Greater Melbourne in January 2021: above average rainfall

Rainfall in January was above average throughout Greater Melbourne, largely due to the high daily totals to 9am on the 30th. Both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were mostly close to average.

Above average rainfall

  • January rainfall was above average at all sites in Greater Melbourne, ranging from 161% of average at Moorabbin Airport to 274% of average at Coldstream.
  • The wettest days were between the 3rd and 6th, the 16th and 19th, and the 26th and 30th, when a slow-moving low pressure troughs, and cold fronts brought widespread rain to Greater Melbourne.
  • Greenvale Reservoir, Coldstream and Viewbank had their highest January daily rainfall on record on the 30th.
  • The wettest place in Greater Melbourne was Ferny Creek, which received an above average total of 197.2 mm during the month.
  • Melbourne (Olympic Park) received 88.0 mm during the month, almost half of which fell to 9 am on the 30th; the long-term January average for Melbourne city is 46.8 mm .
  • Melbourne Airport, Greenvale Reservoir, Upper Plenty and Coldstream had their highest total January rainfall on record.
  • Some sites had their highest total January rainfall since at least 1996.

Mostly cool to mild days

  • Daytime temperatures were generally cooler than average, with all sites reporting mean maximum temperatures below the January average.
  • There were several periods with below average daytime temperatures, following the passage of cold fronts, most notably between the 4th and 6th, the 15th and 17th, and on the 19th, 26th and 29th, when daytime temperatures were more than 6 degrees below the average throughout Greater Melbourne.
  • The lowest daytime temperature in Greater Melbourne this January was 14.3 °C at Ferny Creek on the 4th.
  • Melbourne experienced heatwave conditions on the 10th and 11th, and again on the 24th and 25th, when maximum temperatures climbed into the high-30s and low-40s at most sites.
  • The highest daytime temperature in Greater Melbourne this January was 41.5 °C recorded at Laverton RAAF on the 25th.
  • Night-time temperatures were generally close to average, with mean minimum temperatures ranging from 0.4 °C below the January average at Wallan (Kilmore Gap) to 0.9 °C above average at Essendon Airport.

Melbourne (Olympic Park)

  • Total rainfall for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 88.0 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 25.2 °C.
  • The warmest day was 39.2 °C on the 25th, and the coolest day was on the 4th when the temperature reached 18.6 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 15.4 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 10.3 °C on the 20th, and the warmest morning was on the 25th when the minimum temperature was 22.2 °C.

Flash flooding

  • Heavy rain on the 29th resulted in flash flooding in parts of Greater Melbourne.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in January 2021
Hottest day 41.5 °C at Laverton RAAF on the 25th
Warmest days on average 27.0 °C at Viewbank
Coolest days on average 22.2 °C at Ferny Creek
Coldest day 14.3 °C at Ferny Creek on the 4th
Coldest night 4.3 °C at Coldstream on the 20th
Coolest nights on average 12.0 °C at Wallan (Kilmore Gap)
Warmest nights on average 15.4 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
Warmest night 26.2 °C at Ferny Creek on the 25th
Warmest on average overall 20.7 °C at Viewbank
Coolest on average overall 17.3 °C at Ferny Creek
Wettest overall 197.2 mm at Ferny Creek
Wettest day 62.4 mm at Greenvale Reservoir on the 30th
Strongest wind gust 87 km/h at South Channel Island on the 28th

Record highest January daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Greenvale Reservoir 62.4 on the 30th 49.6 on the 15th in 1977 47
Coldstream 45.0 on the 30th 27.6 on the 18th in 2010 27
Viewbank 52.4 on the 30th 43.0 on the 30th in 2018 22



Record highest January total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Melbourne Airport 107.6 101.6 in 1991 51 42.5
Greenvale Reservoir 114.2 97.4 in 2011 47 44.9
Upper Plenty 115.6 115.4 in 2011 36 51.7
Coldstream 134.2 118.0 in 2020 27 48.9

Highest January total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Mitcham 127.6 212.3 in 1963 54.7
Bullengarook East 131.6 167.8 in 1970* 50.7
Yan Yean 88.6 103.8 in 1988 44.6
Rosebud (Country Club) 101.8 135.8 in 1993 41.5
Preston Reservoir 97.8 147.4 in 1994* 47.9
Woodend 92.6 105.0 in 1996* 43.1

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




Summary statistics for January 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2021
Diff
from
average
Highest for
January
2021
Mean for
January
2021
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
January
2021
Total for
January
2021
Average
for
January
Rank of
January
2021
Fraction of
January
average
Cerberus 23.9 -0.7 37.3 25th 13.8 -0.1 6.9 21st 77.0 40.0 high 193%
Coldstream 26.8 -1.3 39.2 25th 12.6 +0.6 4.3 20th 134.2 48.9 highest 274%
Essendon Airport 26.1 -0.5 40.7 25th 14.6 +0.9 10.3 20th 78.8 43.7 high 180%
Ferny Creek 22.2   34.3 25th 12.3   6.6 16th 197.2 81.6 v high 242%
Frankston (Ballam Park) 25.0   38.3 25th 14.2   8.8 20th 76.2
Laverton RAAF 25.1 -0.7 41.5 25th 14.6 +0.7 9.4 15th 91.0 40.7 v high 224%
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 25.2   39.2 25th 15.4   10.3 20th 88.0
Melbourne Airport 26.1 -0.5 40.5 25th 13.7 -0.2 8.8 15th 107.6 42.5 highest 253%
Moorabbin Airport 25.4 -0.5 40.6 25th 14.7 +0.4 8.8 20th 73.0 45.3 high 161%
Scoresby Research Institute 26.3 -0.1 39.9 25th 13.7 +0.3 6.3 20th 95.4 53.8 high 177%
Viewbank 27.0 -1.1 40.8 25th 14.3 -0.3 8.4 20th 103.2 45.7 high 226%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 24.0 -1.3 36.8 25th 12.0 -0.4 7.3 16th 108.2 49.8 high 217%

Daily maximum temperatures for January 2021
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Cerberus28.527.824.518.219.919.824.223.925.328.536.420.625.621.619.719.119.721.618.522.028.122.223.535.437.320.325.024.119.820.720.5
Coldstream29.128.627.021.120.418.826.029.032.234.836.125.135.423.620.419.621.724.020.228.033.429.233.036.939.219.625.424.320.723.924.1
Essendon Airport30.629.126.917.918.420.326.426.529.233.636.722.731.222.821.121.721.325.519.624.832.526.128.138.840.719.625.125.521.222.822.6
Ferny Creek25.024.723.014.315.115.420.723.727.329.831.021.630.019.416.015.317.519.915.223.129.024.428.232.534.315.620.519.018.019.219.0
Frankston (Ballam Park)28.426.724.118.219.119.424.826.029.331.335.821.530.222.019.419.220.121.318.524.632.027.026.936.138.320.525.523.121.421.921.3
Laverton RAAF29.528.125.618.818.819.824.224.326.729.937.221.828.622.120.421.420.825.219.224.129.725.226.135.641.519.424.325.321.921.721.6
Melbourne (Olympic Park)29.929.026.218.619.119.225.724.327.933.536.721.627.022.220.620.120.222.618.922.631.625.026.737.839.219.325.825.521.621.921.8
Melbourne Airport30.127.728.117.317.420.126.026.630.033.636.022.734.122.921.021.221.424.919.025.633.528.229.738.740.518.324.025.020.723.622.2
Moorabbin Airport30.027.324.819.720.020.025.625.027.532.737.421.827.821.719.320.019.123.120.023.930.724.428.737.640.621.026.824.621.820.923.1
Scoresby Research Institute29.728.327.018.518.619.425.128.430.834.535.924.434.623.220.519.920.923.420.327.233.028.831.637.339.918.625.524.720.722.623.5
Viewbank30.129.727.718.119.419.726.228.331.535.337.023.835.023.820.720.822.724.521.126.235.029.431.938.740.820.026.424.520.424.624.6
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)25.327.324.614.414.414.723.425.729.732.533.221.431.521.017.817.420.622.517.726.131.228.731.636.236.815.822.219.517.721.721.2
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 January 2021
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Cerberus16.816.216.815.215.213.411.215.411.111.616.417.212.912.910.210.112.913.813.27.16.911.715.111.120.217.013.515.616.316.115.1
Coldstream11.512.317.415.615.814.011.97.711.610.613.918.26.413.99.59.111.011.112.24.36.110.814.512.116.218.412.714.317.715.913.9
Essendon Airport14.316.817.415.415.112.814.012.215.215.318.316.813.512.511.310.711.312.713.510.312.414.014.115.023.017.413.715.118.115.715.2
Ferny Creek12.316.214.612.912.59.810.110.012.413.820.713.39.611.57.56.68.89.58.47.711.116.411.816.026.215.28.110.814.713.210.8
Frankston (Ballam Park)16.315.416.715.215.313.013.114.113.513.117.417.313.015.012.69.712.813.310.68.811.814.914.814.121.617.211.015.415.415.413.7
Laverton RAAF13.815.617.115.615.313.415.013.713.615.317.117.813.613.49.411.011.112.413.812.810.913.716.014.222.517.414.415.617.815.315.2
Melbourne (Olympic Park)15.618.417.016.015.913.714.712.714.216.919.218.314.515.013.211.012.914.114.210.312.715.814.716.122.217.714.315.418.916.716.4
Melbourne Airport13.615.616.814.814.512.613.810.514.413.417.816.511.111.38.810.09.810.912.89.810.512.414.113.823.617.213.114.017.815.415.3
Moorabbin Airport16.415.817.015.915.713.613.713.113.014.517.418.213.314.812.910.113.314.913.48.89.815.514.814.822.117.612.715.615.915.914.7
Scoresby Research Institute12.815.316.515.715.212.912.610.213.513.017.017.710.314.511.19.011.812.411.86.39.814.915.113.621.617.611.314.817.416.114.3
Viewbank14.216.817.015.615.213.013.011.214.814.517.816.810.314.211.69.511.813.312.78.410.914.513.815.421.917.712.815.017.615.915.6
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)12.015.314.612.712.09.59.79.811.913.417.313.59.210.17.97.37.38.69.97.311.017.511.714.324.815.68.611.115.312.911.2
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 January 2021
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Bonbeach (Carrum (Patterson River Countr - 6.5 5.0 - - - - - - - - - - 14.0 - - - - - - - 2.8 - - - 37.5
Bullengarook East 0.4 - - 19.6 41.8 30.4 0.4 - - - - - - - 0.6 4.2 0.8 - - - - - - - - 8.4 7.8 - 17.2

Burnside - - 3.2 12.1 23.0 3.2 - - - - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - - - - - 6.0 0.2 - - 35.0 -
Cape Schanck - - 13.4 4.0 25.6 0.6 - - - - - - - - - 4.2 - 2.4 - - - - - - - 4.2 - - 2.0

Cerberus - - 9.8 1.8 16.8 0.6 - - - - - - - - - 5.2 0.8 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - 6.0 0.6 - 1.4 33.4 -
Cheltenham Kingston Centre - - 3.0 1.0 5.8 0.1 - - - - - - - - - 4.8 5.2 - - - - - - - - 5.0 35.0 0.1
Coldstream - - 3.4 12.0 0.4 2.0 - - - - - 0.2 - - - 25.4 11.0 - - - - - - - - 30.2 3.0 - 0.8 45.0 0.8
Essendon Airport - - 4.6 9.0 15.4 0.6 - - - - - - - - - 0.8 0.2 - 0.4 - - - - - - 5.6 0.4 - 4.4 37.4 -
Ferny Creek 0.4 - 10.4 15.8 34.8 18.6 0.8 - -
- 0.8 - - - 26.6 6.2 0.4 3.0 0.2 - - - - - 19.2 10.4 - 0.2 48.6 0.8
Frankston (Ballam Park) - - 4.6 2.6 26.8 2.2 0.2 - - - - - - - - 8.0 1.0 0.2 0.2 - - - - - - 1.2 0.4 - 1.4 27.2 0.2
Greenvale Reservoir - - 2.6 11.8 16.2 4.2 0.2 - - - - - - - - 6.2 - - - - - - - - - 7.8 1.8 - 1.0 62.4
Kinglake West - - 2.8 6.4 16.0 30.4 - - - - - - - - 0.8 4.4 - 0.8 3.2 - - - - - - 28.2 5.8 - 1.0 58.8 0.2
Kinglake West (Wallaby Creek) 0.4 - 1.6 3.6 20.8 27.8 0.2 - 0.2 - - - 0.4 0.2 - 6.0 - 0.6 1.8 0.2 - - - - - 30.8 7.2 - 0.2 55.6
Laverton RAAF - - 7.4 2.6 23.6 6.0
- - - - - - - - 0.6 - 0.2 - - - - - - - 1.6 - 0.2 10.0 38.8 -
Main Ridge - - 17.0 8.4 48.0 2.0 - - - - - - - - - 7.0 - 2.0 1.2 - - - - - - 5.0 - - 7.0 30.0
Melbourne (Olympic Park) - - 12.6 2.6 11.2 1.2 - - - - - - - - - 2.6 - - - - - - - - - 10.6 0.4 - 3.6 43.2 -
Melbourne Airport - - 8.6 10.2 20.6 3.2 - - - - - - - - - 5.2 - - - - - - - - - 7.0 0.4 - 5.6 46.8 -
Melbourne Botanical Gardens - - 13.2 1.0 12.8 1.0 - - - - - - - - - 4.0 0.4 - - - - - - - - - 0.6



Mitcham - - 13.4 6.0 8.4 1.6 - - - - - - - - 0.8 34.6 2.0 - 0.6 - - - - - - 7.4 4.4 - - 48.4
Moorabbin Airport - - 6.6 1.2 7.2 0.6 - 0.2 - - - - - - 0.2 10.2 0.8 - - - - - - - - 6.0 - - 1.4 38.6 -
Mount Waverley (Riversdale Golf Club) - - 5.2 2.6 11.0 3.0 1.0 - - - - - - 0.1 - 8.2 4.4 - 0.5 - - - - - - 0.2 5.6 - - 36.0
Newham (Cobaw) - - - 0.8 - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 - - - - - - - - - 21.4 - - 12.6 37.6
Oakleigh (Metropolitan Golf Club) - - 8.4 3.4 11.6 3.6 - - - - - - - 0.6 - 12.8 - - 1.6 - - - - - - 8.8 - - 3.4 38.6
Preston Reservoir 0.2 - 6.2 8.4 8.0 5.0 0.2 - - - - 0.6 - - - 2.2 - - 0.4 - - - - - - 6.6 4.0 - 0.8 55.2
Rockbank (Melton) - 8.0 10.4 23.8 4.6 0.4
























Rosebud (Country Club) - - 7.8 14.6 25.0 - - - - - - - - - - 6.8 - 2.0 - - - - - - - 2.8 - 17.0 19.0 6.8
Scoresby Research Institute - - 10.4 6.4 11.6 2.2 - - - - - - - - - 13.2 1.0 - 0.8 - - - - - - 10.2 1.4 - 0.6 37.6 -
Springvale (Sandown) - 5.6 1.6 2.0 8.8 - - - - - - - - - - 6.6 - - - - - - - - - 6.0 - - - 29.6
Springvale Necropolis - 20.0 15.0 - - - - - - - - - - 16.0 - - - - - - 10.0 - -

Toorourrong Reservoir (Toorourrong) 0.2 - 0.8 6.0 11.4 5.0 - - - - - - 0.4 - - 4.4 - - 1.2 - - - - - - 33.6 4.0 - 0.4 42.6
Upper Plenty - - 2.6 5.4 9.4 5.8 - - - - - 0.8 - - - 3.4 - - 1.4 - - - - - - 30.2 0.6 - 4.2 51.8 -
Viewbank - - 14.4 11.6 7.0 1.0 - - - - - - - - - 4.2 0.2 - - - - - - - - 8.8 1.0 - 2.6 52.4 -
Wallan - - 6.4 3.0 9.0 3.4 - - - - - - - - - 7.4 - - - - - - - - - 24.0 - - 9.0 43.8
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) - - 4.4 4.6 12.2 5.0 - - - - - - 0.2 - - 3.8 - 0.2 - - - - - - - 25.4 1.8 - 5.2 45.4 -
Warburton (O'Shannassy Reservoir (Quarte - -
- - 37.4 - -
- - 0.2 - - - 12.2 5.8 6.2 - - - - - - - 15.6 2.6 - - 34.8
Willowmavin (Avalon Station) - - 0.6 1.0 1.6 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - - - 11.2 - - 6.2 59.6 -
Woodend 0.2 - - 4.4 10.2 9.0 0.2 - - - - - - 0.2 - 3.2 0.6 - - - - - - - - 8.8 0.6 - 16.8 38.0 0.4
Yan Yean - - 5.2 5.4 7.4 1.0 0.2 - - - - 0.2 0.2 - - 4.6 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.2 - - - - - 21.2 2.8 - 0.2 38.6
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 Monday 1 February 2021. 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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