Victoria in June 2017: driest on record

Rainfall in Victoria during June was very much below average across almost all of the State, with large areas where rainfall totals were lowest on record. Daytime temperatures were above the long-term average across most of Victoria, while night-time temperatures were below average except in parts of the east and south of the State.

Driest on record June in Victoria

  • With 13.7 mm averaged across Victoria, June rainfall was lowest on record since measurements began in 1900; it was 77% below the long-term mean of 59.4 mm
  • Large areas in the north, west and central Victoria received less than 20% of average rainfall for the month
  • A low pressure trough brought moderate falls to eastern and south-central parts of the State on the 6th and to the eastern Victoria on the 7th, with daily totals generally between 5 and 15 mm; higher daily totals were recorded only at several sites in the far east of the State
  • A cold front which crossed the State on the 29th brought more rainfall to southern parts of Victoria
  • The highest daily rainfall total in the State, 43.6 mm was recorded at Cann River on the 6th and Genoa on the 7th
  • The wettest place in the State was Point Hicks with 84.0 mm during the month
  • Many sites had their lowest total June rainfall on record and lowest total June rainfall for at least 20 years

Mild days and cold nights

  • Victoria's mean maximum temperature was 0.51 °C above the long-term June average
  • In contrast, minimum temperatures were below average across most of the State, although eastern and southern parts were close to average
  • For Victoria as a whole the mean minimum temperature was 1.27 °C below average, the coldest since 2006
  • Several sites had their lowest June mean daily minimum temperature on record
  • Many places in the central-north Victoria (including Echuca Aerodrome, Kyabram, Tatura, Shepparton Airport, Mangalore Airport, Redesdale, Wangaratta Aero and Rutherglen) had a record 30 consecutive days during June with minimum temperature 5 °C or below
  • Mt Hotham recorded both the coldest day during the month, -1.9 °C on the 6th, and the coldest night, -6.6 °C on the 30th

High pressure systems dominate

  • Mean sea level pressure was more than 5 hPa above average for June across much of southern Australia
  • The dominant high pressure systems reduced the number of rain-bearing low pressure systems and cold fronts affecting southern Australia
  • Many sites that measure air pressure across Victoria each day, reported their highest monthly 9am mean sea level pressures on record for June
  • Average wind speeds were much lower than the long-term June average at many sites across Victoria

Further information

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Extremes in June 2017
Hottest day 19.6 °C at Mildura Airport on the 23rd
Warmest days on average 16.6 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average 2.9 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day -1.9 °C at Mount Hotham on the 6th
-1.9 °C at Mount Hotham on the 24th
Coldest night -6.6 °C at Mount Hotham on the 30th
Coolest nights on average -2.2 °C at Mount Hotham
Warmest nights on average 10.3 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Warmest night 12.4 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 3rd
12.4 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse on the 13th
Warmest on average overall 12.5 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Coolest on average overall 0.4 °C at Mount Hotham
Wettest overall 84.0 mm at Point Hicks (Lighthouse)
Wettest day 43.6 mm at Cann River on the 6th
43.6 mm at Genoa (Fools Haven) on the 7th
Strongest wind gust 113 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 5th

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Record lowest June total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
June
Daylesford 15.2 16.8 in 1937 148 105.8
Heathcote 6.2 6.6 in 1958 140 61.5
Clunes 6.0 9.4 in 1969 138 60.5
Echuca Aerodrome 1.2 = 1.2 in 1975 138 42.9
Maryborough 5.1 9.8 in 1958 138 55.6
Kerang 1.2 2.2 in 1975 136 35.8
Inglewood (Post Office) 3.6 3.8 in 1914 130 49.5
Nariel Creek (Simpson) 12.4 18.6 in 1984 130 119.2
Yackandandah 11.8 17.0 in 1975 127 113.5
Eldorado 4.8 9.4 in 1975 124 67.0
Trentham (Post Office) 14.9 36.3 in 1937 121 125.5
Terang 21.8 22.2 in 1969 119 78.0
Mooroopna 3.4 4.6 in 1940 118 50.5
Tangambalanga NE Dairy 10.4 15.2 in 1940 116 90.1
Strathbogie 9.6 14.7 in 1930 114 114.2
Woodend 10.6 20.7 in 2006 114 87.9
Rochester 1.4 2.1 in 1975 113 43.0
Barnawartha 3.8 4.0 in 1975 112 58.1
Milawa Brown Bros 4.0 6.3 in 1975 112 66.5
Birregurra (Post Office) 17.2 18.3 in 1937 111 65.0
Beeac (Post Office) 8.3 11.8 in 2006 110 55.7
Rupanyup (Post Office) 3.8 = 3.8 in 1944 110 44.2
Rutherglen Research 6.6 8.0 in 1975 103 57.1
Koetong 8.0 20.6 in 1984 100 129.9
Eurobin 11.8 24.1 in 1965 96 126.9
Wodonga 7.6 12.6 in 1975 92 78.8
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 1.2 3.8 in 1975 73 44.3
Dartmouth Reservoir 7.2 22.2 in 1984 65 103.0
Casterton Showgrounds 9.7 13.1 in 1969 60 69.6
Mangalore Airport 3.4 3.8 in 1958 60 53.6
Falls Creek (Rocky Valley) 24.0 37.8 in 1967 53 247.1
Kyabram 2.2 2.6 in 1975 53 40.8
Eppalock Reservoir 4.0 8.6 in 1974 52 47.7
Donald 3.8 4.2 in 1975 50 36.4
Castlemaine Prison 7.0 12.8 in 1969 49 56.5
Warracknabeal Museum 6.3 11.6 in 1997 48 37.9
Dederang 14.0 19.1 in 1984 47 90.5
Avalon Airport 8.4 10.4 in 1984 37 38.8
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 49.6 52.4 in 2008 35 110.6
Strath Creek 12.6 15.6 in 2006 34 68.8
Edi Upper 15.4 35.2 in 2008 30 117.9
Wangaratta Aero 3.8 22.0 in 2008 30 67.4
Bendigo Airport 2.4 18.8 in 2006 25 52.8
Mount Tamboritha 19.4 30.2 in 2009 24 104.0
Yarrawonga 2.0 10.9 in 1997 24 42.8
Hunters Hill 8.4 29.4 in 1994 23 138.6
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 17.8 18.6 in 2006 23 67.6
Newham (Cobaw) 11.0 22.6 in 2006 21 81.4
Shepparton Airport 3.6 9.0 in 1996 21 39.7
Stawell Aerodrome 4.0 12.0 in 2007 21 54.2
Acheron River @ Taggerty 12.2 20.0 in 2006 20 78.0
Eildon Fire Tower 13.0 22.4 in 2015 20 65.6
Lima East (Charnwood) 13.0 24.0 in 2006 20 122.4

Lowest June total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
lower
Average for
June
Lake Eildon 13.0 1.8 in 1930 92.5
Redesdale 7.2 4.0 in 1930* 59.6
Longerenong 5.0 1.6 in 1944* 44.3
Derrinallum (Post Office) 16.8 10.2 in 1967 56.3
Ballan 15.8 9.5 in 1969 62.8
Laverton RAAF 10.2 9.7 in 1969 38.8
Nullawarre 28.2 23.9 in 1969 92.9
Vaughan 10.2 9.9 in 1969* 60.1
Meredith (Darra) 17.8 16.5 in 1972 56.4
Dunolly 7.2 3.0 in 1974 52.9
Yea 12.6 11.2 in 1974 59.9
Ararat Prison 12.2 12.0 in 1975 56.5
Berriwillock 3.2 1.4 in 1975 32.9
Wickliffe 15.0 14.0 in 1974* 52.4
Eltham 22.8 19.4 in 1974* 59.5
Pira Wild Horse Plains 0.8 0.7 in 1975* 31.3
Quambatook South 3.0 1.2 in 1975* 36.2
Birchip Cropping Group 4.6 2.6 in 1975* 31.7
Darriman (Tarralangi) 14.0 8.8 in 1979 57.9
Wonthaggi 46.8 38.0 in 1979 96.6
Boort 4.2 2.2 in 1975* 38.9
Lake Boga 2.4 1.2 in 1984 32.1
Manangatang (Eureka East) 0.4 0.1 in 1984 28.5
Mildura Airport 1.8 0.0 in 1984 22.4
Ouyen (Post Office) 2.0 0.4 in 1984 29.5
Sea Lake (Post Office) 3.1 1.5 in 1984 30.9
Ensay 14.6 11.2 in 1986 62.2
Ninyeunook 2.8 =2.8 in 1984* 34.7
Ultima (Post Office) 4.4 3.0 in 1984* 32.9
Mortlake Racecourse 12.0 1.0 in 1994 51.9
Mount Hotham 35.4 0.0 in 1996* 131.2

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




Record highest June temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
June
Mount Hotham 11.6 on the 13th 9.7 on the 2nd in 2005 26 1.4



Record lowest June mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
June
Bairnsdale Airport 3.5 = 3.5 in 1985 36 4.7
Yarrawonga 0.4 0.6 in 2006 24 4.2
Eildon Fire Tower 3.7 = 3.7 in 2006 20 4.8

Lowest June mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
June
Kyabram 0.9 0.4 in 1982* 3.9

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




Record lowest June mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
June
Yarrawonga 7.5 7.7 in 2006 24 9.4

Lowest June mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
June
Mangalore Airport 7.2 6.5 in 1966 8.7
Kyabram 7.6 6.8 in 1982* 8.9

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




Summary statistics for June 2017
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
June
2017
Diff
from
average
Highest for
June
2017
Mean for
June
2017
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
June
2017
Total for
June
2017
Average
for
June
Rank of
June
2017
Fraction of
June
average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 16.6 +0.6 19.6 23rd 2.7 -2.5 -1.5 3rd 1.8 22.4 v low 8%
Ouyen (Post Office) 16.4 +0.7 18.8 19th 3.5 -1.6 -0.4 4th 2.0 29.5 v low 7%
Walpeup Research 16.2 +1.1 18.6 23rd 4.8 -0.8 0.3 8th 2.2 29.5 v low 7%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 15.7 +0.4 18.6 15th 1.4 -2.9 -3.7 30th 3.0 23.7 v low 13%
Swan Hill Aerodrome 15.8 +0.5 18.5 11th 2.3 -2.1 -1.5 23rd 1.8 25.5 v low 7%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Kellalac (Warracknabeal Airport) 15.5   18.0 15th 2.8   -1.2 4th 5.4
Nhill Aerodrome 14.9 +0.3 17.2 14th 3.5 -1.3 -0.8 4th 5.0 37.9 v low 13%
Warracknabeal Museum 15.0 +0.3 17.2 15th 2.9 -1.6 -2.0 4th 6.3 37.9 lowest 17%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 14.4 +0.4 17.3 15th 4.1 -0.9 -0.6 2nd 15.8 49.0 v low 32%
Grampians (Mount William) 6.4 +0.7 13.4 13th 2.1 +0.3 -1.0 30th 47.4 127.4 v low 37%
Horsham Aerodrome 14.5 +0.1 17.4 15th 2.4 -1.3 -2.7 4th 7.6 39.7 v low 19%
Kanagulk 14.0 +0.3 16.8 16th 3.2 -1.4 -2.8 4th 13.2 52.2 v low 25%
Longerenong 14.7 +0.9 17.7 15th 2.6 -1.5 -3.0 4th 5.0 44.3 v low 11%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) 9.1   14.2 13th 3.5   0.6 30th 22.2
Stawell Aerodrome 13.2 0.0 15.7 18th 3.4 -1.4 -0.8 8th 4.0 54.2 lowest 7%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 15.5 +0.9 17.5 18th 1.5 -2.9 -2.3 4th 5.8 34.8 v low 17%
Echuca Aerodrome 14.8 +0.6 17.3 11th 1.4 -3.3 -2.0 23rd 1.2 42.9 lowest 3%
Kerang 15.1 +0.4 17.6 11th 2.7 -1.9 -0.7 4th 1.2 35.8 lowest 3%
Kyabram 14.4 +0.5 18.0 10th 0.9 -3.0 -1.5 23rd 2.2 40.8 lowest 5%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 13.9 +0.6 17.6 10th 1.9 -1.7 -1.0 8th 2.4 52.8 lowest 5%
Shepparton Airport 14.1 -0.1 17.8 10th 0.6 -3.3 -2.3 23rd 3.6 39.7 lowest 9%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 14.0 0.0 17.1 11th 0.4 -3.3 -2.5 8th 1.2 44.3 lowest 3%
Yarrawonga 14.6 0.0 18.4 10th 0.4 -3.8 -1.9 8th 2.0 42.8 lowest 5%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport 14.4 +0.2 17.7 10th -0.1 -3.7 -2.8 23rd 2.4 55.5 v low 4%
Corryong Airport 9.3 -2.9 16.5 7th 0.2 -1.2 -4.0 2nd 15.2 64.7 v low 23%
Dartmouth Reservoir 13.2 +0.7 16.2 13th 1.4 -1.7 -2.0 3rd 7.2 103.0 lowest 7%
Hunters Hill 9.9 +1.5 13.6 13th 2.8 -0.3 -1.0 30th 8.4 138.6 lowest 6%
Rutherglen Research 14.0 +0.6 18.4 10th -1.6 -4.2 -4.4 23rd 6.6 57.1 lowest 12%
Strathbogie 11.7 +0.5 15.6 10th -1.2 -3.3 -4.1 4th 9.6 114.2 lowest 8%
Wangaratta Aero 14.2 +0.2 17.3 10th -0.2 -3.2 -2.6 2nd 3.8 67.4 lowest 6%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Mount Buller 4.0 +0.7 11.4 13th -1.3 -0.1 -5.2 30th 32.4 152.6 low 21%
Mount Hotham 2.9 +1.5 11.6 13th -2.2 +0.2 -6.6 30th 35.4 131.2 low 27%
Omeo 11.7 +0.6 14.7 14th -0.4 -1.5 -5.3 21st 15.0 71.0 v low 21%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Gabo Island Lighthouse 15.4 +0.6 18.0 14th 9.7 +0.4 6.6 25th 45.8 103.4 low 44%
Gelantipy 10.1 0.0 14.4 11th 1.9 -1.3 -2.9 25th 28.4 74.6 low 38%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road) 15.1 0.0 17.7 5th 5.9 -0.5 1.2 17th 15.2 109.0 low 14%
Mallacoota 15.4 0.0 18.7 14th 6.3 -1.0 2.6 25th 64.8 98.4 average 66%
Mount Nowa Nowa 13.0 -0.3 17.4 11th 5.9 -1.0 3.5 25th 21.0 85.5 low 25%
Orbost 14.7 -0.6 18.5 11th 5.5 -1.0 3.1 14th 20.0 108.3 v low 18%
Point Hicks (Lighthouse) 14.3 -0.5 16.6 11th 8.4 -0.7 5.3 25th 84.0 113.2 average 74%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 15.1 +0.1 18.4 11th 3.5 -1.2 -1.3 17th 16.0 66.0 v low 24%
Corner Inlet (Yanakie) 14.5   16.2 16th 6.0   0.8 8th 38.8
East Sale Airport 14.9 +0.6 16.9 16th 3.1 -1.1 -0.9 29th 10.0 48.2 v low 21%
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) 14.1 0.0 16.9 16th 3.4 -1.1 -1.0 17th 23.6 65.0 v low 36%
Mount Baw Baw 3.5 0.0 12.6 13th -0.7 -0.2 -4.3 25th 66.4 139.7 average 48%
Mount Moornapa 12.5 +0.1 17.1 11th 5.5 -0.6 2.2 25th 21.8 102.5 v low 21%
Nilma North (Warragul) 13.5   16.9 16th 3.3   -0.9 17th 36.8
Pound Creek 14.4 -0.1 16.7 16th 6.1 -0.1 0.0 7th 45.2 90.7 low 50%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 13.1 +0.1 14.6 16th 10.3 +0.9 7.5 30th 58.2 120.3 low 48%
Yarram Airport 14.8   17.1 16th 3.4   -1.3 27th 19.2
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora (Latrobe University) 14.4 +0.5 17.5 15th 4.7 -1.5 1.1 14th 20.8 57.4 v low 36%
Cerberus 14.4 +0.2 16.3 16th 6.0 -0.8 0.8 8th 29.2 73.9 v low 40%
Coldstream 13.9 -0.1 17.1 16th 2.2 -1.9 -1.1 7th 30.4 66.2 v low 46%
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 13.9 0.0 16.8 17th     4.8 21st 23.9 79.5 v low 30%
Essendon Airport 14.7 +1.0 17.8 5th 5.6 -0.4 1.7 4th 21.6 40.3 low 54%
Ferny Creek 10.3   13.7 16th 5.6   3.3 8th 53.2
Frankston AWS 13.4 -0.2 16.3 15th 8.1 -0.6 4.9 8th
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 14.9   19.0 15th 6.8   3.4 11th 16.8
Melbourne Airport 14.3 +0.6 17.5 5th 5.4 -0.8 2.1 14th 16.4 40.1 low 41%
Moorabbin Airport 14.5 +0.3 18.4 15th 6.8 +0.1 2.3 17th 15.6 56.5 v low 28%
Rhyll 14.2 +0.3 16.5 3rd 8.7 -0.2 6.6 8th 38.8 64.4 low 60%
Scoresby Research Institute 14.2 +0.6 17.5 16th 5.2 -1.1 2.0 7th 26.0 70.3 v low 37%
Viewbank 14.4 0.0 17.4 15th 4.6 -1.7 0.9 8th 22.2 55.8 v low 40%
Wonthaggi 14.3 +0.1 16.7 16th 7.2 +0.4 2.3 8th 46.8 96.6 v low 48%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 14.5 -0.2 17.1 20th 5.1 -0.7 0.3 4th 8.4 38.8 lowest 22%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse) 14.7   17.4 20th 6.4   2.2 11th 8.4
Laverton RAAF 14.8 +0.6 18.4 15th 5.0 -0.8 1.4 14th 10.2 38.8 v low 26%
Sheoaks 12.8 0.0 16.1 15th 4.8 -0.8 0.7 4th 14.8 42.3 low 35%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 13.0 +0.3 16.0 19th 3.1 -0.4 0.0 1st 7.0 56.5 lowest 12%
Eildon Fire Tower 10.3 +0.1 13.3 13th 3.7 -1.1 2.0 4th 13.0 65.6 lowest 20%
Lake Eildon 12.3 -0.3 16.1 7th 2.9 -1.2 -0.6 7th 13.0 92.5 v low 14%
Mangalore Airport 13.5 0.0 16.2 13th 0.9 -3.1 -2.5 20th 3.4 53.6 lowest 6%
Maryborough 13.5 +0.6 16.4 10th 2.5 -1.7 -0.7 4th 5.1 55.6 lowest 9%
Redesdale 14.2 +1.4 18.3 10th 1.2 -2.7 -2.8 30th 7.2 59.6 v low 12%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 10.4 +0.5 14.1 16th 4.9 0.0 2.6 25th 17.8 67.6 lowest 26%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 13.6 +1.2 16.0 18th 2.5 -1.4 -3.0 3rd 12.2 56.5 v low 22%
Ballarat Aerodrome 11.5 +0.7 13.9 16th 2.5 -1.5 -2.7 4th 13.2 62.7 v low 21%
Westmere 13.1 +0.2 16.0 15th 3.7 -0.8 -1.8 4th 14.6 41.1 v low 36%
West Coast (district 90)
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 14.6 +0.3 17.3 15th 8.6 -0.5 3.8 3rd 52.4 90.9 low 58%
Cape Otway Lighthouse 13.5 -0.2 16.1 15th 9.2 +0.7 6.2 14th 51.8 97.0 low 53%
Casterton 14.0 +0.3 17.1 15th 4.1 -1.0 -3.0 3rd 15.0 67.4 v low 22%
Colac (Mount Gellibrand) 11.9 -0.4 15.0 15th 5.6 -0.6 3.3 11th 15.8 53.4 v low 30%
Dartmoor 14.1   16.9 16th 4.9   -1.8 3rd 28.0
Hamilton Airport 12.9 0.0 15.6 16th 4.1 -0.9 -0.6 8th 17.8 66.7 v low 27%
Mortlake Racecourse 14.1 +0.6 17.5 16th 3.2 -1.8 -2.0 4th 12.0 51.9 v low 23%
Port Fairy AWS 14.9 +0.3 17.8 15th 6.9 -0.7 1.5 4th 22.2 77.7 v low 29%
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 14.3 +0.6 17.1 16th 6.4 -0.5 0.2 3rd 49.6 110.6 lowest 45%
Warrnambool Airport NDB 14.1 0.0 16.9 16th 5.3 -0.6 0.3 4th 28.6 79.1 v low 36%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 3 July 2017. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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