Wednesday, 1 September 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in August 2021: below average rainfall, mild days and nights

Rainfall in August was below average in large parts of central and western Victoria, but it was a wetter than average month for East Gippsland. Daytime temperatures were above average across the state. Night-time temperatures were above average in most of Victoria, and very much above average across most of the state's east and south.

Below average rainfall overall

  • Rainfall in August was below average in large parts of central and western Victoria.
  • State-wide, August rainfall was around 30% below average, making it the driest August since 2015.
  • It was wetter than average only in parts of Gippsland, with a large area of East Gippsland receiving nearly double its mean total rainfall for August.
  • Bairnsdale Airport and Orbost had their highest total August rainfall on record, while Stratford equaled its highest total August rainfall record from 1981.
  • Much of August rainfall fell on the 1st, 23rd and 24th, following the passage of cold fronts; some sites in Gippsland recorded daily totals in excess of 30 mm between the 26th and 28th, associated with a low pressure system that developed off the southern NSW coast.
  • A cold front crossed the state on the 23rd, bringing small hail to Geelong and some Melbourne suburbs.
  • The highest daily rainfall of 75.4 mm was recorded at Gabo Island Lighthouse on the 28th.
  • With 197.2 mm received during the month, Mount Baw Baw was the wettest place in Victoria.

Mild days and nights

  • Daytime temperatures were warmer than average across the state, and much warmer than average in areas surrounding Port Phillip Bay.
  • Averaged across the state, the mean maximum temperature was 1.27 °C above the average, the warmest August days since 2011.
  • There were several unseasonably warm days during the month, notably on the 10th, 11th, 22nd and 31st.
  • The highest temperature recorded in Victoria this month was 27.6 °C at Mildura Airport on the 31st, in a warm north-westerly airflow preceding the approaching cold front.
  • Night-time temperatures were above average in most of Victoria, and much above average in parts of the state's east and south.
  • The mean minimum temperature for Victoria as a whole was 0.68 °C warmer than average, the state's highest in August since 2013.
  • Rhyll had its highest August mean daily minimum temperature since 1999.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in August 2021
Hottest day 27.6 °C at Mildura Airport on the 31st
Warmest days on average 18.5 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average 0.6 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day -2.6 °C at Mount Hotham on the 24th
Coldest night -6.8 °C at Mount Hotham on the 25th
Coolest nights on average -2.9 °C at Mount Hotham
Warmest nights on average 9.9 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Warmest night 13.7 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse on the 23rd
Warmest on average overall 12.9 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Coolest on average overall -1.1 °C at Mount Hotham
Wettest overall 197.2 mm at Mount Baw Baw
Wettest day 75.4 mm at Gabo Island Lighthouse on the 28th
Strongest wind gust 126 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 15th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 highest August total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
August
Bairnsdale Airport 65.6 65.0 in 2001 42 36.7
Orbost 152.0 116.6 in 2001 21 63.9

Highest August total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
August
Stratford 62.6 =62.6 in 1981* 41.2

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



Highest August mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
August
Rhyll 9.4 9.6 in 1999 8.4


Highest August mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
August
Mangalore Airport 9.9 10.2 in 1987 9.0


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for August 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
August
2021		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
August
2021		 Mean for
August
2021		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
August
2021		 Total for
August
2021		 Average
for
August		 Rank of
August
2021		 Fraction of
August
average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 18.5 +1.2 27.6 31st 5.4 +0.2 -1.2 27th 11.8 25.2 low 47%
Ouyen (Post Office) 17.9 +0.8 24.9 22nd 5.6 +0.6 0.5 27th 29.6 32.1 average 92%
Walpeup Research 17.6 +1.2 27.2 31st 5.7 +0.4 0.3 26th 43.6 34.5 high 126%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 17.8 +1.1 27.3 31st 4.4 +1.0 -2.8 27th 24.6 26.4 average 93%
Swan Hill Aerodrome 17.9 +1.3 26.4 31st 4.8 +0.9 -1.0 28th 12.6 26.4 average 48%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Kellalac (Warracknabeal Airport) 16.5   24.1 31st 4.4   -0.9 27th 28.8
Nhill Aerodrome 16.6 +1.2 22.3 31st 4.9 +0.3 -1.3 27th 16.8 42.5 low 40%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 15.0 +0.4 20.2 22nd 6.4 +1.2 0.3 27th 50.0 66.5 average 75%
Grampians (Mount William) 6.4 +0.6 12.6 31st 1.6 +0.6 -2.1 24th 154.0 154.1 average 100%
Horsham Aerodrome 16.1 +1.0 22.3 31st 3.8 +0.7 -3.1 27th 31.4 39.1 average 80%
Kanagulk 15.1 +1.0 20.9 31st 5.0 +0.5 -1.3 27th 57.0 65.7 average 87%
Longerenong 16.1 +1.3 22.9 31st 4.3 +0.4 -2.0 27th 34.6 43.5 average 80%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) 9.8 +1.5 16.7 31st 3.5 +0.9 -0.5 24th 59.4 86.5 v low 69%
Stawell Aerodrome 14.4 +0.6 20.9 31st 5.1 +0.5 -0.3 27th 47.6 54.1 average 88%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 16.2 +0.7 24.8 31st 4.7 +0.8 -0.6 28th 33.0 34.9 average 95%
Echuca Aerodrome 16.2 +0.9 23.0 31st 4.6 -0.1 -1.0 28th 25.9 42.0 low 62%
Kerang 17.2 +1.1 26.0 31st 5.3 +0.5 -0.1 28th 17.2 36.8 low 47%
Kyabram 15.8 +0.9 22.1 22nd 4.6 +0.8 -0.9 28th 26.6 42.2 low 63%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 15.1 +0.9 21.0 22nd 3.3 +0.5 -1.5 28th 35.2 51.3 average 69%
Shepparton Airport 15.5 +0.6 21.8 22nd 4.5 +0.8 -0.5 28th 27.8 44.8 low 62%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 15.1 +0.4 21.7 22nd 4.6 +0.8 -1.0 28th 29.0 46.4 low 63%
Yarrawonga 15.5 +0.3 22.9 11th 3.7 +0.1 -0.7 26th 25.0 39.3 average 64%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport 15.0 +0.6 20.8 22nd 3.7 +0.5 0.2 2nd 39.3 57.7 low 68%
Dartmouth Reservoir 14.1 +0.7 20.5 22nd     1.3 14th 50.6 120.4 low 42%
Hunters Hill 9.1 +0.2 15.8 22nd 3.1 +0.6 -0.5 25th 92.8 135.8 low 68%
Rutherglen Research 15.3 +1.3 21.6 22nd 2.6 -0.1 -2.2 2nd 29.0 60.0 low 48%
Strathbogie 12.3 +0.8 17.6 22nd 2.5 +0.2 -2.0 2nd 50.0 114.7 low 44%
Wangaratta Aero 15.1 +0.7 21.0 22nd 3.7 +0.8 -0.1 2nd 30.0 56.6 low 53%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Falls Creek 1.7 -0.2 5.9 17th -2.3 +0.4 -6.5 25th 112.0 99.4 average 113%
Mount Buller 1.6 -0.4 6.9 31st -2.0 +0.5 -5.8 25th 98.0 159.2 low 62%
Mount Hotham 0.6 +0.1 4.8 22nd -2.9 +0.7 -6.8 25th 101.0 120.3 average 84%
Omeo 12.5 +0.3 17.6 22nd 1.6 +0.3 -3.4 2nd 59.0 48.3 high 122%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 13.1 +0.4 20.0 11th 5.9 +0.8 2.9 25th 117.0 67.4 high 174%
Gabo Island Lighthouse 16.1 +1.4 22.8 11th 9.7 +1.2 7.7 2nd 165.2 71.9 v high 230%
Gelantipy 11.7 +0.6 17.4 11th 3.1 +0.3 -0.4 2nd 117.0 54.7 v high 214%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road) 16.3 +0.3 25.3 11th 7.4 +1.1 3.2 9th 94.0 58.8 high 160%
Mallacoota 16.2 +0.5 24.1 11th 7.6 +1.2 4.1 2nd 155.0 70.9 v high 219%
Mount Nowa Nowa 14.4 +0.1 21.5 22nd 6.8 +0.5 3.3 25th 117.2 63.5 high 185%
Orbost 16.4 +0.4 24.5 11th 6.8 +0.8 3.0 10th 152.0 63.9 highest 238%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 16.1 +0.4 24.0 11th 5.5 +1.0 1.5 2nd 65.6 36.7 highest 179%
Corner Inlet (Yanakie) 15.0   21.1 22nd 7.8   3.4 3rd 98.2
East Sale 15.7 +0.6 24.2 11th 4.9 +0.8 -0.7 2nd 65.8 45.7 high 144%
East Sale Airport 15.8   24.2 11th 5.0   -0.5 2nd 62.2
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) 15.6 +0.8 22.3 11th 5.1 +0.8 -0.1 2nd 70.4 66.3 average 106%
Mount Baw Baw 3.1 +0.3 8.2 11th -0.9 +0.7 -3.5 24th 197.2 175.5 average 112%
Mount Moornapa 13.9 +0.3 21.6 11th 6.2 +0.6 3.0 25th 79.8 53.2 high 150%
Nilma North (Warragul) 14.9   21.1 22nd 5.7   0.6 10th 79.0
Pound Creek 15.5 +1.0 21.1 22nd 7.4 +1.0 2.1 3rd 67.8 97.2 low 70%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 13.9 +1.1 20.8 22nd 9.9 +1.5 8.0 4th 174.0 123.2 high 141%
Yarram Airport     22.4 11th 6.1 +1.2 0.6 2nd 38.4 51.4 low 75%
East Central (district 86)
Cerberus 15.7 +1.1 20.9 22nd 7.6 +1.0 1.6 28th 46.0 75.4 low 61%
Coldstream 15.6 +0.9 21.0 22nd 5.1 +0.8 0.5 2nd 63.6 71.6 average 89%
Essendon Airport 15.9 +1.5 21.6 22nd 7.5 +1.8 1.8 28th 44.6 48.1 average 93%
Ferny Creek 11.6 +0.8 17.2 22nd 6.0 +0.8 3.3 24th 88.2 122.0 low 72%
Frankston (Ballam Park) 15.3   20.9 22nd 8.1   5.0 28th 67.4
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 16.4   22.2 22nd 8.5   4.6 27th 49.6
Melbourne Airport 15.8 +1.4 21.4 22nd 6.4 +0.5 1.7 27th 34.0 44.1 average 77%
Moorabbin Airport 16.2 +1.4 22.2 22nd 8.2 +1.3 2.0 28th 51.2 64.9 average 79%
Rhyll 15.3 +1.0 19.1 22nd 9.4 +1.0 7.3 2nd 49.4 79.2 low 62%
Scoresby Research Institute 15.7 +1.4 21.2 22nd 7.4 +1.1 2.2 28th 49.4 79.5 low 62%
Viewbank 16.1 +1.1 21.7 22nd 7.2 +1.0 2.1 27th 47.2 56.4 average 84%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 16.6 +1.2 22.2 31st 6.0 +0.5 1.6 8th 31.2 42.2 average 74%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse) 16.3 +1.2 21.9 31st 6.9 +0.4 2.8 19th 23.4 44.4 low 53%
Laverton RAAF 16.3 +1.4 21.9 22nd 7.0 +1.4 2.1 28th 57.4 44.4 high 129%
Sheoaks 14.2 +0.9 20.2 31st 6.1 +0.8 -0.2 26th 35.6 43.5 average 82%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 14.0 +0.8 21.5 31st     0.0 27th 26.6 65.3 low 41%
Eildon Fire Tower 11.2 +0.7 17.3 22nd 4.8 +0.6 2.5 2nd 48.6 74.9 low 65%
Lake Eildon 14.4 +0.8 20.4 22nd 5.4 +1.2 2.0 26th 59.8 98.8 low 61%
Mangalore Airport 15.1 +1.0 21.2 22nd 4.6 +0.8 -1.5 28th 28.6 60.0 low 48%
Maryborough 15.0 +1.1 22.5 31st 4.4 +0.5 0.2 28th 41.0 56.0 average 73%
Puckapunyal Lyon Hill (Defence) 14.8   21.1 22nd 6.1   1.5 28th 31.0
Puckapunyal West (Defence) 14.3   20.0 22nd 5.3   2.9 28th 40.0
Redesdale 14.9 +1.3 20.3 31st 3.3 +0.3 -0.3 28th 41.6 59.7 average 70%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 11.7 +1.2 17.2 22nd 4.9 +0.7 2.0 24th 51.4 62.2 average 83%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 14.0 +1.0 20.6 31st     -2.0 27th 27.0 67.7 v low 40%
Ballarat Aerodrome 12.4 +1.0 19.8 31st 3.7 +0.1 -1.4 27th 56.6 73.8 low 77%
Westmere 14.1 +0.9 18.8 31st 4.9 +0.6 -1.6 27th 52.6 58.3 average 90%
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 15.4 +1.0 21.1 31st 8.1 +0.7 5.0 28th 29.6 66.3 v low 45%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 14.9 +0.4 19.5 22nd 9.3 +0.7 6.7 8th 83.0 98.8 average 84%
Cape Otway Lighthouse 14.5 +0.7 19.6 31st 9.4 +1.6 6.9 8th 70.4 104.1 low 68%
Casterton 14.8 +0.6 19.2 31st 6.1 +0.8 0.6 27th 88.4 81.9 average 108%
Colac (Mount Gellibrand) 13.5 +0.9 18.2 31st 6.2 +0.7 2.9 24th 38.2 60.3 low 63%
Dartmoor 15.0 +0.6 18.9 22nd 6.6 +0.9 1.4 8th 76.6 100.9 average 76%
Hamilton Airport 14.0 +0.7 18.2 31st 5.5 +0.7 0.5 27th 64.4 77.4 average 83%
Mortlake Racecourse 15.1 +1.2 21.0 31st 5.7 +1.0 0.7 27th 54.0 66.1 average 82%
Port Fairy AWS 15.8 +0.8 20.7 31st 8.0 +0.7 3.3 27th 67.2 86.9 average 77%
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 14.6 +0.6 19.2 31st 7.6 +0.9 2.4 28th 106.8 106.9 average 100%
Warrnambool Airport NDB 15.1 +0.8 19.7 31st 6.5 +0.7 2.0 28th 76.6 93.3 average 82%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 10 am on Wednesday 1 September 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

Climate