Greater Melbourne in January 2022: much warmer than average

Rainfall in January 2022 was near-average to above average at most sites in Greater Melbourne. Both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were much above average across Greater Melbourne; most reporting sites had their record highest January mean daily minimum temperature.

Above average rainfall

  • Rainfall in January 2022 was near-average to above average at most sites in Greater Melbourne.
  • January rainfall totals ranged from 41% of average at Moorabbin Airport to 242% of average at Laverton RAAF.
  • Most of rain fell on the 6th and 7th and between the 27th and 29th, when thunderstorms associated with low pressure troughs produced locally heavy falls.
  • Coldstream had its highest January daily rainfall on record on the 27th.
  • The highest daily rainfall total in Greater Melbourne was 57.2 mm recorded at Oakleigh in the 24 hours to 9am on the 29th.
  • Toorourrong, Woodend and Yan Yean had their highest total January rainfall since at least 1988.
  • Melbourne (Olympic Park) recorded January rainfall total of 79.6 mm, which was 32.8 mm above the long-term average for the city.

Much warmer than average

  • Both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were much above average across Greater Melbourne.
  • Nights were very warm, with mean minimum temperatures between 2.5 °C and 3.7 °C above the January average throughout Greater Melbourne.
  • All reporting sites had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record.
  • Highest daily minimum temperature during the month, 23.6 °C, was recorded at Ferny Creek on the 1st.
  • A number of sites across Greater Melbourne reported their January record for a total count of nights of at least 15.0 °C, for example Essendon Airport (28), Rhyll (28), Laverton RAAF (27), Moorabbin Airport (27), Scoresby (25), Melbourne Airport (25) and Cerberus (22).
  • Melbourne (Olympic Park) had nine nights with minimum temperatures of 20 °C or more, equalling the city's record from January 2012.
  • Mean maximum temperatures ranged from 1.9 °C warmer than average at Ferny Creek to 3.7 °C warmer than average at Scoresby.
  • The hottest day at all reporting sites was the 1st, with Viewbank recording Greater Melbourne's hottest temperature for the month, 39.0 °C.
  • Cerberus and Viewbank had their highest January mean daily maximum temperature on record, while Moorabbin Airport had its highest January mean daily maximum temperature since 1981.
  • Melbourne (Olympic Park) recorded 17 days with daily maximum temperature of 30.0 °C or above, equalling the record for the city set in 1974.

Melbourne (Olympic Park)

  • Total rainfall for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 79.6 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 29.1 °C.
  • The warmest day was 37.1 °C on the 1st, and the coolest day was on the 8th when the temperature reached 19.7 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 18.3 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 12.9 °C on the 20th, and the warmest morning was on the 28th when the minimum temperature was 21.7 °C.

Thunderstorms. flash floods and hail

  • Severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds affected Greater Melbourne on the 7th; thousands of households were left without power and there were reports of flash flooding in Melbourne's outer western suburbs.
  • On the 27th, thunderstorms brought strong winds, heavy rainfall and flash flooding to the north-east suburbs of Greater Melbourne.
  • Thunderstorms affected Greater Melbourne again, later in the day on the 28th; there were reports of flash flooding in many suburbs including Mulgrave, Keysborough, Bentleigh, McKinnon, Elwood, Carnegie and Werribee, and there were many road closures due to flooding.
  • The precipitable water (a measure of the amount of water in the atmosphere) value at Melbourne Airport on the 28th was 51.0 mm, which was more than double the January mean of 21.3 mm.
  • Large hail was reported in Mt Waverley on the 28th.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in January 2022
Hottest day 39.0 °C at Viewbank on the 1st
Warmest days on average 31.5 °C at Viewbank
Coolest days on average 26.2 °C at Ferny Creek
Coldest day 16.1 °C at Ferny Creek on the 8th
Coldest night 8.0 °C at Coldstream on the 20th
Coolest nights on average 14.9 °C at Coldstream
Warmest nights on average 18.3 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
Warmest night 23.6 °C at Ferny Creek on the 1st
Warmest on average overall 24.3 °C at Viewbank
Coolest on average overall 20.9 °C at Ferny Creek
Wettest overall 140.8 mm at Woodend
Wettest day 57.2 mm at Oakleigh (Metropolitan Golf Club) on the 29th
Strongest wind gust 85 km/h at South Channel Island on the 12th

Record highest January daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Coldstream 47.2 on the 27th 45.0 on the 30th in 2021 28



Highest January total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Toorourrong Reservoir (Toorourrong) 124.4 131.5 in 1963 54.7
Woodend 140.8 172.3 in 1970* 43.9
Yan Yean 102.0 103.8 in 1988 45.0

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




Record highest January mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Cerberus 27.0 26.8 in 2001 30 24.6
Viewbank 31.5 31.4 in 2019 22 28.0

Highest January mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Moorabbin Airport 29.4 29.5 in 1981 25.9



Record highest January mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Laverton RAAF 17.3 16.8 in 1981 78 13.9
Scoresby Research Institute 17.1 16.2 in 1981 63 13.4
Essendon Airport 17.4 16.5 in 2019 52 13.7
Melbourne Airport 16.4 16.1 in 2001 51 13.8
Moorabbin Airport 17.8 16.6 in 1981 50 14.3
Cerberus 16.5 15.6 in 2001 30 13.9
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 15.2 14.4 in 2001 28 12.4
Coldstream 14.9 13.9 in 2011 27 12.0
Viewbank 17.1 16.1 in 2019 22 14.6



Record highest January mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
January
Scoresby Research Institute 23.6 = 23.6 in 2019 63 19.9
Essendon Airport 23.7 23.4 in 2019 52 20.2
Melbourne Airport 23.3 23.0 in 2019 51 20.2
Moorabbin Airport 23.6 23.1 in 1981 50 20.1
Cerberus 21.7 21.2 in 2001 30 19.2
Coldstream 22.7 = 22.7 in 2019 27 20.0
Viewbank 24.3 23.8 in 2019 22 21.3

Highest January mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
January
Laverton RAAF 22.6 23.1 in 1981 19.8



Summary statistics for January 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest for
January
2022
Mean for
January
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
January
2022
Total for
January
2022
Average
for
January
Rank of
January
2022
Fraction of
January
average
Cerberus 27.0 +2.4 37.4 1st 16.5 +2.6 11.3 16th 77.8 41.2 high 189%
Coldstream 30.5 +2.5 37.2 1st 14.9 +2.9 8.0 20th 97.6 50.7 v high 193%
Essendon Airport 30.1 +3.5 38.0 1st 17.4 +3.7 13.0 20th 43.8 43.7 average 100%
Ferny Creek 26.2 +1.9 33.9 1st 15.7 +2.7 10.9 9th 89.4 82.3 average 109%
Frankston (Ballam Park) 28.4   35.7 1st 17.1   13.3 10th 69.6
Laverton RAAF 28.0 +2.2 38.5 1st 17.3 +3.4 12.6 10th 100.0 41.4 v high 242%
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 29.1   37.1 1st 18.3   12.9 20th 79.6
Melbourne Airport 30.0 +3.4 38.4 1st 16.4 +2.6 11.0 20th 59.6 42.8 high 139%
Moorabbin Airport 29.4 +3.5 36.7 1st 17.8 +3.5 13.4 19th 18.6 44.9 low 41%
Scoresby Research Institute 30.1 +3.7 37.1 1st 17.1 +3.7 12.4 20th 54.0 53.8 average 100%
Viewbank 31.5 +3.5 39.0 1st 17.1 +2.5 11.1 20th 41.8 45.5 average 92%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 28.1 +2.9 34.8 1st 15.2 +2.8 10.3 19th 87.6 51.2 high 171%

Daily maximum temperatures for January 2022
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Cerberus37.429.220.123.323.429.824.520.120.424.026.426.930.629.422.226.422.720.825.127.228.531.231.630.628.833.430.829.922.128.130.6
Coldstream37.234.125.427.529.030.527.420.827.633.729.830.234.331.226.333.625.223.327.730.231.533.534.635.735.736.731.333.523.131.234.8
Essendon Airport38.031.922.322.530.330.926.421.023.332.230.831.035.633.825.531.125.222.828.430.931.933.734.634.634.137.732.834.021.929.135.1
Ferny Creek33.929.519.723.124.627.823.416.122.328.825.825.629.428.221.129.221.418.721.424.927.428.830.531.631.633.027.630.418.627.329.9
Frankston (Ballam Park)35.731.920.624.525.230.525.121.222.628.528.127.130.830.824.329.424.021.325.027.429.531.833.033.733.135.131.731.623.029.233.4
Laverton RAAF38.529.921.122.428.429.325.320.621.326.526.427.631.033.023.427.823.021.225.227.729.032.232.732.431.534.333.730.122.627.531.1
Melbourne (Olympic Park)37.130.920.323.129.330.225.819.721.931.429.730.434.632.824.231.924.221.326.730.429.632.332.633.731.436.032.832.821.829.234.0
Melbourne Airport38.432.621.822.930.130.627.020.823.331.629.330.535.233.425.331.525.022.827.729.831.733.334.135.134.437.333.334.521.628.735.2
Moorabbin Airport36.730.521.725.028.631.925.520.522.931.130.829.833.733.823.331.624.322.726.129.631.933.432.432.932.036.534.432.722.530.233.0
Scoresby Research Institute37.132.624.026.929.130.926.721.425.132.630.130.233.831.325.632.926.023.025.929.431.633.634.735.435.036.931.433.322.530.333.0
Viewbank39.033.824.024.530.132.428.322.625.934.932.532.836.233.426.235.026.524.629.131.633.135.336.137.237.538.132.534.922.130.735.3
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)34.832.420.820.727.227.727.717.925.531.928.929.431.229.824.532.923.420.527.428.229.631.431.532.733.333.428.132.018.226.131.6
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 2022
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Cerberus17.419.213.615.617.719.318.816.114.913.217.417.718.718.817.811.317.016.115.015.814.012.712.814.515.214.921.420.017.018.418.3
Coldstream13.716.615.914.916.214.715.815.912.711.015.915.215.817.518.511.917.414.78.48.010.710.812.114.816.215.519.119.217.117.417.0
Essendon Airport19.720.115.615.616.716.819.116.715.613.918.616.416.219.118.316.717.516.614.913.016.715.616.819.119.418.219.821.017.017.919.9
Ferny Creek23.620.111.811.913.715.517.914.410.912.014.914.416.919.514.712.414.111.211.011.215.418.219.320.721.118.217.417.614.214.516.6
Frankston (Ballam Park)19.121.313.915.117.618.819.416.715.013.316.917.517.918.217.714.218.115.613.815.414.014.815.617.118.618.120.920.617.318.418.1
Laverton RAAF20.320.316.115.117.816.618.716.715.912.618.518.515.918.418.314.717.816.616.414.314.315.215.817.818.316.920.922.117.519.119.9
Melbourne (Olympic Park)20.520.916.816.218.518.320.117.116.115.518.518.617.620.818.818.318.417.115.412.917.117.718.120.220.119.621.221.717.518.720.1
Melbourne Airport18.219.915.314.515.815.417.616.412.416.614.815.317.617.615.717.216.213.711.015.115.515.817.517.316.619.621.116.917.519.2
Moorabbin Airport20.321.315.615.518.619.719.617.415.414.618.818.318.018.418.917.518.716.713.414.913.816.215.817.618.418.721.521.317.418.919.1
Scoresby Research Institute18.820.516.017.918.217.816.915.012.817.818.015.519.518.116.817.514.613.512.414.217.015.718.318.018.420.220.316.617.618.3
Viewbank17.720.216.415.118.116.718.016.915.314.218.215.916.219.218.517.318.416.213.311.114.314.716.718.719.518.719.919.916.818.020.0
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)20.620.011.811.312.515.316.014.411.211.614.913.515.518.115.313.114.512.110.310.413.916.118.119.120.419.317.818.714.214.316.2
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 2022
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Bonbeach (Carrum (Patterson River Countr - - - - - 6.0 16.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14.0 37.5
Bullengarook East - - 5.0 6.2 2.0 - - - - 9.0 17.0 - - - - - - - - - 2.8 - 34.2 11.4 51.4

Burnside - - - - - - 20.0 15.0 - - - - - 3.0 0.8 - - - - - - - - - - - 3.0 8.0 35.0 - -
Cape Schanck - - - - - - - 14.0 - - - - - 2.0 2.2 - - - - - - - - - - - 1.8 18.0 21.8

Cerberus - - - - 0.2 1.8 0.2 28.4 0.2 - - - - - 6.8 - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 28.0 10.8 - -
Cheltenham Kingston Centre - - - - - - - 7.0 - - - - - - 0.8 - - - - - - - - - - - 5.0 5.0 43.0 - 0.1
Coldstream - - - - - - - 27.6 - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 47.2 11.6 10.0 0.2 -
Eltham - - - - - - - 2.2 - - - - - - 1.2 - - - - - - - - - - - 11.8 4.2


Essendon Airport - - - - - - 0.8 10.6 0.8 - - - - - 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - 7.4 3.2 20.6 - -
Ferny Creek - - - 0.2 0.2 - 0.6 26.2 1.6 0.4
- - - 13.8 0.2 0.8

- - - - - - -

45.0 0.2 0.2
Frankston (Ballam Park) - - - - 1.0 1.2 3.2 28.8 - - - - - - 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - 3.8 11.2 19.8 - -
Greenvale Reservoir - - - - - - - 3.6 1.2 - - - - - 1.6 0.2 - - - - - - -

- 27.0 10.4 18.4 0.2 -
Kinglake West - - - 0.6 - - 0.4 29.8 0.8 - 0.6 - - - 4.2 - - - - - - - - - - - 40.8 7.6 16.8 0.4
Kinglake West (Wallaby Creek) - - - 0.4 0.4 - 0.4 27.8 2.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 - - 9.0 - - - - - - - -

- 27.6 27.8 17.6 0.8 -
Koo Wee Rup








25.6 - -


















Lancefield - - - - - - -























Laverton RAAF - - - - - 0.2 11.8 49.2 0.2 - - - - 2.2 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 2.4 32.4 0.2 -
Macedon Forestry - - - - 3.0 -
46.0




















Melbourne (Olympic Park) - - - - - - 1.4 24.8 - 0.2 - - - - 6.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 7.0 1.6 38.6 - -
Melbourne Airport - - - - - - - 19.6 0.2 - - - - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - 12.6 4.2 22.8 - -
Melbourne Botanical Gardens - - - - - - 1.5 21.7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7.4 1.4 40.0 0.3 -
Mitcham - - - - - - - 18.0 - - - - - - 1.8 - - - - - - - -

- 6.0 3.4 13.8 - -
Monbulk (Spring Road) - - - - - - - 18.4 - - - - - 0.8 - - - - - - - - - - - - 8.4 - 37.6

Moorabbin Airport - - - - - 0.6 0.8 7.2 - - - - - - 1.4 - - - - - - - - - - - 5.2 3.4 - - -
Mornington - - - - - - 17.0 - - 28.0 2.0 - - - - - 6.5 - - - - - - - -





Mount Waverley (Riversdale Golf Club) - - - - - - 2.6 22.0 - - - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - - - - - 2.0



Newham (Cobaw) - - - - - - 4.0 - - - 0.4 - - 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - 24.6 25.2 20.4 - 0.4
Oakleigh (Metropolitan Golf Club) - 2.0 - - - - 12.0 - - - - - - 0.8 - - - - - - - - - - - - 7.4 - 57.2

Preston Reservoir - - - - - - 1.8 6.2 0.4 - - - - 0.4 0.6 - - - - - - - -

- 10.2 4.6 20.2 - -
Romsey - - 0.4 0.6


























Rosebud (Country Club) - - - - 2.0 - 2.2 20.0 - - - - - 1.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - 18.6 - 23.0

Scoresby Research Institute - - - - 0.2 - - 17.4 1.2 - - - - - 8.6 - - - - - - - - - - - 6.2 1.6 18.8 - -
Springvale (Sandown) - - - - - 2.0 13.8 0.2 - - - - - 6.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - 10.8 48.6 1.0

Springvale Necropolis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6.0 - - - - - - - - - - 10.0 55.0
Toorourrong Reservoir (Toorourrong) - - - 0.2 - - - 38.0 0.4 - 0.2 - - - 0.8 - - - - - - - -

- 44.4 16.4 24.0 - -
Upper Plenty - - 0.2 0.2 - - - 1.4 1.8 - 0.4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48.4 5.4 23.2 0.6 -
Viewbank - - - - - 0.4 1.8 2.8 0.6 - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - - - - - - - 12.0 3.4 18.8 - -
Wallan - - - - - - - 3.0 0.6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47.0 15.8 18.4

Wallan (Kilmore Gap) - - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 3.2 2.0 - - 0.2 - - 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - 44.4 8.2 28.0 0.8 -
Warburton (O'Shannassy Reservoir (Quarte

- - - -









- - - -
- -

-


- -
Willowmavin (Avalon Station) - - - - - - 4.8 0.4 - - 2.2 - - 2.4 - 0.2 - - - - - - - - 3.8 - 19.6 6.0 21.6 - 8.2
Woodend - 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.8 - 16.6 11.8 1.0 - 0.2 - - 4.4 0.8 - - - - - - - - - - - 40.4 13.6 49.0 0.8 0.2
Yan Yean - - - - 0.2 - - 3.6 0.4 - - - - - 3.2 - - - - - - - -

- 44.6 34.2 15.6 0.2 -
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 third 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 11 am on Tuesday 1 February 2022. 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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