Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in April 2012: Rainfall slightly less than that usually received.

• Highlights:

• Overnight temperatures near to those in most years
• Daytime temperatures warmer than those in most years
• Rainfall slightly less than that in most years

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 warmer than those registered in the past. Total rainfall for the month was generally slightly less 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 much warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.6°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 45.6%).

In southern districts, minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.7°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.1°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally close to that usually recorded - somewhat below normal in the southwest, somewhat above normal in Gippsland (average percentage of normal received 98.8%).

Synoptic Summary

The mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) anomaly distribution reflects a 'return to the westerlies' - as the La Niña phenomenon came to end, with a major persistence of cyclonic activity over the Southern Ocean to the south of Western Australia and anticyclones dominating over inland Australia. This is the reason for the drier than usual conditions over northern Victoria.

However, we also have a northeastward sloping trough out of the Southern Ocean low. Fronts associated with this trough brought some showery periods to southern districts, especially to Gippsland.

Details

In the Mallee, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.6°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 20.5%).

In the Wimmera, overnight minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.6°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 4.2°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 19.5%).

In the Northern Country, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.1°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.2°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 41.5%).

In Victoria's North Central District, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal -0.4°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.1°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 53%).

In the North East District, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal -0.1°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were slightly warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 0.6°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally slightly less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 77.7%).

In East Gippsland, overnight minimum temperatures were much warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 1.5°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were slightly warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 0.5°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally more than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 149%).

In West Gippsland, overnight minimum temperatures were warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 1.3°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.1°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally slightly less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 77.5%).

In the Central District, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.2°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.2°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally close to that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 93.3%).

In the Western District, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.7°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally slightly less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 78%).

Melbourne climate summary for the month of April 2012

Rainfall close to 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 12.0°C (departure from normal 1.2°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 much warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 21.9°C (departure from normal 1.6°C). Total rainfall for the month was 49.6 mm, this being close to that usually recorded (normal 57.3 mm, percentage of normal received 87%).

Rainfall

Some sites had their highest total April rainfall on record.

Some sites had their highest total April rainfall for at least 10 years.

There is a map of total rainfall below.

There is a map of rainfall deciles below.

Temperature

Maximum temperature

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

There is a map of mean maximum temperatures below.

There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.

Minimum temperature

There is a map of mean minimum temperatures below.

There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.

Other phenomena

There were thunderstorms in some parts during the afternoons and evenings of the 2nd, 6th, 22nd and 23rd, and also some notable fog areas on the morning of the 21st.

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Extremes in April 2012
Hottest day	35.2 °C at Hopetoun Airport on the 6th
Warmest days on average	24.8 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average	8.3 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day	-0.9 °C at Mount Hotham on the 24th
Coldest night	-5.1 °C at Mount Hotham on the 10th
Coolest nights on average	2.8 °C at Mount Hotham
Warmest nights on average	14.0 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Warmest night	18.9 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse on the 6th
Warmest on average overall	17.5 °C at Ouyen (Post Office)
Coolest on average overall	5.6 °C at Mount Hotham
Wettest overall	193.8 mm at Mount Baw Baw
Highest wind gust	133 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 9th

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 April rainfall
	Total rainfall for April 2012 (mm)	Previous wettest for April		Years of record	Average for April
Barwon Heads Golf Club	64.4	54.8	in 2009	11	38.3

Highest total April rainfall for at least 10 years
	Total rainfall for April 2012 (mm)	Most recent April at least this wet		Years since wetter	Average for April
Scoresby Research Institute	117.0	131.4	in 1965*	43	67.6
Club Terrace	160.6	184.6	in 1994*	15	93.8
Lilydale	123.2	145.2	in 1996*	15	75.7
Bonbeach (Carrum)	94.8	118.8	in 1995*	14	59.6
Aireys Inlet	57.4	223.0	in 2001	11	50.8
Croydon (Council Depot)	108.6	115.8	in 2001	11	75.8
Bonang	81.8	146.6	in 2002	10	68.5
Combienbar AWS	116.0	213.6	in 2002	10	74.7
Gabo Island Lighthouse	163.8	178.2	in 2002	10	83.9
Genoa (Fools Haven)	139.8	159.6	in 2002	10	93.4
Mallacoota	184.4	201.8	in 2002	10	92.1

* 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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Record lowest April daily maximum temperature
	Lowest daily maximum temperature in April 2012 (°C)		Previous coolest for April		Years of record	Average for April
Horsham Aerodrome	11.6	on the 24th	13.0	on the 27th in 1998	15	22.2

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for April 2012
	Maximum temperatures for April (°C)				Minimum temperatures for April (°C)				Rainfall for April (millimetres)
	Mean for April 2012	Diff from average	Highest for April 2012		Mean for April 2012	Diff from average	Lowest for April 2012		Total for April 2012	Average for April	Rank of April 2012	Fraction of April average
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS	22.4	+0.1	29.9	3rd	9.0	+1.0	1.0	10th	46.4	36.0	high	129%
Hume Reservoir	22.3	+0.7	29.0	3rd	10.1	+0.1	2.2	10th	58.0	51.5	average	113%
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	24.8	+1.3	33.7	6th	9.1	-1.0	2.8	12th	4.0	18.0	low	22%
Ouyen (Post Office)	24.7	+1.3	34.0	6th	10.2	+0.7	4.4	10th	3.8	21.4	low	18%
Walpeup Research	24.6	+1.8	34.1	6th	10.3	+0.3	3.2	10th	1.6	22.6	v low	7%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	24.0		35.2	6th	7.9		1.3	24th	7.4
Swan Hill Aerodrome	24.1	+0.4	31.7	6th	8.3	-0.5	2.4	30th	2.8	15.6	low	18%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome	23.4		33.7	6th	8.9		3.4	11th	6.0
Warracknabeal Museum	23.4	+1.0	33.6	6th	8.3	-0.6	2.9	30th	8.0	26.1	low	31%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	22.3		31.6	6th	9.4		4.1	24th	19.6
Grampians (Mount William)	13.4		22.6	6th	6.5		0.3	25th	40.6
Horsham Aerodrome	22.8	+0.6	33.8	6th	7.1	+0.1	1.4	30th	12.6	26.5	average	48%
Kanagulk	22.1		33.2	6th	7.9		2.3	30th	20.6
Longerenong	22.9	+1.4	34.1	6th	7.7	-0.3	0.4	24th	11.8	28.9	low	41%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis)	16.2		25.5	6th	8.5		0.8	25th	30.8
Stawell Aerodrome	21.4	+0.7	31.4	6th	8.3	0.0	2.3	30th	15.6	29.2	average	53%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	23.4		32.6	6th	8.0		2.5	30th	5.0
Echuca Aerodrome	23.2	+1.0	30.7	6th	8.2	-1.2	3.0	30th	10.2	32.4	low	31%
Kerang	23.7	+1.0	31.3	6th	9.3	-0.1	4.3	24th	10.2	25.3	average	40%
Kyabram	22.5	+0.9	29.5	6th	7.5	-1.2	1.5	10th	33.2	36.7	average	90%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	21.8	+0.6	29.0	6th	7.6	0.0	1.8	11th	11.6	28.4	low	41%
Shepparton Airport	22.1	-0.3	28.9	6th	8.0	-0.2	2.8	30th	38.4	32.9	average	117%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	21.9	+0.4	28.6	6th	7.6	-0.6	2.0	12th	26.8	34.3	average	78%
Yarrawonga	23.0	+0.2	30.1	6th	9.6	+0.8	2.4	11th	23.0	26.5	average	87%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed	22.0	+0.4	28.8	5th	6.6	+0.5	-2.1	10th	30.0	45.6	average	66%
Benalla Airport	22.5		29.3	6th	7.8		2.0	11th	16.2
Corryong Airport	21.4		28.2	4th	6.7		-0.7	11th	17.4
Dartmouth Reservoir	20.9	+0.2	27.5	5th	9.1	+2.1	3.5	11th	38.4	59.1	average	65%
Hunters Hill	16.9	+0.7	24.1	5th	8.8	+0.6	0.8	10th	49.0	64.1	average	76%
Rutherglen Research	22.4	+0.5	29.5	3rd	6.3	-0.8	-0.7	10th	34.2	40.1	average	85%
Strathbogie	18.9	+0.1	25.3	5th	5.4	-0.2	-1.0	10th	37.6	65.9	average	57%
Wangaratta Aero	22.6	+0.2	29.5	3rd	7.1	+0.3	0.0	11th	12.6	38.5	low	33%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport)	14.9	+0.1	22.2	5th	3.9	+0.7	-3.5	30th	23.2	44.7	v low	52%
Edi Upper	20.9	-0.3	26.9	5th	7.9	-0.3	0.5	10th	19.6	59.0	low	33%
Falls Creek	9.9	+0.2	18.1	5th	3.8	+0.9	-4.1	10th	75.6	81.0	average	93%
Mount Buller	9.7	-0.2	17.0	5th	3.6	0.0	-3.8	10th	67.0	105.4	average	64%
Mount Hotham	8.3	0.0	15.8	5th	2.8	+0.3	-5.1	10th	75.2	95.0	average	79%
Omeo	18.6		25.4	5th	5.8		-1.0	11th	21.8
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	18.3	+0.7	27.6	6th	10.3	+0.9	2.3	10th	116.0	74.7	high	155%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	19.4	+0.2	23.2	15th	14.0	+0.5	8.3	10th	163.8	83.9	v high	195%
Gelantipy	16.8	+0.4	25.3	3rd	8.0	+1.2	0.8	30th	73.8	51.6	high	143%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road)	20.6		29.0	6th	12.2		7.0	30th	65.6
Mallacoota	19.8	-0.1	27.8	3rd	12.5	+1.0	5.4	30th	184.4	92.1	high	200%
Mount Nowa Nowa	19.5	+0.4	27.8	6th	11.3	+0.7	5.3	10th	74.8	76.8	average	97%
Orbost	21.2	+0.4	29.1	6th	11.4	+0.9	4.3	30th	67.6	75.1	average	90%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	20.0	+0.2	28.8	6th	13.4	+0.4	7.1	10th	130.2	85.5	high	152%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	21.4	+0.7	30.1	6th	9.9	+1.4	2.9	30th	33.6	55.8	average	60%
East Sale Airport	20.9	+0.6	27.7	3rd	9.8	+1.2	2.4	30th	25.2	47.9	low	53%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	20.5	0.0	26.0	15th	9.5	+0.9	3.7	8th	57.8	58.9	average	98%
Mount Baw Baw	9.6	-0.2	18.6	4th	3.7	0.0	-3.0	10th	193.8	145.6	high	133%
Mount Moornapa	18.8	+0.6	28.3	6th	10.8	+1.1	4.1	30th	22.6	78.0	low	29%
Noojee (Slivar)	20.8	+2.0	27.2	6th	8.5	+1.1	3.6	10th	44.2	84.8	low	52%
Pound Creek	20.8		29.2	6th	9.7		1.9	30th	78.6
Willow Grove (Blue Rock Reservoir)	19.7	0.0	29.0	1st	10.5	+1.0	5.9	30th	55.0	59.5	average	92%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	18.4	+1.1	25.2	2nd	13.8	+1.1	8.5	10th	83.2	85.2	average	98%
Yarram Airport	20.6		29.2	6th	9.1		1.0	30th	42.4
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	21.5	+1.0	27.5	6th	10.2	+0.5	5.0	12th	52.2	54.4	average	96%
Cerberus	20.4	+0.7	29.3	6th	10.7	+0.8	3.6	30th	64.8	66.4	average	98%
Coldstream	21.3	+1.0	28.3	6th	7.0	+0.4	1.2	12th	81.6	62.4	high	131%
Coldstream Comparison	21.2		28.2	6th	6.8		1.1	30th	81.6
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	20.6	+0.8	30.2	6th	10.4	+0.2	4.5	30th	96.7	73.1	high	132%
Essendon Airport	21.4	+1.4	28.7	6th	10.3	+0.5	4.2	30th	32.2	54.6	low	59%
Ferny Creek	17.3		24.3	6th	10.3		4.2	24th	116.8
Frankston AWS	20.3	+1.1	27.1	6th	13.1	+0.9	7.1	30th
Melbourne Airport	21.0	+0.7	28.0	6th	9.9	-0.3	3.8	30th	34.4	43.6	average	79%
Melbourne Regional Office	21.9	+1.6	28.5	6th	12.0	+1.2	6.2	30th	49.6	57.3	average	87%
Moorabbin Airport	21.0	+0.9	29.7	6th	10.8	+0.4	3.0	30th	67.4	63.1	average	107%
Phillip Island Penguin Reserve	20.2	+0.4	27.5	6th	12.1	+1.5	4.8	30th	77.3	64.7	average	119%
Rhyll	20.3	+0.9	26.5	6th	13.3	+0.8	8.6	10th	56.8	62.3	average	91%
Scoresby Research Institute	21.2	+1.3	28.4	6th	10.0	-0.1	3.7	30th	117.0	67.6	v high	173%
Viewbank	21.7	+0.3	29.1	6th	9.8	-0.2	3.6	30th	59.4	58.4	average	102%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	17.5	+0.6	24.0	6th	9.5	+0.8	3.8	10th	30.6	55.3	low	55%
Wonthaggi	20.8	+1.2	28.9	6th	11.6	+1.3	5.0	30th	96.1	79.4	average	121%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	21.6	+1.4	31.5	6th	9.8	+0.3	3.6	30th	30.2	36.8	average	82%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse)	21.7		31.8	6th	10.6		5.2	30th	45.4
Laverton RAAF	21.3	+1.1	30.0	6th	9.6	-0.2	3.0	30th	38.8	45.6	average	85%
Sheoaks	20.1	+1.0	28.1	6th	9.0	+0.3	2.5	30th	36.8	37.8	average	97%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	20.1	0.0	27.9	5th	7.4	-0.1	0.6	10th	16.6	41.0	low	40%
Eildon Fire Tower	17.8	-0.5	24.5	5th	9.5	+0.4	2.8	10th	39.0	42.4	average	92%
Lake Eildon	21.2	+0.4	27.8	5th	8.1	+0.3	2.4	10th	47.2	59.8	average	79%
Mangalore Airport	21.5	+0.1	28.1	5th	7.8	-0.7	2.3	13th	25.6	39.0	average	66%
Maryborough	21.7	+1.2	29.7	6th	7.9	-0.4	2.7	30th	15.1	39.3	low	38%
Redesdale	21.2	+0.8	28.3	5th	6.8	-0.3	1.9	10th	11.8	40.3	low	29%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	21.0	+1.6	30.1	6th	7.2	0.0	-0.5	30th	41.1	43.1	average	95%
Ballarat Aerodrome	19.0	+1.4	26.8	5th	6.9	-0.6	0.1	30th	44.6	51.5	average	87%
Westmere	21.4		31.8	6th	8.1		0.9	30th	30.2
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	20.3	+1.4	31.0	6th	12.2	+0.7	7.4	10th	57.4	50.8	high	113%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	20.0	+2.0	31.6	6th	12.7	+0.5	8.8	13th	27.0	44.1	low	61%
Cape Otway Lighthouse	18.7	+0.7	30.5	6th	12.9	+1.3	8.6	10th	76.8	71.4	average	108%
Casterton	21.7		31.6	6th	9.0		3.5	12th	28.4
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	20.0	+0.9	30.4	6th	10.3	+0.5	5.3	10th	31.6	41.4	average	76%
Dartmoor	21.8		31.3	6th	8.9		2.6	13th	37.8
Hamilton Airport	21.1	+1.2	32.1	6th	8.0	-0.3	2.9	24th	24.2	39.0	low	62%
Mortlake Racecourse	22.4	+2.6	33.0	6th	8.1	+0.3	0.5	30th	30.2	43.7	low	69%
Port Fairy AWS	20.3	+1.0	32.4	6th	11.2	+0.5	5.0	30th	29.4	51.4	low	57%
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	20.4	+2.0	30.7	6th	10.1	+0.3	4.8	12th	40.0	57.9	low	69%
Portland NTC AWS	19.3		29.8	6th	12.2		7.4	12th
Warrnambool Airport NDB	21.7	+1.7	32.5	6th	9.1	+0.4	2.2	17th	28.6	53.5	low	53%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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