Monday, 2 May 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0
Victoria in April 2011: Slightly cooler than usual
- Maximum and minimum temperatures below average in the northeast
- Minimum temperatures above average in the southwest
- Rainfall close to average
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Rainfall
Monthly rainfall totals across the state were mixed but generally close to average. The Mallee recorded its first month of below average rainfall since July 2010. Some parts along the south coast recorded monthly totals very much above average due to persistent south-westerly flow. The Melbourne Regional Office almost doubled its long-term monthly total recording 101.8 mm. Almost half of that was recorded on the 12th when a low pressure system centred over the state delivered 25-100 mm to much of the Central district and western parts of West Gippsland. The wettest station overall was Foster Hoddle recording 192.8 mm. Some sites had their highest total April rainfall for at least 20 years. The wettest single day was the 11th when Warrnambool Airport NDB recorded 74.6 mm. Some sites had their highest April daily rainfall on record. There is a map of rainfall deciles below.
Maximum temperature
Slow moving high pressure systems characterised the weather experienced this month, with clear skies and cool offshore winds suppressing daytime temperatures. As a result, maximum temperatures were slightly cooler than normal, but still close to average, for much of the state. It was only around the North East district that maximum temperatures were below average. The hottest day was the 9th when Swan Hill Aerodrome recorded 30.9 °C. The warmest days on average, 23.5 °C, were recorded at Hopetoun Airport and Ouyen (Post Office). The coolest days on average were 7.5 °C at Mount Hotham. Mount Hotham also recorded the coldest single day on the 11th with 0.9 °C. Some sites had their coldest April day (lowest maximum temperature) on record. There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.
Minimum temperature
Monthly minimum temperatures across the state were slightly cooler than usual due in part to the clear skies. It was only in parts of the northeast and southwest that minimum temperatures were significantly different from usual. Minimum temperatures in the southwest were above average whilst minimum temperatures in the northeast were below average. The coldest single night was -3.7 °C at Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport) on the 3rd and the coolest nights on average were 1.4 °C at Mount Hotham. The warmest nights on average were 13.6 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse and the warmest night was the 9th when Cape Otway Lighthouse recorded 20.0 °C. There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.
Further information
Dr Harvey SternClimate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in April 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 30.9 °C at Swan Hill Aerodrome on the 9th |
| Warmest days on average |
23.5 °C at Hopetoun Airport 23.5 °C at Ouyen (Post Office) |
| Coolest days on average | 7.5 °C at Mount Hotham |
| Coldest day | 0.9 °C at Mount Hotham on the 11th |
| Coldest night | -3.7 °C at Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport) on the 3rd |
| Coolest nights on average | 1.4 °C at Mount Hotham |
| Warmest nights on average | 13.6 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse |
| Warmest night | 20.0 °C at Cape Otway Lighthouse on the 9th |
| Warmest on average overall | 16.6 °C at Walpeup Research |
| Coolest on average overall | 4.4 °C at Mount Hotham |
| Wettest overall | 192.8 mm at Foster Hoddle |
| Wettest day | 74.6 mm at Warrnambool Airport NDB on the 11th |
| Highest wind gust | 111 km/h at Mount Hotham on the 9th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps
Anomaly in mean maximum temperature
Anomaly in mean minimum temperature
Rainfall deciles
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest April daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in April 2011 (mm) |
Previous wettest for April |
Years of record |
||||
| Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) | 70.0 | on the 12th | 62.7 | on the 21st in 1984 | 28 | |
| Highest total April rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for April 2011 (mm) |
Most recent April at least this wet |
Years since wetter |
Average for April |
||
| Rochester | 74.2 | 82.4 | in 1980 | 31 | 30.3 |
| Flemington Racecourse | 91.8 | 133.8 | in 1989 | 20 | 48.3 |
| Record lowest April daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in April 2011 (°C) |
Previous coolest for April |
Years of record |
Average for April |
|||
| Echuca Aerodrome | 11.8 | on the 11th | 12.2 | on the 22nd in 1960 | 55 | 22.2 |
| Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag | 11.4 | on the 11th | = 11.4 | on the 27th in 2008 | 47 | 21.5 |
| Kyabram DPI | 10.9 | on the 11th | 11.4 | on the 27th in 1982 | 46 | 21.7 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for April 2011 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for April (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for April (°C) |
Rainfall for April (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for April 2011 |
Diff from average |
Highest for April 2011 |
Mean for April 2011 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for April 2011 |
Total for April 2011 |
Average for April |
Rank of April 2011 |
Fraction of April average |
|||
| Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72) | ||||||||||||
| Albury Airport AWS | 21.0 | -1.4 | 27.1 | 9th | 7.8 | -0.2 | 4.0 | 23rd | 26.8 | 35.4 | average | 76% |
| Hume Reservoir | 22.0 | 30th | 9.2 | -0.8 | 5.2 | 23rd | 29.4 | 51.5 | average | 57% | ||
| North Mallee (district 76) | ||||||||||||
| Mildura Airport | 23.2 | -0.3 | 30.5 | 9th | 9.6 | -0.5 | 6.2 | 25th | 11.8 | 18.2 | average | 65% |
| Ouyen (Post Office) | 23.5 | +0.1 | 29.4 | 8th | 9.4 | -0.1 | 2.0 | 12th | 13.0 | 21.6 | average | 60% |
| Walpeup Research | 23.3 | +0.5 | 29.9 | 8th | 9.9 | -0.1 | 4.7 | 3rd | 8.2 | 22.9 | average | 36% |
| South Mallee (district 77) | ||||||||||||
| Hopetoun Airport | 23.5 | 29.8 | 8th | 8.3 | 2.9 | 23rd | 12.0 | |||||
| Swan Hill Aerodrome | 23.3 | -0.4 | 30.9 | 9th | 8.7 | -0.1 | 4.1 | 23rd | 21.4 | 16.5 | average | 130% |
| North Wimmera (district 78) | ||||||||||||
| Nhill Aerodrome | 22.2 | 29.3 | 8th | 8.8 | 2.9 | 14th | 9.6 | |||||
| Warracknabeal Museum | 22.5 | +0.1 | 28.6 | 8th | 8.7 | -0.2 | 4.0 | 14th | 8.0 | 26.5 | low | 30% |
| South Wimmera (district 79) | ||||||||||||
| Edenhope Airport | 19.7 | 28.2 | 8th | 9.0 | 4.5 | 1st | 35.4 | |||||
| Grampians (Mount William) | 12.0 | 17.9 | 8th | 5.9 | 1.9 | 10th | 79.0 | |||||
| Horsham Aerodrome | 21.7 | -0.6 | 28.6 | 8th | 7.4 | +0.5 | 3.3 | 17th | 16.6 | 27.5 | average | 60% |
| Horsham Polkemmet Rd | 21.8 | +0.2 | 28.9 | 8th | 8.0 | -0.3 | 4.0 | 17th | 11.1 | 31.5 | low | 35% |
| Kanagulk | 19.9 | 27.6 | 8th | 8.8 | 4.5 | 21st | 25.6 | |||||
| Longerenong | 22.1 | +0.6 | 28.9 | 8th | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 23rd | 14.4 | 29.1 | average | 49% |
| Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) | 14.8 | 21.1 | 8th | 8.0 | 3.8 | 11th | 66.6 | |||||
| Stawell Aerodrome | 20.0 | -0.8 | 26.9 | 8th | 9.1 | +0.9 | 4.7 | 1st | 22.4 | 30.0 | average | 75% |
| Lower North (district 80) | ||||||||||||
| Charlton | 22.5 | 28.3 | 9th | 8.1 | 3.3 | 23rd | 12.8 | |||||
| Echuca Aerodrome | 21.7 | -0.5 | 28.6 | 9th | 7.7 | -1.7 | 4.5 | 23rd | 51.2 | 32.6 | high | 157% |
| Kerang | 22.4 | -0.3 | 29.0 | 9th | 9.2 | -0.2 | 5.4 | 23rd | 20.8 | 25.4 | average | 82% |
| Kyabram DPI | 21.3 | -0.4 | 29.4 | 9th | 7.5 | -1.2 | 3.2 | 23rd | 58.2 | 36.7 | high | 159% |
| Upper North (district 81) | ||||||||||||
| Bendigo Airport | 20.3 | -0.9 | 26.7 | 9th | 8.2 | +0.6 | 2.3 | 23rd | 42.6 | 29.2 | high | 146% |
| Shepparton Airport | 20.6 | -1.9 | 27.4 | 9th | 7.6 | -0.7 | 3.5 | 23rd | 37.2 | 32.5 | average | 114% |
| Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag | 20.6 | -0.9 | 27.5 | 9th | 7.4 | -0.8 | 1.7 | 23rd | 48.6 | 34.4 | high | 141% |
| Yarrawonga | 21.9 | -1.0 | 28.7 | 9th | 8.4 | -0.4 | 3.6 | 24th | 21.4 | 26.7 | average | 80% |
| Lower Northeast (district 82) | ||||||||||||
| Beechworth Woolshed | 20.5 | -1.1 | 25.0 | 9th | 5.3 | -0.8 | 0.8 | 24th | 36.8 | 46.3 | average | 79% |
| Benalla Airport | 20.9 | 28.1 | 9th | 6.9 | 1.1 | 23rd | 46.3 | |||||
| Corryong Airport | 20.4 | 24.5 | 9th | 4.5 | -0.5 | 18th | 42.0 | |||||
| Dartmouth Reservoir | 19.5 | -1.2 | 24.0 | 9th | 7.6 | +0.7 | 3.5 | 24th | 55.4 | 59.4 | average | 93% |
| Hunters Hill | 15.8 | -0.5 | 20.2 | 9th | 7.5 | -0.8 | 3.2 | 11th | 67.2 | 65.0 | average | 103% |
| Rutherglen Research | 21.2 | -0.7 | 27.6 | 9th | 5.5 | -1.6 | 0.7 | 24th | 24.4 | 40.1 | average | 61% |
| Strathbogie | 17.7 | -1.1 | 23.1 | 9th | 4.6 | -1.0 | -0.1 | 23rd | 51.8 | 66.2 | average | 78% |
| Wangaratta Aero | 20.9 | -1.6 | 27.4 | 9th | 6.5 | -0.3 | 1.7 | 24th | 34.6 | 39.6 | average | 87% |
| Upper Northeast (district 83) | ||||||||||||
| Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport) | 13.9 | -1.0 | 18.5 | 1st | 1.7 | -1.7 | -3.7 | 3rd | 20.4 | 46.7 | v low | 44% |
| Edi Upper | 20.1 | -1.1 | 24.5 | 9th | 7.8 | -0.4 | 3.8 | 23rd | 47.2 | 60.5 | average | 78% |
| Falls Creek | 9.3 | -0.5 | 13.9 | 7th | 2.1 | -0.9 | -2.3 | 11th | 74.6 | 81.3 | average | 92% |
| Mount Buller | 8.6 | -1.3 | 12.7 | 7th | 2.2 | -1.5 | -2.3 | 11th | 129.8 | 106.7 | average | 122% |
| Mount Hotham | 7.5 | -0.9 | 12.4 | 7th | 1.4 | -1.2 | -2.9 | 11th | 112.2 | 96.2 | average | 117% |
| Omeo | 17.6 | 22.3 | 9th | 3.9 | -1.9 | 23rd | 17.2 | |||||
| East Gippsland (district 84) | ||||||||||||
| Combienbar AWS | 17.2 | -0.4 | 23.2 | 9th | 9.1 | -0.4 | 6.5 | 1st | 56.8 | 72.2 | average | 79% |
| Gabo Island Lighthouse | 19.5 | +0.3 | 22.9 | 19th | 13.3 | -0.2 | 9.5 | 1st | 53.6 | 83.3 | average | 64% |
| Gelantipy | 15.5 | -1.0 | 21.4 | 9th | 6.2 | -0.7 | 2.4 | 23rd | 28.6 | 50.3 | average | 57% |
| Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road) | 19.6 | 29.0 | 9th | 9.9 | 6.7 | 8th | 62.4 | |||||
| Mallacoota | 19.3 | -0.6 | 25.1 | 9th | 11.4 | -0.1 | 7.3 | 1st | 56.4 | 89.5 | average | 63% |
| Mount Nowa Nowa | 18.4 | -0.8 | 25.6 | 9th | 10.4 | -0.2 | 7.4 | 23rd | 90.4 | 77.0 | high | 117% |
| Orbost | 20.1 | -0.8 | 28.6 | 9th | 9.8 | -0.8 | 6.1 | 1st | 74.6 | 75.7 | average | 99% |
| Orbost (Comparison) | 20.5 | -0.4 | 28.5 | 9th | 8.5 | -0.8 | 4.6 | 1st | 76.3 | 73.7 | average | 104% |
| Point Hicks (Lighthouse) | 19.8 | 0.0 | 26.0 | 9th | 12.5 | -0.6 | 9.5 | 3rd | 79.1 | 84.6 | average | 93% |
| West Gippsland (district 85) | ||||||||||||
| Bairnsdale Airport | 20.2 | -0.5 | 28.7 | 9th | 7.9 | -0.6 | 4.2 | 1st | 60.0 | 56.5 | average | 106% |
| East Sale Airport | 19.7 | -0.6 | 29.3 | 9th | 8.4 | -0.2 | 4.6 | 18th | 54.0 | 48.2 | average | 112% |
| Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) | 19.7 | -0.8 | 28.1 | 9th | 8.6 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 1st | 101.0 | 58.9 | v high | 171% |
| Mount Baw Baw | 9.0 | -0.8 | 14.7 | 8th | 3.0 | -0.7 | -0.7 | 12th | 144.6 | 141.9 | average | 102% |
| Mount Moornapa | 17.3 | -0.9 | 26.4 | 9th | 9.6 | -0.2 | 6.7 | 12th | 114.6 | 81.3 | high | 141% |
| Noojee (Slivar) | 18.3 | -0.5 | 25.2 | 9th | 7.6 | +0.2 | 4.1 | 5th | 104.6 | 86.1 | average | 121% |
| Pound Creek | 19.7 | 27.6 | 9th | 8.7 | 3.9 | 18th | 102.6 | |||||
| Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse | 17.3 | 0.0 | 26.1 | 9th | 13.6 | +0.9 | 11.8 | 12th | 116.6 | 85.2 | high | 137% |
| Yarram Airport | 19.4 | 28.3 | 9th | 7.8 | 3.2 | 17th | 59.6 | |||||
| East Central (district 86) | ||||||||||||
| Bundoora (Latrobe University) | 20.2 | -0.3 | 27.0 | 9th | 9.4 | -0.4 | 5.0 | 1st | 86.8 | 54.4 | high | 160% |
| Cerberus | 19.5 | -0.2 | 26.9 | 9th | 9.9 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 11th | 83.8 | 66.5 | high | 126% |
| Coldstream | 20.1 | -0.2 | 25.3 | 9th | 7.2 | +0.6 | 3.6 | 11th | 87.2 | 61.3 | high | 142% |
| Coldstream Comparison | 20.0 | 25.4 | 8th | 7.1 | 3.5 | 11th | 87.2 | |||||
| Cranbourne Botanic Gardens | 19.4 | -0.4 | 25.5 | 8th | 9.8 | -0.4 | 4.3 | 11th | 100.5 | 70.7 | high | 142% |
| Essendon Airport | 20.3 | +0.3 | 27.7 | 9th | 9.6 | -0.2 | 4.6 | 11th | 65.0 | 55.0 | average | 118% |
| Ferny Creek | 16.1 | 21.2 | 9th | 9.8 | 6.4 | 23rd | 128.0 | |||||
| Ferny Creek (Dunns Hill) | 15.9 | -0.1 | 22.0 | 7th | 9.4 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 23rd | 116.4 | 94.7 | high | 123% |
| Frankston AWS | 19.3 | +0.1 | 25.2 | 8th | 12.4 | +0.2 | 8.6 | 1st | ||||
| Melbourne Airport | 20.3 | 0.0 | 27.6 | 9th | 9.3 | -0.9 | 3.2 | 11th | 43.0 | 43.8 | average | 98% |
| Melbourne Regional Office | 21.2 | +0.9 | 27.1 | 9th | 11.7 | +0.9 | 8.2 | 11th | 101.8 | 57.4 | high | 177% |
| Moorabbin Airport | 20.1 | 0.0 | 26.7 | 9th | 9.8 | -0.6 | 4.5 | 11th | 84.2 | 63.0 | high | 134% |
| Rhyll | 19.7 | +0.3 | 24.6 | 9th | 12.7 | +0.3 | 9.9 | 11th | 83.2 | 62.6 | high | 133% |
| Scoresby Research Institute | 19.8 | -0.1 | 25.5 | 9th | 9.4 | -0.7 | 4.7 | 11th | 92.4 | 66.8 | high | 138% |
| Viewbank (ARPANSA) | 20.5 | -0.9 | 26.9 | 9th | 9.3 | -0.7 | 5.0 | 11th | 119.6 | 58.3 | high | 205% |
| Wallan (Kilmore Gap) | 16.4 | -0.5 | 22.6 | 9th | 8.7 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 11th | 62.4 | 56.7 | average | 110% |
| Wonthaggi | 19.7 | +0.1 | 26.9 | 9th | 10.3 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 1st | 117.6 | 79.3 | high | 148% |
| West Central (district 87) | ||||||||||||
| Avalon Airport | 20.1 | -0.1 | 27.3 | 9th | 8.7 | -0.8 | 4.4 | 11th | 41.4 | 37.0 | average | 112% |
| Grovedale (Geelong Airport) | 20.0 | -0.2 | 27.7 | 9th | 8.9 | -0.6 | 5.0 | 11th | 40.2 | 45.2 | average | 89% |
| Laverton RAAF | 20.1 | -0.1 | 26.9 | 9th | 9.3 | -0.5 | 3.5 | 11th | 52.6 | 45.7 | high | 115% |
| Sheoaks | 18.8 | -0.3 | 25.2 | 8th | 8.2 | -0.5 | 2.9 | 11th | 33.6 | 37.8 | average | 89% |
| North Central (district 88) | ||||||||||||
| Castlemaine Prison | 19.3 | -0.8 | 25.7 | 9th | 8.2 | +0.7 | 2.6 | 23rd | 48.6 | 41.2 | average | 118% |
| Eildon Fire Tower | 16.9 | -1.5 | 22.0 | 7th | 8.7 | -0.4 | 5.5 | 23rd | 77.2 | 42.6 | high | 181% |
| Lake Eildon | 20.1 | -0.7 | 25.4 | 9th | 7.6 | -0.2 | 3.5 | 3rd | 61.2 | 59.9 | average | 102% |
| Mangalore Airport | 20.4 | -1.0 | 27.7 | 9th | 7.7 | -0.8 | 2.3 | 23rd | 36.0 | 39.3 | average | 92% |
| Maryborough | 20.7 | +0.2 | 25.9 | 9th | 8.2 | -0.1 | 4.1 | 23rd | 33.5 | 39.5 | average | 85% |
| Redesdale | 20.0 | -0.4 | 25.5 | 9th | 6.6 | -0.6 | 1.5 | 23rd | 32.2 | 40.6 | average | 79% |
| Western Plains (district 89) | ||||||||||||
| Ararat Prison | 19.8 | +0.4 | 26.3 | 8th | 8.4 | +1.2 | 3.3 | 26th | 38.8 | 43.1 | average | 90% |
| Ballarat Aerodrome | 18.0 | +0.4 | 23.3 | 8th | 7.2 | -0.3 | 2.5 | 23rd | 31.2 | 51.6 | average | 60% |
| Westmere | 19.7 | 26.8 | 27th | 7.5 | 3.4 | 25th | 28.6 | |||||
| West Coast (district 90) | ||||||||||||
| Aireys Inlet | 18.9 | 0.0 | 26.4 | 8th | 11.8 | +0.3 | 8.3 | 1st | 37.4 | 50.4 | average | 74% |
| Cape Nelson Lighthouse | 18.2 | +0.2 | 28.2 | 7th | 12.4 | +0.2 | 6.6 | 18th | 45.6 | 45.1 | average | 101% |
| Cape Otway Lighthouse | 17.8 | -0.2 | 25.8 | 8th | 12.8 | +1.2 | 8.2 | 18th | 54.0 | 71.4 | average | 76% |
| Casterton | 19.0 | 26.9 | 8th | 8.8 | 3.7 | 1st | 45.0 | |||||
| Colac (Mount Gellibrand) | 18.3 | -0.9 | 25.0 | 8th | 9.5 | -0.3 | 6.1 | 23rd | 29.0 | 42.3 | low | 69% |
| Dartmoor | 19.4 | 28.0 | 8th | 8.9 | 3.3 | 17th | 53.6 | |||||
| Hamilton Airport | 18.7 | -1.2 | 26.1 | 8th | 8.3 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 1st | 68.2 | 39.6 | high | 172% |
| Mortlake Racecourse | 19.2 | -0.6 | 26.1 | 7th | 8.3 | +0.5 | 2.6 | 17th | 55.0 | 44.4 | high | 124% |
| Port Fairy AWS | 19.0 | -0.4 | 27.7 | 8th | 11.0 | +0.3 | 4.9 | 18th | 88.2 | 52.7 | high | 167% |
| Portland (Cashmore Airport) | 18.4 | 0.0 | 26.3 | 8th | 10.0 | +0.2 | 2.8 | 18th | 61.4 | 58.5 | average | 105% |
| Warrnambool Airport NDB | 19.1 | -1.0 | 26.4 | 8th | 9.3 | +0.6 | 2.7 | 18th | 130.2 | 55.5 | v high | 235% |
| Weeaproinah | 15.3 | +0.3 | 21.4 | 7th | 9.1 | +0.2 | 5.8 | 17th | 151.0 | 154.6 | average | 98% |
Extremes 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 1 pm on Monday 2 May 2011. 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
