Thursday, 6 January 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in December 2021: below average rainfall

Rainfall in December was below average for Victoria as a whole. Daytime temperatures were above average in a large area of north-west Victoria, while night-time temperatures were close to average across most of the state.

Below average rainfall

• State-wide rainfall was 34% below the December average of 48 mm.
• Below average rainfall was recorded across most of western and southern Victoria.
• Large parts of the Mallee, Wimmera, Western and Central districts recorded rainfall in the lowest 10% of December totals.
• Cape Otway Lighthouse and Warrnambool had their lowest December total rainfall since 1931, while Cape Nelson Lighthouse and Portland had their lowest December total rainfall since 1972.
• It was wetter than average only in East Gippsland and adjacent parts of the Northeast district.
• A slow moving low pressure trough brought thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rainfall to parts of central Victoria on the 1st and 2nd.
• A deep surface trough lying along the coast of New South Wales, extended into eastern Victoria, and brought showers and rain to central and eastern parts of the state, with a number of sites recording daily rainfall totals to 9am on the 10th of 50 mm or more.
• Combienbar had its highest December daily rainfall on record on the 10th.
• The highest daily rainfall total in Victoria this December of 83.2 mm was recorded at Mount Wellington also on the 10th.
• A cold front and a low pressure trough that crossed Victoria on the 19th brought thunderstorms, widespread rainfall and damaging winds to the state.
• The last ten days of the month were generally dry for most of Victoria.
• Mallacoota had its highest total December rainfall on record, while Gabo Island Lighthouse and Combienbar had their highest total December rainfall for at least two decades.

A warm start and end of the month

• Mean maximum temperatures were above average in most of the Mallee, Wimmera and Central districts.
• Statewide, the mean maximum temperature was 1.07 °C warmer than the December average.
• The month started with daytime temperatures in the mid- to high-30s across the state. Warm daytime temperatures were recorded also on the 18th, 30th and 31st; the highest temperature recorded for the month was 41.5 °C at Shepparton Airport on the 18th.
• Night-time temperatures were close to average across most of the state.
• The Victorian mean minimum temperature was 0.35 °C above the December average.

Thunderstorms, flash floods and hail

• Severe thunderstorm developed in Victoria on the 1st, with the most significant impacts in the Greater Melbourne area; heavy rainfall and flash flooding occurred in the Maribyrnong where a rainfall total of 37 mm was recorded in 30 minutes. Large hail was reported in western suburbs, in Geelong and on Bellarine Peninsula.
• A tornado was reported near Cranbourne on the 2nd.
• A moderate flood warning was issued for the Mitchell River on the 10th.
• Damaging winds affected most of Victoria on the 18th and 19th; the strongest wind gusts of 135 km/h were recorded at Mount Buller and Mount Hotham on the 19th.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top