Thursday, 1 March 2012 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in February 2012: Rainfall much more than that usually received.

Highlights

• Overnight temperatures near to those in most years
• Daytime temperatures near to those in most years
• Rainfall much more than that in most years
• Humidity greater than usual.
• To 9am on the morning of the 28th, several places along the Murray River (including Yarrawonga with 119.8 mm & Cobram with 108.0 mm) recorded their all time highest 24 hour rainfall total.
• The State's highest maximum temperature for the month was 40.5 deg C at Dartmoor on 25 February.
• Melbourne's highest temperature was 37.1 deg C, also on 25 February. 

Also:

Some sites had their highest total February rainfall on record.

Some sites had their warmest February night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Note:

There is a map of total rainfall below.

There is a map of rainfall deciles below

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.

Summary

Bureau of Meteorology data show that across the State of Victoria, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced. Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were near to those registered in the past. Total rainfall for the month was generally much more than that usually recorded.

Over the northern plains, minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were slightly cooler than those registered in the past (average departure from normal -0.7°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally much more than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 177.2%).

In southern districts, minimum temperatures were warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 1°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were near to those registered in the past (average departure from normal 0.4°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally more than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 146.2%).

Melbourne climate summary for the month of February 2012

Rainfall slightly more than that usually received.

Located in the Central District at the head of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is Victoria's State Capital. Here, overnight minimum temperatures were much warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 16.7°C (departure from normal 2.1°C). That the overnight temperatures in Melbourne are higher than those in most surrounding localities is a consequence of the city being under the influence of the effect of urbanisation (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). Daytime maximum temperatures were also warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 27°C (departure from normal 1.2°C). Total rainfall for the month was 57.6 mm, this being slightly more than that usually recorded (normal 48.0 mm, percentage of normal received 120%).

Some 20 kilometres northwest of the Melbourne city centre, and more representative of the suburbs, is Melbourne Airport. Here, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced and averaged 14.4°C (departure from normal 0.3°C). Daytime maximum temperatures were also near to those usually experienced and averaged 26.9°C (departure from normal 0.4°C). Total rainfall for the month was 83.4 mm, this being much more than that usually recorded (normal 44.2 mm, percentage of normal received 189%).

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Further information

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

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Extremes in February 2012
Hottest day	40.5 °C at Dartmoor on the 25th
Warmest days on average	31.5 °C at Ouyen (Post Office)
Coolest days on average	13.6 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day	7.6 °C at Mount Hotham on the 1st
Coldest night	0.0 °C at Mount Hotham on the 1st
Coolest nights on average	6.9 °C at Mount Hotham
Warmest nights on average	16.8 °C at Rhyll
Warmest night	26.3 °C at Cape Otway Lighthouse on the 26th
Warmest on average overall	23.8 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest on average overall	10.2 °C at Mount Hotham
Wettest overall	203.9 mm at Castlemaine Prison
Highest wind gust	117 km/h at Grampians (Mount William) on the 5th

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest total February rainfall
	Total rainfall for February 2012 (mm)	Previous wettest for February		Years of record	Average for February
Tungamah	176.2	169.2	in 2011	121	33.3
Castlemaine Prison	203.9	177.0	in 1973	45	38.7
Strath Creek	171.4	134.2	in 2011	30	43.2
Mount Tamboritha	178.2	174.6	in 2010	18	78.8
Traralgon EPA	105.8	105.4	in 2011	12	53.3

Highest total February rainfall for at least 10 years
	Total rainfall for February 2012 (mm)	Most recent February at least this wet		Years since wetter	Average for February
Alexandra (Post Office)	153.8	215.9	in 1973	39	38.7
Lake Eildon	134.4	207.0	in 1973	39	42.9
Rochester	134.4	193.6	in 1973	39	32.1
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	131.0	166.9	in 1973	39	47.0
Yea	161.8	277.1	in 1973	39	38.6
Nagambie (Goulburn Weir)	125.2	224.0	in 1973*	38	32.2
Broadford	125.2	125.7	in 1951*	21	39.9
Woods Point	166.4	210.0	in 1994*	13	63.1

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

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Highest February mean daily maximum temperature for at least 10 years
	Mean daily maximum temperature for February 2012 (°C)	Most recent February at least this warm		Years since warmer	Average for February
Cape Otway Lighthouse	23.0	24.2	in 2001*	10	21.6

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

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Record highest February daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in February 2012 (°C)		Previous warmest for February		Years of record	Average for February
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	23.5	on the 26th	23.0	on the 20th in 2001	12	12.7

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for February 2012
	Maximum temperatures for February (°C)				Minimum temperatures for February (°C)				Rainfall for February (millimetres)
	Mean for February 2012	Diff from average	Highest for February 2012		Mean for February 2012	Diff from average	Lowest for February 2012		Total for February 2012	Average for February	Rank of February 2012	Fraction of February average
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS	29.2	-1.8	36.1	25th	15.2	-1.1	10.9	7th	61.0	52.1	average	117%
Hume Reservoir	29.0	-1.4	34.5	25th	16.1	-0.4	10.1	7th	84.4	44.0	high	192%
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	31.3	-0.3	38.4	24th	16.3	-0.2	9.7	6th	37.2	22.5	high	165%
Ouyen (Post Office)	31.5	0.0	38.6	25th	15.5	+0.2	9.2	6th	0.8	24.1	low	3%
Walpeup Research	31.4	+0.2	38.8	25th	15.8	+0.5	7.8	6th	3.0	23.6	low	13%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	31.1		39.4	25th	15.1		6.2	6th	2.2
Swan Hill Aerodrome	31.0	-1.1	37.7	24th	15.8	-0.2	9.2	9th	24.6	24.3	average	101%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome	29.9		39.2	25th	13.4		5.8	8th	5.4
Warracknabeal Museum	30.0	-0.7	38.0	25th	14.5	+0.3	6.9	8th	12.1	21.5	average	56%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	28.6		39.5	25th	13.6		6.2	8th	2.8
Grampians (Mount William)	19.5		29.6	24th	9.5		2.6	8th	4.0
Horsham Aerodrome	29.8	-0.5	38.4	25th	12.7	+0.3	5.4	8th	2.6	25.7	low	10%
Horsham Polkemmet Rd	29.6	-0.2	39.0	25th	12.8	-0.5	5.9	8th	6.6	25.2	low	26%
Kanagulk	28.8		38.9	25th	13.2		7.5	8th	1.8
Longerenong	29.9	0.0	38.4	25th	13.8	+0.6	5.3	8th	3.8	23.6	low	16%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis)	23.8		33.8	25th	12.4		4.9	6th	51.4
Stawell Aerodrome	28.0	-0.5	36.9	25th	14.0	+0.3	6.2	8th	24.6	32.1	average	77%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	30.4		37.8	24th	15.2		8.1	8th	19.4
Kerang	30.6	-0.6	37.5	25th	15.7	+0.6	10.1	8th	36.4	23.8	high	153%
Kyabram DPI	30.1	+0.3	37.2	25th	14.8	0.0	7.1	9th	71.4	29.3	high	244%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	28.7	-0.6	36.4	25th	14.5	+0.3	7.9	8th	76.4	35.5	v high	215%
Shepparton Airport	29.5	-1.4	36.6	25th	14.9	0.0	9.4	9th	54.2	41.9	average	129%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	28.6	-0.9	35.9	25th	14.8	+0.4	9.1	10th	71.0	33.8	high	210%
Yarrawonga	30.3	-1.1	36.9	25th	15.7	-0.1	9.4	8th	145.2	51.7	v high	281%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed	27.9	-2.2	34.5	25th	13.1	-0.1	6.6	7th	116.4	49.2	high	237%
Benalla Airport	29.2		36.1	25th	14.6		9.2	7th	89.1
Corryong Airport	28.0		34.2	25th	12.3		7.4	11th	84.1
Dartmouth Reservoir	26.5	-2.7	32.5	25th	13.6	0.0	8.6	6th	156.8	57.5	v high	273%
Hunters Hill	23.1	-2.0	29.5	25th	13.1	-0.9	8.8	1st	109.4	79.6	average	137%
Rutherglen Research	29.1	-1.6	35.7	25th	13.4	-0.5	6.9	7th	149.2	39.0	v high	383%
Strathbogie	25.8	-1.5	32.1	24th	11.5	-0.1	5.1	7th	80.2	44.1	high	182%
Wangaratta Aero	29.3	-1.5	35.7	25th	12.7	-1.1	7.4	7th	107.2	49.5	high	217%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport)	19.4	-2.0	26.2	25th	7.5	-0.6	1.4	1st	136.0	85.3	high	159%
Edi Upper	27.9	-1.6	34.4	25th	13.0	-1.0	8.0	1st	116.8	62.3	high	187%
Falls Creek	15.5	-1.7	21.9	25th	8.6	+0.1	3.6	12th	157.4	101.7	high	155%
Mount Buller	15.4	-1.6	20.8	25th	8.2	-0.6	0.9	6th	162.2	77.6	v high	209%
Mount Hotham	13.6	-2.2	19.6	25th	6.9	-1.1	0.0	1st	164.0	108.0	high	152%
Omeo	23.9		30.6	25th	10.2		3.3	6th	145.2
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	22.7	-1.7	34.4	25th	13.4	0.0	8.8	1st	30.6	91.7	low	33%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	21.8	+0.3	26.6	27th	16.6	+0.4	13.5	2nd	91.2	68.5	high	133%
Gelantipy	22.1	-0.8	31.5	25th	11.2	-0.2	7.5	22nd	110.6	74.5	average	148%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road)	24.2		36.2	25th	15.4		10.5	2nd	84.4
Mallacoota	23.1	-0.8	31.7	25th	15.7	+0.1	11.3	2nd	101.2	65.1	high	155%
Mount Nowa Nowa	23.8	-0.6	36.3	25th	14.7	+0.5	9.9	1st	58.8	73.0	average	81%
Orbost	25.8	+0.7	37.4	5th	14.6	+0.1	9.3	2nd	46.6	69.5	average	67%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	24.4	+0.7	33.7	5th	15.8	-0.3	11.8	1st	74.4	58.5	high	127%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	25.5	+0.1	37.3	25th	13.6	+0.8	8.2	7th	57.2	50.8	average	113%
East Sale Airport	25.1	-0.2	35.7	5th	14.2	+1.0	8.3	7th	85.4	43.2	high	198%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	25.4	-1.1	35.5	25th	13.6	+0.8	8.0	1st	97.2	46.2	v high	210%
Mount Baw Baw	15.0	-1.6	23.5	25th	7.5	-0.7	1.1	8th	137.2	104.0	average	132%
Mount Moornapa	23.1	-1.3	34.6	25th	13.7	+0.3	9.3	1st	109.4	76.1	average	144%
Noojee (Slivar)	25.2	-0.1	34.9	25th	12.1	+1.1	4.9	9th	72.0	61.9	average	116%
Pound Creek	25.4		36.6	25th	12.9		4.5	9th	55.4
Willow Grove (Blue Rock Reservoir)	24.8	-1.4	35.6	26th	13.6	+0.2	8.6	1st	59.0	54.2	high	109%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	21.5	+1.0	33.9	25th	16.7	+1.9	13.4	6th	131.0	47.0	v high	279%
Yarram Airport	24.4		35.6	25th	13.1		7.6	9th	94.0
East Central (district 86)
Cerberus	25.5	+0.7	37.1	25th	15.0	+0.8	9.4	1st	73.2	41.2	high	178%
Coldstream	27.5	+0.1	36.3	25th	11.6	-0.4	3.0	8th	70.0	57.1	average	123%
Coldstream Comparison	27.4		36.2	25th	11.4		2.9	8th	70.0
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	25.6	0.0	36.5	25th	14.2	+0.2	7.0	1st	49.6	56.2	average	88%
Essendon Airport	26.8	+1.2	37.2	25th	14.9	+1.1	9.6	8th	67.8	47.0	high	144%
Ferny Creek	23.3		32.1	25th	13.6		8.3	1st	123.4
Frankston AWS	25.5	+0.9	35.2	24th	16.5	+0.5	12.0	1st
Melbourne Airport	26.9	+0.4	37.1	25th	14.4	+0.3	8.9	8th	83.4	44.2	high	189%
Melbourne Regional Office	27.0	+1.2	37.1	25th	16.7	+2.1	12.4	9th	57.6	48.0	average	120%
Moorabbin Airport	26.5	+0.6	37.0	25th	14.9	+0.6	8.1	1st	52.0	46.7	average	111%
Phillip Island Penguin Reserve	24.6	+0.7	36.0	25th	14.4	+0.5	8.5	1st	58.0	34.5	high	168%
Rhyll	25.0	+0.8	35.0	25th	16.8	+1.0	13.0	6th	84.4	43.1	high	196%
Scoresby Research Institute	27.1	+0.7	36.3	24th	14.1	+0.3	7.5	8th	69.6	53.7	high	130%
Viewbank (ARPANSA)	27.8	+0.6	37.2	25th	14.4	-0.2	8.1	9th	62.6	51.5	high	122%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	24.2	-0.1	32.9	24th	12.9	+0.3	6.1	1st	93.4	54.1	high	173%
Wonthaggi	25.6	+1.0	36.5	25th	14.5	+1.2	8.6	1st	65.4	46.6	high	140%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	26.7	+0.7	39.4	25th	14.9	+0.5	8.4	8th	55.2	34.7	high	159%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse)	25.9		38.6	25th	14.8		9.9	8th	59.2
Laverton RAAF	26.2	+0.7	38.2	25th	15.6	+1.4	10.2	7th	40.6	47.3	average	86%
Sheoaks	25.6	+0.4	36.8	25th	13.0	+0.3	5.0	8th	63.0	42.7	high	148%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	26.8	-1.6	34.6	25th	13.2	-0.2	4.9	7th	203.9	38.7	highest	527%
Eildon Fire Tower	25.4	-1.3	32.4	24th	13.8	+0.1	8.1	8th	121.4	46.1	high	263%
Lake Eildon	28.2	-0.8	35.2	25th	13.0	+0.3	6.9	7th	134.4	42.9	v high	313%
Mangalore Airport	28.8	-0.4	36.5	25th	14.5	+0.2	9.0	6th	101.0	35.7	v high	283%
Maryborough	28.5	-0.2	36.7	25th	14.0	+0.8	7.4	6th	44.7	32.9	high	136%
Redesdale	28.5	-0.1	35.8	25th	13.1	-0.2	5.9	8th	96.8	37.8	v high	256%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	27.3	+0.3	36.5	25th	12.8	+1.6	2.1	8th	8.6	33.2	average	26%
Ballarat Aerodrome	25.7	+0.7	34.9	25th	12.4	+1.0	4.6	8th	87.2	43.9	high	199%
Westmere	27.3		37.9	25th	12.4		4.8	8th	7.0
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	24.1	+1.2	38.3	25th	15.8	+1.2	10.3	6th	43.0	37.4	high	115%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	21.9	+0.8	38.8	25th	15.7	+0.6	12.9	6th	14.4	24.9	average	58%
Cape Otway Lighthouse	23.0	+1.4	38.4	25th	15.9	+2.0	12.7	7th	38.6	42.3	average	91%
Casterton	27.0		39.1	25th	13.0		4.7	8th	9.4
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	25.4	+0.5	38.2	25th	13.5	+0.8	8.7	6th	17.4	32.1	average	54%
Dartmoor	26.2		40.5	25th	13.0		7.3	8th	16.6
Hamilton Airport	27.2	+0.6	38.3	25th	12.3	+1.2	5.5	9th	23.0	24.8	average	93%
Mortlake Racecourse	27.4	+1.3	40.0	25th	11.9	+0.3	4.4	8th	3.6	34.7	v low	10%
Port Fairy AWS	23.0	+0.2	39.6	25th	15.2	+0.7	11.0	6th	56.0	30.9	high	181%
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	23.3	+0.9	39.4	25th	13.3	+0.7	5.0	8th	18.4	27.0	average	68%
Portland NTC AWS	20.6		36.7	25th	15.9		11.6	8th
Warrnambool Airport NDB	25.1	+0.5	39.3	25th	12.3	0.0	7.2	8th	13.4	33.4	low	40%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Further information

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

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