Melbourne in March 2016: Warm temperatures and average rainfall

In March 2016, all suburbs around Melbourne recorded well above average daytime and night time temperatures. March rainfall was average to below average across metropolitan Melbourne.

  • Above average temperatures in all suburbs
  • Very warm start to the month
  • Close to average rainfall at most sites across Melbourne
  • Strong wind gusts above 80 km/h on 18 March

All sites around Melbourne recorded March mean maximum and minimum temperatures that were well above average. Mean maximum temperatures for the month ranged from 0.4 °C above average at Avalon Airport to 2.0 °C above average at Scoresby. Mean minimum temperatures were also much warmer than normal for this time of year, ranging from 1.6 °C above the March average at Melbourne Airport, to 3.3 °C above average at Coldstream. Melbourne had 26 consecutive days (nights) with minimum temperatures of 15 °C or more ending on 18 March, which was a record run for all months (not just in March). The previous record run with minimum temperatures of 15 °C or more was 25 days (nights), ending on 27 February 2013 (at the old Melbourne Regional Office site). During that record run of warm minimum temperatures in Melbourne, the city had its warmest March "overnight" minimum (3pm to 9am) on record, 27.7 °C, on 9 March. The previous March "overnight" record was 26.9 °C on 18 March, 2008, at the old Melbourne Regional Office site. Melbourne is one of the few Australian sites to have a long-term digitised record of "overnight" (3pm to 9am) minima that goes back prior to the installation of automatic weather stations.

Numerous sites around Melbourne recorded maximum temperatures over 40 °C on 8 March as a high pressure ridge directed warm air from the country's interior down over southeast Australia. The hottest recorded temperature on the day was 40.8 °C at Moorabbin Airport, which was also metropolitan Melbourne's hottest temperature recorded for the month. More information about the heat can be found in Special Climate Statement 55 – prolonged March heatwave affects many parts of Australia.

Ferny Creek recorded the coldest day of the month in metropolitan Melbourne with 12.7 °C on the 18th; it was also the second-coolest site for nights on average for the month. However, Ferny Creek also recorded Melbourne's warmest minimum temperature of 24.7 °C on the 9th, when a temperature inversion resulted in the elevated site staying several degrees warmer than the city. Coldstream had its highest March mean temperature on record. Scoresby, Moorabbin Airport and Coldstream all recorded their highest March temperature on record, and several more sites had their highest March mean daily minimum temperature on record.

March rainfall was generally close to average for most suburbs. Rainfall totals ranged from 65% of average at Viewbank to 107% of average at Cranbourne. Ferny Creek was the wettest recorded site around Melbourne in March with a total of 100.8 mm for the month, including the highest daily total of 47.8 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on 19 March, which followed 33.2 mm the day before.

Strong wind gusts of more than 80 km/h were recorded across Melbourne on 18 March as a cold front crossed the city, including 89 km/h at Coldstream and St Kilda Harbour, and even stronger gusts were recorded at Fawkner Beacon and South Channel Island in Port Phillip Bay.

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Extremes in March 2016
Hottest day 40.8 °C at Moorabbin Airport on the 8th
Warmest days on average 26.5 °C at Coldstream
Coolest days on average 22.2 °C at Ferny Creek
Coldest day 12.7 °C at Ferny Creek on the 18th
Coldest night 1.9 °C at Coldstream on the 31st
Coolest nights on average 12.9 °C at Coldstream
Warmest nights on average 15.8 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
Warmest night 24.7 °C at Ferny Creek on the 9th
Warmest on average overall 20.4 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
20.4 °C at Viewbank
Coolest on average overall 17.7 °C at Ferny Creek
Wettest overall 100.8 mm at Ferny Creek
Driest overall 21.0 mm at Avalon Airport
Wettest day 47.8 mm at Ferny Creek on the 19th
Strongest wind gust 89 km/h at Coldstream on the 18th
89 km/h at St Kilda Harbour - RMYS on the 18th

Record highest March temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Scoresby Research Institute 39.8 on the 8th 39.6 on the 8th in 1991 49 24.0
Moorabbin Airport 40.8 on the 8th 40.5 on the 7th in 1991 45 23.7
Coldstream 39.9 on the 8th 39.2 on the 15th in 2008 22 25.0



Record highest March mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Laverton RAAF 15.3 = 15.3 in 1974 72 12.5
Coldstream 12.9 11.8 in 2010 21 9.6
Avalon Airport 15.0 14.5 in 2013 20 12.4



Record highest March mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Coldstream 19.7 19.1 in 2013 21 17.3



Summary statistics for March 2016
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
March
2016
Diff
from
average
Highest for
March
2016
Mean for
March
2016
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
March
2016
Total for
March
2016
Average
for
March
Rank of
March
2016
Fraction of
March
average
Avalon Airport 24.6 +0.4 35.6 17th 15.0 +2.6 9.0 31st 21.0 26.8 average 78%
Bundoora (Latrobe University) 25.6 +1.4 40.0 8th 14.2 +1.7 7.9 31st 29.6 43.9 low 67%
Cerberus 24.1 +1.2 36.5 8th 14.2 +1.8 6.1 20th 32.8 45.0 average 73%
Coldstream 26.5 +1.5 39.9 8th 12.9 +3.3 1.9 31st 47.6 47.1 average 101%
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 24.4 +1.0 39.2 8th 14.1 +1.7 7.5 20th 46.0 42.9 average 107%
Essendon Airport 25.7 +1.7 40.4 8th 15.0 +2.6 9.4 28th 26.2 39.6 average 66%
Ferny Creek 22.2   35.6 8th 13.2   7.5 19th 100.8
Laverton RAAF 24.7 +1.0 40.5 8th 15.3 +2.8 8.1 31st 25.0 34.8 average 72%
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 24.9   38.9 8th 15.8   9.4 28th 35.2
Melbourne Airport 25.7 +1.6 40.2 8th 14.3 +1.6 7.0 28th 27.2 37.0 average 74%
Moorabbin Airport 25.1 +1.4 40.8 8th 14.8 +1.9 7.1 28th 37.4 44.3 average 84%
Scoresby Research Institute 26.0 +2.0 39.8 8th 14.2 +1.8 5.9 31st 56.8 53.5 average 106%
Viewbank 26.2 +1.0 39.9 8th 14.5 +1.8 8.1 31st 27.6 42.2 average 65%

Daily maximum temperatures for March 2016
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Avalon Airport34.532.924.732.822.025.325.334.625.020.026.222.623.122.525.129.035.620.319.421.721.923.629.819.422.321.019.519.220.320.223.0
Bundoora (Latrobe University)34.537.525.838.226.229.325.240.031.221.428.922.625.122.028.132.518.817.823.822.926.229.921.520.419.819.419.417.817.822.9
Cerberus33.732.723.433.022.424.624.836.525.520.925.722.323.021.623.629.434.118.518.021.221.224.828.120.520.119.919.418.917.319.122.8
Coldstream34.537.130.338.129.434.728.839.932.320.830.824.628.422.228.131.932.818.717.623.223.626.326.320.321.220.120.419.619.517.023.3
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens33.835.624.235.921.425.525.539.228.521.328.322.524.221.524.029.319.117.522.222.325.428.421.221.320.519.418.317.117.822.0
Essendon Airport34.536.425.438.124.727.124.540.431.021.228.022.124.720.328.232.333.321.519.422.523.925.530.721.621.120.419.319.218.418.223.4
Ferny Creek29.832.826.233.521.428.826.535.630.120.326.820.223.617.022.626.227.712.714.718.618.822.322.117.717.315.815.915.014.914.219.0
Laverton RAAF34.632.524.632.322.625.125.040.526.820.326.921.923.322.125.229.733.720.619.421.821.824.130.121.421.220.719.418.518.519.122.4
Melbourne (Olympic Park)33.734.723.933.023.725.224.938.928.522.126.122.323.221.326.831.432.519.518.823.323.524.328.821.220.420.219.919.217.918.722.7
Melbourne Airport34.537.326.439.224.528.823.940.230.720.228.321.724.120.127.831.733.220.419.422.022.725.929.421.121.920.319.519.718.018.324.3
Moorabbin Airport34.633.726.433.323.728.226.340.828.621.325.622.623.321.226.031.234.119.219.022.923.724.028.721.919.919.819.919.518.118.322.3
Scoresby Research Institute33.837.129.038.225.731.127.339.832.622.030.323.226.721.726.731.532.819.018.222.622.826.627.222.020.319.719.618.918.017.923.1
Viewbank34.437.426.738.726.930.825.939.931.621.329.923.526.221.628.532.133.518.417.824.123.826.729.421.721.120.520.619.618.118.123.4
Values are the maximum temperature, usually in the 24 hours from 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred in the afternoon of that day.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily minimum temperatures for March 2016
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Avalon Airport14.413.717.013.818.415.017.219.121.517.618.019.617.117.315.613.716.814.611.311.612.814.510.315.014.013.311.313.814.312.09.0
Bundoora (Latrobe University)16.014.017.313.920.217.018.119.117.818.017.717.117.512.112.917.414.710.28.08.78.510.815.013.911.113.89.314.014.87.9
Cerberus12.512.315.312.919.615.916.917.920.717.217.515.817.717.815.517.115.814.912.06.112.813.011.414.211.69.114.17.414.313.47.9
Coldstream15.09.917.011.918.615.716.418.519.318.118.117.717.917.29.011.013.014.59.97.05.86.07.312.611.28.512.211.213.613.21.9
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens15.015.815.213.518.718.316.618.521.116.717.616.616.617.111.915.513.814.610.57.59.610.610.315.012.711.912.07.513.212.99.1
Essendon Airport15.315.117.015.119.816.518.019.221.517.818.218.417.317.213.614.417.314.211.410.210.09.512.216.915.012.613.69.413.714.29.4
Ferny Creek12.619.012.914.516.814.115.216.824.715.615.516.214.513.811.013.319.012.17.57.78.910.514.713.211.210.310.38.510.010.18.1
Laverton RAAF14.815.717.814.819.216.518.518.720.118.318.520.017.517.116.313.216.914.712.010.612.68.811.717.015.911.713.513.315.314.78.1
Melbourne (Olympic Park)17.317.617.416.520.417.418.619.920.818.118.818.717.718.415.115.318.315.212.010.111.211.413.716.315.914.114.39.414.515.511.3
Melbourne Airport13.017.216.414.819.015.017.918.721.417.817.818.416.916.613.013.416.513.710.810.48.79.512.616.612.911.012.97.012.513.47.0
Moorabbin Airport14.715.015.415.620.016.518.520.120.716.618.317.617.517.813.415.915.515.112.39.310.910.211.715.914.313.914.07.112.614.29.7
Scoresby Research Institute16.215.716.514.119.816.517.819.220.317.417.817.016.916.912.712.816.915.011.56.210.38.211.116.513.611.412.87.213.413.65.9
Viewbank16.715.017.114.819.717.418.619.420.117.717.918.217.317.112.513.716.214.810.88.78.58.811.514.214.210.713.410.012.014.88.1
Values are the minimum temperature, usually in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred that morning.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily rainfall for March 2016
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Avalon Airport - - - - - - - - - 0.8 4.6 - - 0.2 - - - 13.8 0.6 0.2 0.2 - - - - - 0.6 - - - -
Bundoora (Latrobe University) - - - - - - - 0.2 - 0.6 8.8 - 0.1 - - - - 10.8 8.0 0.1 - - - - - - 1.0 - - - -
Cerberus - - - - - - 0.8 - - 0.6 4.4 - - - - - - 10.0 14.8 - - - - - - - 2.2 - - - -
Coldstream - - - - - - - - - 1.4 10.0 - - 0.6 - - - 10.2 22.6 2.8 - - - - - - - - - - -
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens - - 0.2 - 0.1 - 0.2 - - 1.4 6.2 - - - - - - 21.6 14.1 0.7 - - - - - - 0.7 - - 0.8 -
Essendon Airport - - - - - - - - - 0.8 8.6 - 0.6 - - - - 10.2 4.4 - - - - - - - 1.4 - - - 0.2
Ferny Creek - - - - 0.4 - - - - 1.8 9.8 - 0.8 3.2 - - - 33.2 47.8 0.4 0.2 - - - - 0.2 1.4 - - 1.0 0.6
Laverton RAAF - - - - - - - 0.2 - 2.8 6.0 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 - - 10.6 3.0 1.6 - - - - - - 0.2 - - - -
Melbourne (Olympic Park) - -

1.2 - 3.2 0.6 - 0.6 8.4 0.2 - - - - - 13.4 5.8 0.2 - - - - - 0.4 1.0 0.2 - - -
Melbourne Airport - - - - - - - - - 2.4 9.8 - 1.0 - - - - 8.2 3.0 1.2 - - - 0.6 0.2 - 0.8 - - - -
Moorabbin Airport - - - - - - 0.2 - - 0.6 6.8 - - - - - - 17.2 11.2 0.2 - - - - - 0.4 0.8 - - - -
Scoresby Research Institute - - - - - - - 0.4 - 0.4 9.4 - 0.4 - - - - 25.0 18.6 0.4 0.2 - - - - - 2.0 - - - -
Viewbank - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.6 8.4 - - 0.2 - - - 11.0 6.2 0.2 - - - - - - 0.8 - - - -
Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with → are part of a longer accumulation, which is shown on the final day.
Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre.
Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
Rainfalls coloured
according to the amount
0 1.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 25.0 50.0 100 150 200 300 400 600 millimetres

Notes

The Monthly climate summary lists the main features of the weather in Melbourne 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.

A climate summary is generally published on the first working day of each month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Friday 1 April 2016. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages for individual sites 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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is used for temperature area averages.

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