Greater Melbourne in March 2020: cool days, wetter than average

Rainfall in March was above average at all sites in Greater Melbourne, primarily due to heavy rainfall on the 5th, from ex-tropical cyclone Esther. Daytime temperatures were below average, while night-time temperatures were generally close to average.

Wetter than average

  • March rainfall was above average at all sites in Greater Melbourne, ranging from 118% of average at Ferny Creek, to 242% of average at Melbourne Airport
  • A low-pressure trough which extended to the tropics, brought moisture from ex-tropical cyclone Esther and widespread rainfall to Greater Melbourne on the 5th; many sites had their highest March daily rainfall on record on that day
  • 54.6 mm was recorded at Melbourne (Olympic Park) on the 5th; it was the wettest March day for Melbourne city since 1929; the average monthly rainfall for Melbourne city in March is 50.1 mm
  • The highest daily rainfall total in Greater Melbourne during the month, 96.2 mm, was recorded at Willowmavin, also on the 5th
  • Late in the month, a cold front and the associated trough crossed the city, bringing widespread light to moderate rainfall, with daily totals to 9am on the 30th generally between 5 mm and 10 mm
  • The wettest place in Greater Melbourne in March was Upper Plenty, which received 135.2 mm during the month
  • Upper Plenty and Viewbank had their highest total March rainfall on record, while Lancefield, Bonbeach (Carrum) and Springvale (Sandown) had their highest total March rainfall for at least 20 years

Cool days

  • Daytime temperatures were cooler than average, with most sites reporting mean maximum temperatures more than 1.0 °C below the March average
  • The coldest day during the month was the 14th, which saw all sites report daily maximum temperatures below 20 °C; the lowest recorded daytime temperature was 13.4 °C at Ferny Creek
  • There were some warmer than average days scattered during the month and the warmest day generally was the 1st, when daytime temperatures above 30 °C were observed at most sites; the highest temperature in Greater Melbourne, 33.6 °C, was recorded at Essendon Airport on this day
  • Nights were generally close to average, with all sites reporting mean minimum temperatures within one degree from the March average

Melbourne (Olympic Park)

  • Total rainfall for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 71.0 mm
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 22.9 °C. The warmest day was 32.1 °C on the 1st, and the coolest day was on the 23rd when the temperature reached 17.1 °C
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 13.9 °C. The coldest morning was 8.5 °C on the 24th, and the warmest morning was on the 13th when the minimum temperature was 19.1 °C

Heavy rain and flash flooding

  • Heavy rainfall on the 5th, brought by the remnants of the ex-tropical cyclone Esther, caused flash flooding and building damage
  • There were many delays on tram and train lines due to signal faults, and flooded tracks and train stations
  • The State Emergency Services were called to rescue more than a dozen people from vehicles stuck in flood waters

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in March 2020
Hottest day 33.6 °C at Essendon Airport on the 1st
Warmest days on average 23.5 °C at Coldstream
Coolest days on average 19.2 °C at Ferny Creek
Coldest day 13.4 °C at Ferny Creek on the 14th
Coldest night 3.0 °C at Coldstream on the 24th
Coolest nights on average 9.2 °C at Coldstream
Warmest nights on average 13.9 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
Warmest night 19.8 °C at Laverton RAAF on the 13th
Warmest on average overall 18.4 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
Coolest on average overall 15.2 °C at Ferny Creek
15.2 °C at Wallan (Kilmore Gap)
Wettest overall 135.2 mm at Upper Plenty
Wettest day 96.2 mm at Willowmavin (Avalon Station) on the 5th
Strongest wind gust 83 km/h at Fawkner Beacon on the 13th

Record highest March daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Moorabbin Airport 54.8 on the 5th 45.0 on the 8th in 1997 67
Bonbeach (Carrum) 57.0 on the 5th 42.2 on the 20th in 1970 63
Melbourne Botanical Gardens 57.2 on the 5th 50.4 on the 7th in 2010 50
Romsey 81.6 on the 5th 63.4 on the 21st in 1989 49
Upper Plenty 89.0 on the 5th 64.6 on the 8th in 2010 35
Springvale (Sandown) 60.0 on the 5th 50.8 on the 8th in 1995 32
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 59.0 on the 5th 44.0 on the 22nd in 2017 31
Coldstream 33.6 on the 5th 32.2 on the 8th in 2010 26
Newham (Cobaw) 75.0 on the 5th 39.6 on the 16th in 2012 26
Viewbank 54.2 on the 5th 36.0 on the 15th in 2009 21



Record highest March total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
March
Upper Plenty 135.2 105.4 in 1989 34 48.0
Viewbank 79.6 77.8 in 2001 21 41.9

Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
March
Lancefield 108.6 156.6 in 1970* 44.8
Bonbeach (Carrum) 70.0 77.8 in 1989* 41.9
Springvale (Sandown) 77.8 82.2 in 1999* 42.8

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




Summary statistics for March 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
March
2020
Diff
from
average
Highest for
March
2020
Mean for
March
2020
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
March
2020
Total for
March
2020
Average
for
March
Rank of
March
2020
Fraction of
March
average
Cerberus 22.8 -0.4 32.0 1st 13.2 +0.6 8.1 27th 53.6 44.3 average 121%
Coldstream 23.5 -1.9 31.7 19th 9.2 -0.7 3.0 24th 64.4 48.0 high 134%
Essendon Airport 23.2 -1.0 33.6 1st 13.1 +0.5 8.0 16th 71.2 39.3 high 181%
Ferny Creek 19.2   27.6 19th 11.1   7.0 24th 90.8 76.9 average 118%
Laverton RAAF 22.8 -1.0 33.0 1st 13.4 +0.8 9.3 16th 52.2 34.4 high 152%
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 22.9   32.1 1st 13.9   8.5 24th 71.0
Melbourne Airport 22.9 -1.4 32.5 1st 12.2 -0.6 6.1 24th 90.0 37.2 v high 242%
Moorabbin Airport 23.1 -0.8 32.2 1st 13.2 +0.2 5.9 24th 67.6 43.7 high 155%
Scoresby Research Institute 22.9 -1.3 31.3 1st 12.1 -0.4 5.9 24th 78.4 53.2 high 147%
Viewbank 23.2 -2.3 32.3 1st 12.1 -0.8 6.2 24th 79.6 41.9 highest 190%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 19.7 -2.1 29.2 1st 10.6 -0.6 6.2 24th 104.4 45.6 high 229%

Daily maximum temperatures for March 2020
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Cerberus32.018.018.821.720.618.921.721.421.023.028.129.627.817.418.624.528.129.331.721.117.518.617.418.016.920.526.328.428.721.220.7
Coldstream31.619.220.923.119.920.421.922.221.926.029.728.826.517.820.825.627.228.431.722.519.519.518.220.216.923.127.427.226.321.822.0
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens31.418.019.320.620.219.521.321.020.929.326.9
Essendon Airport33.619.020.423.520.219.520.422.420.923.829.929.427.517.718.626.128.228.730.024.118.718.417.418.417.020.127.627.625.822.021.6
Ferny Creek26.814.915.819.816.815.617.518.017.622.125.224.522.413.415.421.123.424.527.618.515.314.414.115.113.518.122.722.822.917.718.1
Laverton RAAF33.018.121.120.519.319.221.520.321.527.929.826.417.518.524.028.529.031.322.218.718.916.418.016.819.828.128.326.722.620.9
Melbourne (Olympic Park)32.118.419.523.520.319.020.022.421.022.329.529.526.817.918.826.528.228.330.422.718.418.317.117.917.519.827.627.526.421.721.4
Melbourne Airport32.518.720.122.520.019.519.921.920.624.029.729.327.217.318.525.827.527.731.622.818.618.317.718.516.120.027.427.525.822.121.5
Moorabbin Airport32.218.820.421.620.018.620.422.021.121.629.729.527.518.120.125.228.328.830.722.318.318.317.718.218.122.427.428.127.821.220.6
Scoresby Research Institute31.318.719.922.220.318.720.921.321.025.028.928.626.117.719.225.427.328.231.222.219.018.917.619.116.822.127.326.726.321.321.9
Viewbank32.319.220.522.220.219.320.622.321.525.129.929.026.518.020.025.727.527.430.022.919.519.117.619.817.322.127.327.426.821.421.9
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)29.215.518.320.616.816.017.018.717.623.625.424.722.513.915.721.823.424.628.120.216.415.014.416.613.517.823.023.121.417.719.1
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 2020
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Cerberus9.612.714.013.915.814.915.014.111.913.413.613.817.112.89.612.212.615.515.914.614.112.012.012.513.28.113.014.314.08.6
Coldstream8.413.39.19.112.814.413.17.36.45.28.910.39.010.36.24.27.011.115.29.110.47.98.43.08.18.18.78.010.414.26.6
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens10.912.312.811.114.014.412.412.39.89.010.611.4
Essendon Airport11.112.913.913.015.314.814.311.011.79.612.017.019.512.311.48.010.618.118.713.013.011.612.18.611.611.711.613.519.114.711.3
Ferny Creek11.99.18.79.614.410.79.610.38.78.412.918.518.67.47.47.311.316.518.610.88.68.97.37.08.78.89.815.916.712.49.6
Laverton RAAF11.212.913.513.415.315.014.614.214.09.512.217.019.812.812.69.311.118.418.113.312.010.812.110.111.813.711.613.118.913.710.0
Melbourne (Olympic Park)13.214.214.713.615.415.915.413.912.310.312.616.619.113.112.79.311.617.718.716.114.612.112.78.510.813.713.614.816.515.912.2
Melbourne Airport10.811.812.412.514.813.913.411.910.09.012.217.217.911.311.27.512.318.017.912.211.19.68.36.110.910.89.513.319.013.59.4
Moorabbin Airport12.113.813.913.115.515.714.714.011.38.611.915.819.712.511.97.710.018.418.115.113.312.110.75.910.311.712.112.418.816.510.5
Scoresby Research Institute12.012.811.810.914.514.313.510.59.87.711.415.918.811.410.97.210.418.217.112.612.510.38.35.99.49.311.514.819.314.88.6
Viewbank11.112.912.612.213.314.713.59.810.07.711.514.916.211.611.37.110.716.518.114.213.110.510.96.28.111.713.112.514.915.29.5
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)12.09.28.89.814.410.710.110.38.68.69.915.615.37.37.58.212.014.416.511.09.59.16.76.27.98.79.613.715.211.910.9
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 2020
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Bonbeach (Carrum) - 5.5 - - 57.0 2.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - - - - - 3.0
Bullengarook East - 3.0 - - 48.2 8.4 - 0.4 - - - - - 1.8 3.6 - - - - 0.8 - 1.2 - - 3.4 - -
Burnside - 2.0 - - - 7.4 - - - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3.0 -
Cape Schanck 8.2 0.3 - - 22.0 1.8 - - - - - - - 3.6 1.2 - - - - - - 1.4 - - - - - - - 5.8
Cerberus - 7.2 - - 36.6 0.6 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - 0.4 0.8 - - - 1.0 - - 0.4 - - - - - - 6.0 -
Cheltenham Kingston Centre - 4.3 - - 35.0 3.8 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - 0.8 - - - - - - 2.5 -
Coldstream - 3.0 0.2 - 33.6 9.8 0.4 0.2 - - - - - 2.4 - - - - - 0.8 0.4 0.2 1.0 - - - - - - 12.4 -
Essendon Airport - 1.2 0.2 - 53.4 9.6 - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - - 0.2 - 0.4 - - - - - - 4.2 -
Ferny Creek
9.0 - - 38.2 16.4 5.4 - - 0.2 - - - 3.2 0.4 0.2 - - - 2.6 2.2 - 4.2 - - - - - - 8.8 -
Greenvale Reservoir
1.4 - -
17.0
- 0.4
- -


- - -

-


- -

-

Kinglake West - 4.2 - 63.4 14.4 6.0 - - - - - - 12.0 - - - - - 0.8 0.6 - 3.0 - - - - - - 9.8
Kinglake West (Wallaby Creek)
3.6 1.4 -
18.4
- -
- 0.2


- - 0.2

0.8


- -

-

Lancefield 0.4 - - 92.0 10.6 - - - - - - - - 2.4 - - - - - - - - - 3.2
Laverton RAAF - 1.6 0.2 - 39.0 7.6 0.2 - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - - - 1.8 - - - - - - 1.4 -
Main Ridge - 9.8 - - 24.4 7.3 - - - - - - - - 2.4 - - - - - 2.2 - 2.8 - - - - - 6.4

Melbourne (Olympic Park) - 3.0 - - 54.6 7.0 0.2 - - - - - - 0.6 - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - - 5.2 -
Melbourne Airport - 0.8 - - 70.0 13.6 - 0.2 - - - - - 1.4 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 - - 3.6 -
Melbourne Botanical Gardens 3.6 - - 57.2 8.2 0.8 - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - 0.4 0.2 0.4 - - - - 6.4
Mitcham
4.8 - -
11.8
- -
- -


- - -

0.4


- -

-

Moorabbin Airport - 3.6 0.2 - 54.8 2.6 - - - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.4 - - - - - - 4.0 -
Mount Waverley (Riversdale Golf Club) - 2.8 1.4 - 36.0 15.5 0.8 - - - - - - 0.5 - - - - - 0.4 0.6 - - - - - - - - 8.0
Newham (Cobaw) - - - - 75.0 11.4 - - - - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4.6
Oakleigh (Metropolitan Golf Club) - 4.2 - - 66.2 8.2 1.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7.8
Preston Reservoir
1.6 - -
13.8
- -
- -


- - -

0.6


- -

-

Romsey - 0.6 0.2 - 81.6

























Rosebud (Country Club) - 5.2 - - 25.0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.5 - - 2.0 - - - - - 4.4
Scoresby Research Institute - 3.8 - - 49.6 11.0 4.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 - 2.0 - - - - - - 6.6 -
Springvale (Sandown) - 4.2 - 1.2 60.0 0.8 - - - - - - 0.2 0.2 - - - - 0.6 - 3.0 - - - - - - - 7.6
Springvale Necropolis 4.5 - - 53.0 5.0 - - - - - - - - - 0.8














Toorourrong Reservoir (Toorourrong)
2.0 0.8 -
20.6
- -
- -


- - -

1.0


- -

-

Upper Plenty - 1.6 - - 89.0 23.4 0.4 - - - - - - 8.0 - - - - - 0.4 - - 1.2 - - - - - - 11.2
Viewbank - 7.2 - - 54.2 7.8 0.2 - - - - - - 2.6 0.2 - - - - 0.4 0.2 - 0.6 - - - - - - 6.2 -
Wallan 1.4 - - 66.4 20.0 - - - - - - - 4.0 - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - 5.2
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) - 2.6 - - 68.2 18.0 - - - - - - - 7.2 - 0.2 - - - - 0.2 - 0.2 - - - - - - 7.6 0.2
Warburton (O'Shannassy Reservoir (Quarte
- 1.6 -
22.2
- -
- -

0.2 - - -

3.2

0.2 - -

-

Willowmavin (Avalon Station) - 0.2 0.2 - 96.2 12.8 - - - - - - - 0.2 - 0.2 - - - 0.2 - - 0.4 - - - - - - 11.6 -
Woodend - 1.0 - - 62.4 6.0 1.0 - - - - - - 1.8 1.6 - - - - 0.8 - - - - - - - - - 4.8 0.2
Yan Yean
2.8 0.2 -
19.2
- -
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, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Greater Melbourne 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 summary includes data from observing sites in or near the Greater Melbourne “Greater Capital City Statistical Area” (GCCSA). The Australian Bureau of Statistics designed the GCCSAs to “include the population within the urban area of the city, as well as people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, and live in small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. It is important to note that GCCSAs do not define the built up edge of the city. They provide a stable definition for these cities and are designed for the output of a range of social and economic survey data.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Wednesday 1 April 2020. 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

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