Thursday, 3 January 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in December 2012: Rainfall less than that usually received

Highlights:

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

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary

Bureau of Meteorology data show that across the State of Victoria, overnight minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced. Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past. Total rainfall was generally less than that usually recorded.

Over the northern plains, minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.3°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.2°C). Total rainfall was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 49.8%).

In southern districts, minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.6°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.2°C). Total rainfall was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 60.3%).

Details

In the Mallee, overnight minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.9°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were much warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.9°C). Total rainfall was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 27.5%).

In the Wimmera, 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°C). Total rainfall was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 55.5%).

In the Northern Country, overnight minimum temperatures were warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 1.2°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.2°C). Total rainfall was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 54%).

In Victoria's North Central District, overnight minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.6°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1.3°C). Total rainfall was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 44%).

In the North East District, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal -0.4°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were slightly warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 0.8°C). Total rainfall was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 62%).

In East Gippsland, overnight minimum temperatures were warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 1°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 1°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally much less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 47%).

In West Gippsland, overnight minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.5°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 slightly less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 86.5%).

In the Central District, overnight 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 1.3°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 55.3%).

In the Western District, overnight minimum temperatures were near to those usually experienced (average departure from normal 0.4°C). Daytime maximum temperatures at most localities were slightly warmer than those registered in the past (average departure from normal 0.9°C). Total rainfall for the month was generally less than that usually recorded (average percentage of normal received 55%).

Melbourne climate summary for the month of December 2012

Rainfall less 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 15.1°C (departure from normal 2.2°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 25.7°C (departure from normal 1.5°C). Total rainfall for the month was 30 mm, this being less than that usually recorded (normal 59.3 mm, percentage of normal received 51%).

Some 20 kilometres northwest of the Melbourne city centre, and located in a somewhat rural setting, Melbourne Airport, is more typical of the suburban areas of Melbourne. Here, overnight minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 12.5°C (departure from normal 0.5°C). Daytime maximum temperatures were much warmer than those usually experienced and averaged 26°C (departure from normal 1.6°C). Total rainfall for the month was 18.6 mm, this being much less than that usually recorded (normal 48.8 mm, percentage of normal received 38%).

Rainfall

There is a map of total rainfall below.

There is a map of rainfall deciles below.

Temperature

Maximum temperature

There is a map of mean maximum temperatures below.

There is a map of maximum temperature anomalies below.

Minimum temperature

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

Some sites had their highest December mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 10 years.

There is a map of mean minimum temperatures below.

There is a map of minimum temperature anomalies below.

Further information

Victorian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 96694956
Email climatedata@bom.gov.au

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Extremes in December 2012
Hottest day	41.9 °C at Mildura Airport on the 19th 41.9 °C at Walpeup Research on the 23rd
Warmest days on average	32.4 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average	13.3 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day	-0.2 °C at Mount Baw Baw on the 4th
Coldest night	-3.7 °C at Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport) on the 10th
Coolest nights on average	4.9 °C at Mount Baw Baw
Warmest nights on average	15.5 °C at Mildura Airport
Warmest night	27.4 °C at Melbourne Regional Office on the 24th
Warmest on average overall	23.9 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest on average overall	9.2 °C at Mount Baw Baw 9.2 °C at Mount Hotham
Wettest overall	176.5 mm at Phillip Island Penguin Reserve
Highest wind gust	159 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 5th

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Record highest December daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in December 2012 (°C)		Previous warmest for December		Years of record	Average for December
Laverton RAAF	26.0	on the 24th	= 26.0	on the 7th in 1994	70	11.9
Melbourne Regional Office	27.4	on the 24th	27.2	on the 28th in 1961	158	12.9
Ararat Prison	22.8	on the 13th	22.2	on the 22nd in 1976	44	9.3
Essendon Airport	25.9	on the 24th	24.9	on the 4th in 1970	43	11.7
Bairnsdale Airport	21.3	on the 24th	20.1	on the 27th in 1991	32	11.1
Viewbank	23.8	on the 24th	22.8	on the 10th in 2003	14	12.4
Orbost	22.1	on the 24th	22.0	on the 8th in 2010	13	12.5

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Record highest December mean daily minimum temperature
	Mean daily minimum temperature for December 2012 (°C)	Previous warmest for December		Years of record	Average for December
Stawell Aerodrome	12.5	= 12.5	in 2003	16	11.1

Highest December mean daily minimum temperature for at least 10 years
	Mean daily minimum temperature for December 2012 (°C)	Most recent December at least this warm		Years since warmer	Average for December
Ararat Prison	11.0	12.1	in 1992	20	9.3
Phillip Island Penguin Reserve	13.1	=13.1	in 1994*	17	11.9

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

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Summary statistics for December 2012
	Maximum temperatures for December (°C)				Minimum temperatures for December (°C)				Rainfall for December (millimetres)
	Mean for December 2012	Diff from average	Highest for December 2012		Mean for December 2012	Diff from average	Lowest for December 2012		Total for December 2012	Average for December	Rank of December 2012	Fraction of December average
Southwest Slopes (South) (district 72)
Albury Airport AWS	29.8	+0.7	37.8	24th	13.9	+0.2	6.8	6th	27.8	40.8	average	68%
Hume Reservoir	28.9	+0.4	36.5	24th	14.2	-0.1	7.9	6th	28.0	49.5	average	57%
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport	32.4	+2.3	41.9	19th	15.5	+0.7	9.6	6th	4.2	25.4	low	17%
Ouyen (Post Office)	31.6	+1.5	41.5	19th	14.6	+0.9	8.7	3rd	9.0	25.7	average	35%
Walpeup Research	31.3	+1.6	41.9	23rd	14.2	+0.7	8.0	3rd	4.2	24.9	low	17%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport	30.7		41.0	13th	13.0		6.1	6th	5.2
Swan Hill Aerodrome	31.3	+1.2	40.9	23rd	13.9	+0.6	6.6	6th	9.4	22.2	average	42%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill Aerodrome	28.8		40.6	23rd	12.2		5.4	10th	30.4	32.5	average	94%
Warracknabeal Museum	29.4	+0.8	39.6	23rd	12.5	+0.3	6.2	17th	14.2	28.4	average	50%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport	26.9		39.6	23rd	11.3		4.6	10th	20.6
Grampians (Mount William)	18.2		31.3	23rd	7.1		1.1	4th	59.2
Horsham Aerodrome	28.8	+0.5	41.2	23rd	10.4	0.0	3.9	10th	15.4	27.8	low	55%
Kanagulk	27.3		40.0	23rd	11.1		4.0	17th	33.2
Longerenong	28.9	+1.2	41.0	23rd	11.0	-0.2	3.7	17th	16.4	28.1	average	58%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis)	23.0		33.7	13th	9.4		3.7	4th	22.0
Stawell Aerodrome	26.8	+0.5	38.1	23rd	12.5	+1.4	6.2	17th	18.2	38.2	low	48%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton	30.1		40.2	23rd	13.1		6.7	17th	9.2
Echuca Aerodrome	30.2	+1.3	39.9	23rd	13.7	+0.3	9.7	17th	11.8	29.2	average	40%
Kerang	30.7	+1.0	40.9	23rd	14.7	+1.3	9.0	6th	15.6	27.4	average	57%
Kyabram	29.4	+1.5	39.3	23rd	13.3	+0.9	7.5	6th	14.0	32.3	average	43%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport	28.4	+1.5	38.0	23rd	12.6	+1.0	5.9	17th	20.8	42.2	average	49%
Shepparton Airport	29.3	+0.7	39.0	23rd	13.5	+1.1	9.2	3rd	15.2	32.5	average	47%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag	28.4	+1.1	37.6	23rd	13.1	+0.9	7.3	3rd	14.2	34.2	average	42%
Yarrawonga	30.3	+0.6	39.6	23rd	13.8	+0.8	7.0	6th	39.8	40.7	average	98%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport	29.1		38.0	23rd	13.1		6.8	3rd	25.5
Corryong Airport	29.0		36.0	24th	10.3		1.2	6th	27.0
Dartmouth Reservoir	27.1	+0.4	33.4	23rd	11.6	0.0	7.2	18th	57.6	73.1	average	79%
Hunters Hill	23.4	+0.8	29.1	23rd	11.7	0.0	3.7	5th	70.8	78.6	average	90%
Rutherglen Research	29.9	+0.8	36.9	23rd	11.1	-0.3	4.4	6th	32.2	44.2	average	73%
Strathbogie	25.5	+1.0	34.7	23rd	10.0	+0.7	4.8	3rd	30.4	56.4	average	54%
Wangaratta Aero	29.6	+0.7	39.0	23rd	12.0	+0.4	5.9	3rd	24.2	41.9	average	58%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain (Mount Hotham Airport)	19.9	+0.5	26.5	23rd	5.8	-0.4	-3.7	10th	50.6	65.8	average	77%
Edi Upper	28.5	+1.5	34.8	27th	10.5	-0.9	3.8	6th	39.2	74.0	average	53%
Falls Creek	14.9	0.0	20.5	23rd	6.1	+0.1	-1.9	6th	120.0	106.2	average	113%
Mount Buller	14.6	+0.2	21.9	23rd	6.1	+0.1	-1.5	5th	108.0	95.5	average	113%
Mount Hotham	13.3	-0.2	18.8	24th	5.0	-0.4	-2.8	6th	172.8	110.0	high	157%
Omeo	24.6		31.9	23rd	8.3		-1.0	6th	31.8
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS	23.1	+0.3	35.2	23rd	11.1	0.0	5.5	5th	55.6	69.0	average	81%
Gabo Island Lighthouse	20.7	+0.8	25.9	24th	15.3	+1.0	10.0	5th	26.4	66.9	low	39%
Gelantipy	21.3	+0.2	31.5	23rd	9.2	-0.2	1.4	10th	47.8	65.0	low	74%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road)	23.7		34.5	13th	12.8		6.9	10th	42.4
Mallacoota	22.8	+0.9	35.8	24th	13.9	+0.5	7.9	11th	43.4	71.0	average	61%
Mount Nowa Nowa	23.9	+1.7	36.3	23rd	12.2	+0.3	7.1	5th	23.8	78.1	v low	30%
Orbost	24.8	+1.2	35.6	13th	12.7	+0.2	6.6	10th	42.8	66.4	low	64%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse)	23.8	+1.9	33.8	24th	13.6	-0.5	8.8	30th	41.5	72.0	low	58%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport	25.4	+1.9	37.4	23rd	11.2	+0.1	4.8	10th	25.6	59.0	v low	43%
East Sale Airport	25.0	+1.7	38.9	13th	11.3	0.0	6.9	10th	31.4	54.0	low	58%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport)	25.2	+1.2	37.2	13th	11.1	0.0	4.3	10th	74.2	68.1	average	109%
Mount Baw Baw	13.4	-0.6	23.3	23rd	4.9	-0.6	-2.4	5th	130.0	152.0	low	86%
Mount Moornapa	24.5	+1.9	37.7	23rd	11.4	+0.3	6.5	5th	32.0	53.3	low	60%
Pound Creek	22.7		36.1	23rd	11.5		4.5	22nd	57.2
Willow Grove (Blue Rock Reservoir)	23.2	-0.5	35.0	23rd	10.8	-0.6	4.7	5th	68.4	64.3	average	106%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse	20.4	+1.6	32.5	23rd	13.6	+1.0	8.1	5th	72.6	63.8	average	114%
Yarram Airport	24.1		37.1	23rd	11.4		4.2	10th	55.6
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora (Latrobe University)	25.7	+1.0	38.9	23rd	13.0	+0.7	8.3	22nd	25.7	64.8	low	40%
Cerberus	23.2	+1.0	37.3	23rd	11.8	0.0	6.1	22nd	52.8	52.7	average	100%
Coldstream	25.4	+0.5	37.2	23rd	10.1	+0.6	4.5	30th	34.0	54.9	low	62%
Coldstream Comparison	25.3		37.1	23rd	10.0		4.3	30th	34.0
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens	24.9	+1.6	37.5	23rd	11.4	-0.3	6.8	22nd	57.3	65.5	average	87%
Essendon Airport	26.1	+1.8	39.0	23rd	13.3	+1.6	8.7	17th	18.0	51.4	low	35%
Ferny Creek	21.7		33.7	23rd	11.2		5.9	4th	53.0
Frankston AWS	22.7	+0.4	35.3	23rd	13.8	+0.1	8.4	5th
Melbourne Airport	26.0	+1.6	39.2	23rd	12.5	+0.5	7.7	17th	18.6	48.8	low	38%
Melbourne Regional Office	25.7	+1.5	38.3	23rd	15.1	+2.2	11.8	17th	30.0	59.3	low	51%
Moorabbin Airport	24.8	+1.0	37.9	23rd	13.2	+0.7	8.2	10th	36.8	59.1	low	62%
Phillip Island Penguin Reserve	22.8	+1.1	36.4	23rd	13.1	+1.2	7.0	22nd	176.5	54.4	highest	324%
Rhyll	22.6	+1.0	35.2	23rd	14.0	+0.4	9.1	4th	49.8	44.7	average	111%
Scoresby Research Institute	25.5	+1.6	38.5	23rd	12.3	+0.5	7.1	10th	40.6	76.0	low	53%
Viewbank	26.4	+1.1	39.0	23rd	13.0	+0.6	8.3	22nd	21.8	68.6	v low	32%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)	24.0	+2.4	35.4	23rd	10.9	+1.0	6.4	4th	29.2	46.8	average	62%
Wonthaggi	22.9	+1.0	36.5	23rd	12.4	+0.8	7.0	10th	73.6	61.2	average	120%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport	25.5	+1.5	38.8	23rd	11.9	+0.3	7.1	22nd	32.4	29.6	average	109%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse)	24.5		38.3	23rd	12.1		7.3	21st	24.2
Laverton RAAF	25.0	+1.3	38.6	23rd	12.8	+0.9	7.0	17th	29.8	46.0	average	65%
Sheoaks	24.8	+1.5	36.7	23rd	10.2	-0.1	4.5	21st	37.6	32.5	average	116%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison	26.4	+1.1	36.2	23rd	11.7	+0.9	3.8	17th	19.2	41.6	low	46%
Eildon Fire Tower	24.5	+1.0	34.5	23rd	11.3	+0.3	5.2	5th	44.2	42.3	average	104%
Lake Eildon	27.1	+0.9	36.6	23rd	11.6	+0.7	6.1	10th	55.2	56.1	average	98%
Mangalore Airport	28.5	+1.6	38.0	23rd	12.8	+1.0	9.0	3rd	17.0	40.7	low	42%
Maryborough	27.5	+0.9	37.5	8th	11.4	+0.1	6.0	17th	17.4	37.7	low	46%
Redesdale	28.3	+2.1	38.2	23rd	10.6	+0.6	4.8	17th	18.2	38.0	average	48%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison	26.0	+1.6	37.6	23rd	11.0	+1.7	4.0	17th	37.9	38.5	average	98%
Ballarat Aerodrome	23.6	+1.1	34.6	23rd	10.0	+0.6	4.1	17th	33.6	50.9	average	66%
Westmere	26.2		40.2	23rd	9.4		1.9	21st	22.2
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet	22.8	+1.9	36.4	13th	12.3	+0.1	8.2	17th	56.8	40.4	high	141%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse	20.7	+1.2	30.5	23rd	13.7	+0.7	7.5	21st	39.4	42.5	average	93%
Cape Otway Lighthouse	21.1	+1.2	34.4	13th	13.1	+1.1	9.6	4th	43.6	53.2	average	82%
Casterton	25.2		39.2	23rd	10.5		4.2	17th	18.4
Colac (Mount Gellibrand)	24.2	+1.3	39.0	23rd	10.9	+0.3	6.7	4th	60.8	40.0	high	152%
Dartmoor	24.6		40.1	23rd	11.0		5.2	21st	41.8
Hamilton Airport	25.1	+1.2	38.9	23rd	9.8	+0.4	3.8	10th	26.2	45.7	average	57%
Mortlake Racecourse	24.5	+1.4	38.2	23rd	9.2	0.0	2.6	11th	45.0	45.2	average	100%
Port Fairy AWS	22.3	+1.2	34.1	12th	13.0	+0.6	7.7	21st	56.4	43.7	high	129%
Portland (Cashmore Airport)	21.4	+1.3	35.1	23rd	11.5	+0.6	5.3	22nd	55.0	51.2	average	107%
Portland NTC AWS	20.2		30.2	23rd	13.6		8.8	21st
Warrnambool Airport NDB	23.2	+0.7	38.9	23rd	10.6	+0.6	4.1	22nd	41.8	49.9	average	84%

Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top

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Further information

Victorian Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 96694956
Email climatedata@bom.gov.au

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