine Prison	122.0	139.4	in 1981	28	67.7
Jeparit	77.0	103.0	in 1981	28	40.1
Beulah	81.4	87.9	in 1981	27	39.9
Elmore	104.2	108.6	in 1984	26	47.0
Yanac North	86.6	93.2	in 1984	26	45.3
Berriwillock	73.2	78.8	in 1985	25	34.5
Heathcote	102.4	126.4	in 1985	25	61.2
Kerang	85.0	119.0	in 1985	25	37.2
Korong Vale (Burnbank)	98.4	109.8	in 1985	25	45.4
Sea Lake (Post Office)	70.2	73.2	in 1985	25	32.3
Strath Creek	125.6	129.4	in 1985	25	73.0
Strathbogie	203.4	225.4	in 1985	25	116.6
Tubbut	90.8	101.4	in 1985	25	50.5
Warrenbayne	170.4	183.6	in 1985	25	103.3
Wedderburn (Post Office)	111.9	119.4	in 1985	25	50.5
Whitlands (Burder's Lane)	288.8	323.8	in 1985	25	175.2
Culgoa	65.8	66.2	in 1985	24	35.7
Ouyen (Post Office)	52.8	67.2	in 1986	24	32.8
Patchewollock	63.7	74.2	in 1986	24	36.0
Redesdale	120.2	129.6	in 1985	24	60.8
Inglewood (Post Office)	102.8	111.6	in 1985	23	48.4
Rushworth	97.8	124.0	in 1985	23	53.0
Walpeup Research	65.6	84.0	in 1985	23	35.2
Burrowye Station	169.4	176.6	in 1984	22	106.0
Avenel (Post Office)	95.6	117.6	in 1989	20	62.2
Cann River	114.0	=114.0	in 1990	20	64.2
Kyabram DPI	88.0	90.2	in 1989	20	43.0
Mangalore Airport	84.2	115.5	in 1989	20	62.9
Stanhope	82.2	95.0	in 1989	20	43.2

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Lowest total August rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for August 2010 (mm)	Most recent August this low or lower		Years since lower	Average for August
Glenmaggie Weir	9.0	6.4	in 1982	28	42.1

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Record lowest August daily maximum temperature
	Lowest daily maximum temperature in August 2010 (°C)		Previous lowest for August		Years of record	Average for August
Strathbogie	5.4	on the 25th	5.7	on the 10th in 2005	33	11.6
Mount Buller	-3.5	on the 25th	= -3.5	on the 16th in 1991	24	2.2

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Record lowest August mean daily maximum temperature
	Mean daily maximum temperature for August 2010 (°C)	Previous lowest for August		Years of record	Average for August
Warracknabeal Museum	13.5	13.7	in 2008	37	15.6
Strathbogie	9.7	10.1	in 1992	32	11.6
Noojee (Slivar)	11.7	11.8	in 2008	26	13.4

Lowest August mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily maximum temperature for August 2010 (°C)	Most recent August this low or lower		Years since lower	Average for August
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	13.1	12.4	in 1943	57	15.0
Casterton Showgrounds	13.3	13.2	in 1958	48	14.7
Longerenong	12.9	=12.9	in 1989	21	14.8
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	13.5	13.4	in 1989	21	14.9
Bairnsdale Airport	14.7	14.6	in 1990	20	15.7
Moorabbin Airport	13.6	13.4	in 1989	20	14.9

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for August 2010
	Maximum temperatures for August (°C)				Minimum temperatures for August (°C)				Rainfall for August (millimetres)
	Mean for August 2010	Diff from average	Highest for August 2010		Mean for August 2010	Diff from average	Lowest for August 2010		Total for August 2010	Average for August	Rank of August 2010	Fraction of August average
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS	13.2	-1.8	16.0	10th	3.4	-0.2	-1.3	8th	100.4	66.1	high	152%
Hume Reservoir	13.3	-0.9	16.4	10th	4.6	-0.3	0.3	17th	104.8	76.5	high	137%
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	15.7	-1.5	21.5	31st	5.2	0.0	-1.3	17th	29.2	26.2	average	111%
Ouyen (Post Office)	15.2	-1.8	20.0	31st	5.0	0.0	-0.5	17th	52.8	32.8	high	161%
Walpeup Research	14.8	-1.5	19.6	30th	5.2	-0.1	0.8	6th	65.6	35.2	v high	186%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	14.5		19.2	30th	4.0		-2.8	17th	66.4
Swan Hill Aerodrome	14.5	-2.3	17.9	31st	4.3	+0.4	-1.2	17th	50.2	28.8	high	174%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome	13.5		18.3	30th	4.5		0.1	17th	73.2
Warracknabeal Museum	13.5	-2.1	18.2	30th	4.4	0.0	-1.2	17th	102.0	44.7	highest	228%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	12.8		17.0	30th	4.9		-0.5	17th	110.4
Grampians (Mount William)	4.1		9.3	30th	0.1		-2.2	25th	312.0
Horsham Aerodrome	13.0	-2.4	17.8	30th	3.3	+0.2	-2.2	17th	73.8	40.5	high	182%
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	13.1	-1.9	18.4	30th	3.7	-0.6	-2.2	17th	75.8	48.6	high	156%
Kanagulk	12.5		17.2	30th	4.2		-1.6	17th	98.8
Longerenong	12.9	-1.9	17.5	30th	3.6	-0.4	-2.9	17th	76.2	43.9	v high	174%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis)	6.1		11.1	30th	1.2		-1.7	25th	192.2
Stawell Aerodrome	12.2	-2.0	16.7	30th	4.0	-0.6	-0.5	17th	122.2	56.9	v high	215%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	13.8		17.2	30th	4.1		-1.9	17th	99.8
Echuca Aerodrome	13.8	-1.5	16.2	30th	4.5	-0.2	-1.1	17th	102.8	42.3	v high	243%
Kerang	14.7	-1.4	17.4	31st	4.6	-0.3	-0.4	17th	85.0	37.2	v high	228%
Kyabram DPI	13.8	-1.1	16.6	30th	4.1	+0.3	-1.5	17th	88.0	43.0	v high	205%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	12.7	-1.6	15.6	30th	3.4	+0.9	-2.4	17th	139.0	51.1	v high	272%
Shepparton Airport	13.0	-2.1	15.4	30th	4.0	+0.4	-1.0	17th	77.8	47.1	high	165%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	13.1	-1.6	16.0	30th	3.8	-0.1	-1.6	17th	85.6	47.2	v high	181%
Yarrawonga	13.4	-2.0	15.8	29th	3.8	+0.1	-0.7	17th	90.4	39.7	v high	228%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport	12.8		15.7	13th	3.3		-1.4	7th	118.4
Corryong Airport	12.5		16.5	3rd	2.1		-3.7	7th	182.4
Dartmouth Reservoir	11.8	-1.7	15.5	30th	2.8	+0.1	-2.2	8th	156.0	125.5	average	124%
Hunters Hill	6.7	-2.3	11.5	13th	1.1	-1.6	-1.8	17th	217.8	139.1	high	157%
Rutherglen Research	13.1	-0.9	15.3	13th	2.4	-0.4	-2.3	17th	81.2	60.7	high	134%
Strathbogie	9.7	-1.9	12.9	13th	2.0	-0.3	-2.8	7th	203.4	116.6	v high	174%
Wangaratta Aero	12.9	-1.6	15.3	30th	3.2	+0.3	-1.7	17th	102.8	58.7	high	175%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport)	5.4		10.3	13th	-2.0		-5.7	7th	105.8	80.3	average	132%
Edi Upper	11.7	-1.6	15.2	4th	3.0	-0.9	0.2	7th	174.4	120.6	high	145%
Falls Creek	0.1	-2.0	4.9	13th	-3.9	-1.4	-7.3	25th	143.2	87.0	high	165%
Mount Buller	-0.3	-2.5	3.9	13th	-4.3	-2.0	-7.1	25th	257.6	149.8	high	172%
Mount Hotham	-1.2	-1.9	3.5	13th	-5.0	-1.7	-7.6	25th	202.0	140.5	high	144%
Omeo	10.4		13.0	30th	0.6		-4.8	8th	77.8
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	11.6	-1.2	16.1	19th	4.2	-1.0	2.1	25th	92.8	61.0	high	152%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	15.3	+0.6	21.4	19th	8.1	-0.4	5.8	8th	47.2	71.9	low	66%
Gelantipy	9.5	-1.8	13.2	14th	2.3	-0.6	-1.3	7th	140.2	53.5	v high	262%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road)	15.2		19.4	19th	6.0		-0.6	8th	84.7
Mallacoota	15.3	-0.5	20.9	19th	5.6	-0.8	1.8	26th	75.2	65.2	average	115%
Mount Nowa Nowa	12.9	-1.6	16.8	19th	5.5	-0.9	2.6	25th	127.4	57.8	v high	220%
Orbost	14.9		19.4	19th	5.2		1.2	8th	93.6	56.3	high	166%
Orbost (Comparison)	15.4	-0.6	19.5	15th	4.0	-0.8	-0.6	8th	102.6	58.7	v high	175%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	14.6	-0.4	19.0	19th	7.9	-0.6	4.0	8th	80.9	78.6	average	103%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	14.7	-1.0	18.1	19th	4.0	-0.5	-0.4	8th	50.2	36.0	high	139%
East Sale Airport	14.3	-0.7	17.1	23rd	3.2	-0.9	-1.7	8th	41.8	46.0	average	91%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	13.5	-1.4	16.7	23rd	3.9	-0.4	-1.2	8th	66.8	63.1	average	106%
Mount Baw Baw	0.4	-2.8	5.8	13th	-3.0	-1.7	-5.9	25th	255.0	151.3	high	169%
Mount Moornapa	12.0	-1.7	15.5	19th	4.7	-1.0	1.8	25th	83.8	47.8	v high	175%
Noojee (Slivar)	11.7	-1.7	14.5	23rd	3.8	+0.1	-1.5	9th	149.2	109.7	high	136%
Pound Creek	13.4		16.2	23rd	6.2		0.0	10th	123.8
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	12.4	-0.4	15.1	31st	8.4	+0.1	4.5	25th	240.0	121.4	v high	198%
Yarram Airport	13.9		16.7	31st	4.1		-1.6	8th	78.8
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	13.4	-1.5	17.0	30th	6.0	-0.1	2.0	7th	76.6	57.7	high	133%
Cerberus	13.4	-1.3	16.2	30th	6.6	0.0	2.1	18th	119.6	78.5	high	152%
Coldstream	13.1	-1.7	16.4	9th	4.6	+0.3	-0.6	8th	121.8	68.9	v high	177%
Coldstream Comparison	13.1		16.2	30th	4.5		-0.7	8th	121.8
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	13.4	-1.1	16.9	30th			2.5	7th	66.9	78.5	average	85%
Essendon Airport	13.5	-0.8	16.8	30th	5.9	+0.4	2.2	7th	65.0	49.3	high	132%
Ferny Creek (Dunns Hill)	8.3	-2.1	12.5	9th	4.0	-1.2	0.3	25th	143.2	89.1	high	161%
Frankston AWS	12.6	-1.1	16.6	30th	8.3	0.0	5.0	7th
Melbourne Airport	13.4	-1.0	16.8	30th	5.5	-0.4	1.8	25th	62.8	46.9	high	134%
Melbourne Regional Office	14.7	-0.3	18.6	30th	7.6	+0.9	4.2	25th	63.0	50.2	high	125%
Moorabbin Airport	13.6	-1.3	17.2	30th	6.7	-0.1	3.7	8th	83.2	66.9	high	124%
Rhyll	13.4	-0.9	16.5	30th	8.0	-0.3	5.5	25th	107.0	78.3	high	137%
Scoresby Research Institute	13.2	-1.0	16.5	9th	6.2	-0.1	2.2	7th	89.4	81.0	average	110%
Viewbank (ARPANSA)	13.6	-1.7	16.9	30th	6.1	-0.1	2.4	7th	84.0	59.5	high	141%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	8.9	-1.7	12.6	30th	3.4	-0.8	-0.3	25th	125.6	62.5	v high	201%
Wonthaggi	13.7	-0.7	16.5	30th	6.3	-0.4	3.0	7th	142.0	102.7	high	138%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	14.1	-1.4	18.2	30th	5.4	-0.1	1.5	7th	65.0	44.9	high	145%
Grovedale (Geelong Airport)	13.6	-1.4	17.2	30th	5.6	-0.2	2.2	7th	70.8	49.1	high	144%
Laverton RAAF	13.9	-1.0	17.6	30th	5.9	+0.4	2.3	10th	63.6	45.3	high	140%
Sheoaks	12.1	-1.3	15.1	30th	5.2	-0.1	1.2	10th	77.4	46.3	v high	167%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	11.7	-1.6	14.5	30th	3.5	0.0	-0.2	17th	122.0	67.7	v high	180%
Eildon Fire Tower	8.8	-1.7	12.1	30th	3.2	-1.1	-0.2	25th	122.6	77.4	high	158%
Lake Eildon	12.4	-1.2	16.0	9th	4.3	+0.1	1.0	7th	173.2	99.6	v high	174%
Mangalore Airport	12.6	-1.5	14.9	30th	3.8	-0.1	-2.2	17th	84.2	62.9	high	134%
Maryborough	12.5	-1.4	16.2	30th	4.1	+0.2	-1.2	17th	114.4	56.5	v high	202%
Redesdale	12.1	-1.5	15.3	30th	2.9	-0.1	-2.2	17th	120.2	60.8	v high	198%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	11.6	-1.3	15.5	30th	3.8	0.0	-1.5	17th	151.2	69.5	highest	218%
Ballarat Aerodrome	10.0	-1.4	13.4	30th	3.4	-0.3	-0.8	17th	161.0	75.3	v high	214%
Westmere	12.0		16.1	30th	4.9		1.4	10th	143.6
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	13.0	-1.5	16.7	30th	6.5	-1.0	3.8	25th	115.0	70.0	high	164%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	13.4	-1.1	16.6	22nd	8.4	-0.3	5.8	7th	121.0	101.5	average	119%
Cape Otway Lighthouse	12.7	-1.1	15.3	31st	7.7	-0.1	4.8	25th	221.2	103.6	highest	214%
Casterton	12.7		17.3	30th	5.0		-0.7	17th	132.8
Casterton Showgrounds	13.3	-1.4	17.4	30th	5.1	-0.4	-0.5	17th	133.4	85.9	high	155%
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	11.2	-1.5	14.3	30th	4.9	-0.6	1.4	25th	104.6	64.0	v high	163%
Dartmoor	13.3		17.2	30th	5.6		1.2	29th	138.6
Hamilton Airport	11.9	-1.4	15.8	30th	4.3	-0.5	-0.1	17th	128.8	79.4	v high	162%
Mortlake Racecourse	12.8	-1.1	16.5	30th	5.1	+0.3	2.3	17th	167.0	68.1	v high	245%
Port Fairy AWS	13.7	-1.5	16.8	30th	6.9	-0.3	3.7	25th	163.6	88.3	v high	185%
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	12.8	-1.2	16.6	30th	6.7	+0.1	3.4	7th	174.0	105.1	v high	166%
Warrnambool Airport NDB	13.0	-1.5	16.6	30th	5.8	+0.1	2.7	10th	178.0	98.0	high	182%
Weeaproinah	8.9	-1.0	12.4	9th	4.1	-0.7	0.8	20th	628.0	235.4	highest	267%

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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