Monday 2 February 2026 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in January 2026

Rainfall

  • Rainfall totals in January were below to very much below average for much of Victoria, and above average for an isolated pocket in the Otways and far eastern Gippsland districts.
  • Victoria's area-averaged rainfall total in January was 28.8 mm, 73% below the 1961–1990 average.
  • Lorne (Mount Cowley) and Benwerrin had their highest January daily rainfall on record on the 16th.
  • Gabo Island Lighthouse had its highest total January rainfall for at least 20 years.

Temperature

Events

  • Victoria experienced widespread low to severe intensity heatwave, with locally extreme conditions in early and late January. Walpeup Research and Hopetoun Airport in Victoria observed 48.9 °C on the 27th, setting the highest temperature record for the state.
  • On 15 January, a deepening low pressure system interacted with a moist east to south-easterly flow and brought severe storms with heavy rain to many locations in south-western Victoria. This caused in flash flooding along the Surf Coast, inundating roads and campsites and washing some cars out to sea.
  • For more details, visit the January national climate summary.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in January 2026
Hottest day 48.9 °C at Walpeup Research on the 27th
48.9 °C at Hopetoun Airport on the 27th
Warmest days on average 37.5 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average 19.3 °C at Mount Hotham
Coldest day 8.2 °C at Mount Hotham on the 16th
8.2 °C at Mount Baw Baw on the 16th
Coldest night -0.4 °C at Mount Hotham on the 22nd
Coolest nights on average
Warmest nights on average 19.3 °C at Mildura Airport
Warmest night 29.4 °C at Walpeup Research on the 9th
Warmest on average overall 28.4 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest on average overall 14.7 °C at Mount Baw Baw
Wettest overall 194.6 mm at Lorne (Mount Cowley)
Wettest day 186.2 mm at Lorne (Mount Cowley) on the 16th
Strongest wind gust 113.0 km/h at Colac (Mount Gellibrand) on the 9th

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Record highest January daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Lorne (Mount Cowley) 186.2 on the 16th 119.0 on 04 Jan 2021 25 59.6
Benwerrin 101.6 on the 16th 86.0 on 04 Jan 2021 24 59.6


Highest January total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)		 Most recent
higher		 Average for
January
Gabo Island Lighthouse 130.4 376.8 in 1999 70.4

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent higher values have gone unreported



Record highest January temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Laverton RAAF 45.6 on the 27th 45.0 on 25 Jan 2003 83 25.8
Mildura Airport 48.6 on the 27th 46.9 on 03 Jan 1990 80 32.6
Ouyen (Post Office) 47.5 on the 8th 46.7 on 04 Jan 2019 69 32.5
Ballarat Aerodrome 42.2 on the 27th 42.0 on 25 Jan 2003 69 25.3
Walpeup Research 48.9 on the 27th 46.6 on 04 Jan 2019 62 32.1
Longerenong 48.1 on the 27th 46.4 on 31 Jan 1968 62 30.2
Ararat Prison 44.0 on the 27th 43.1 on 14 Jan 2014 57 27.3
Hamilton Airport 45.0 on the 27th 44.0 on 29 Jan 2009 43 26.8
Falls Creek 30.5 on the 28th 29.7 on 16 Jan 2014 36 17.9
She Oaks 43.7 on the 27th =43.7 on 30 Jan 2009 36 26.1
Mortlake Racecourse 46.3 on the 27th 44.9 on 29 Jan 2009 36 26.4
Yarrawonga 46.0 on the 28th =46.0 on 31 Jan 2020 33 32.8
Hunters Hill 39.3 on the 28th 38.8 on 04 Jan 2020 33 26.1
Swan Hill Aerodrome 47.7 on the 27th 47.5 on 25 Jan 2019 30 33.3
Stawell Aerodrome 45.3 on the 27th 44.0 on 14 Jan 2014 30 29.3
Horsham Aerodrome 47.8 on the 27th 46.0 on 25 Jan 2003 29 31.2
Warrnambool Airport NDB 45.0 on the 27th 44.3 on 24 Jan 2019 28 24.7
Colac (Mount Gellibrand) 44.8 on the 27th =44.8 on 29 Jan 2009 26 26.1
Nhill Aerodrome 47.0 on the 27th 45.3 on 14 Jan 2014 23 31.4
Hopetoun Airport 48.9 on the 27th 46.0 on 04 Jan 2019 22 33.2
Charlton 47.4 on the 27th 46.5 on 14 Jan 2014 22 32.6
Omeo 40.5 on the 27th 40.4 on 30 Jan 2009 22 27.2
Edenhope Airport 45.5 on the 27th 45.0 on 14 Jan 2014 21 29.7
Casterton 44.7 on the 27th 44.5 on 29 Jan 2009 21 28.1
Grampians (Mount William) 37.2 on the 27th 36.6 on 30 Jan 2009 20 21.2
Westmere 45.8 on the 27th 44.3 on 30 Jan 2009 20 28.4


Record highest January mean maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Eildon Fire Tower 31.1 =31.1 in 2019 30 27.4


Record highest January daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
January
Mount Buller 21.1 on the 28th 20.2 on 12 Jan 2010 39 9.1
Falls Creek 20.2 on the 28th 20.1 on 31 Jan 2009 36 8.9
Mount Hotham 19.8 on the 28th 18.9 on 24 Jan 2001 36 8.2
Hunters Hill 25.3 on the 28th 25.2 on 26 Jan 2019 33 14.5


Lowest January mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
January
Mallacoota 19.6 19.5 in 2005 20.1

note: there may be gaps in the historical record at some sites, so it is possible more recent lower values have gone unreported



Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for January 2026
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
January
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
January
2026		 Mean for
January
2026		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
January
2026		 Total for
January
2026		 Average
for
January		 Rank of
January
2026		 Fraction of
January
average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 37.5 +4.9 48.6 27th 19.3 +2.4 11.7 1st 0.0 23.0 lowest 0%
Ouyen (Post Office) 38.0 +5.5 47.5 8th 17.0 +1.4 8.5 1st 0.0 21.7 lowest 0%
Walpeup Research 37.4 +5.3 48.9 27th 17.4 +1.9 8.5 22nd 0.0 22.7 lowest 0%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 36.1 +2.9 48.9 27th 16.8 +1.3 9.7 22nd 0.0 27.9 lowest 0%
Swan Hill Aerodrome 36.9 +3.6 47.7 27th 17.6 +1.3 9.1 23rd 13.4 24.9 average 54%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Kellalac (Warracknabeal Airport) 34.9 47.7 27th 15.0 7.8 22nd 3.0
Nhill Aerodrome 34.0 +2.6 47.0 27th 14.9 +0.9 6.1 1st 1.4 28.2 low 5%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 31.8 +2.1 45.5 27th 14.4 +1.2 4.5 1st 0.0 29.6 lowest 0%
Grampians (Mount William) 22.6 +1.4 37.2 27th 11.1 +0.9 2.6 1st 17.4 66.1 low 26%
Horsham Aerodrome 33.9 +2.7 47.8 27th 13.9 +1.1 5.6 1st 3.2 30.6 low 10%
Longerenong 34.2 +4.0 48.1 27th 14.3 +1.3 5.4 1st 2.6 24.7 low 10%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) 27.1 +1.9 41.0 27th 13.9 +1.4 5.5 22nd 4.4 43.0 low 10%
Stawell Aerodrome 31.2 +1.9 45.3 27th 14.3 +0.6 8.5 1st 9.0 36.8 low 24%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 35.6 +3.0 47.4 27th 16.7 +1.1 9.2 11th 11.2 30.9 low 36%
Echuca Aerodrome 35.6 +4.5 44.6 8th 17.2 +2.0 10.3 23rd 0.0 28.4 lowest 0%
Kerang 35.6 +3.8 46.0 27th 17.0 +1.7 9.0 23rd 1.6 24.6 low 6%
Kerang Airport 36.9 47.0 27th 16.0 7.3 23rd 1.4
Kyabram 35.6 +5.0 45.6 8th 16.6 +1.9 10.3 23rd 0.0 36.4 lowest 0%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 33.9 +3.6 43.7 8th 16.2 +1.8 8.6 11th 3.0 38.7 v low 8%
Shepparton Airport 35.0 +3.0 45.3 8th 16.8 +1.3 10.3 23rd 0.6 34.0 lowest 2%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 33.5 +3.6 43.8 8th 16.2 +1.8 10.1 23rd 17.4 34.7 average 50%
Yarrawonga 36.5 +3.7 46.0 28th 17.3 +1.2 11.1 23rd 0.2 36.4 v low 0%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport 35.6 +3.4 43.9 25th 16.7 +0.8 9.4 6th 1.0 51.7 lowest 2%
Corryong Airport 34.0 +1.8 43.6 28th 12.6 -1.6 5.0 18th 6.0 65.4 lowest 9%
Dartmouth Reservoir 31.5 +2.0 41.0 28th 15.0 +1.0 9.0 22nd 27.4 65.7 low 42%
Hunters Hill 31.1 +5.0 39.3 28th 16.7 +2.2 9.4 23rd 10.4 79.4 v low 13%
Rutherglen Research 36.0 +4.5 45.6 28th 14.9 +1.1 8.1 23rd 21.4 38.9 average 55%
Strathbogie 32.1 +4.6 40.4 8th 12.3 +0.5 4.9 23rd 2.4 50.0 v low 5%
Wangaratta Aero 35.8 +3.7 45.2 28th 15.2 +0.8 9.2 23rd 8.2 46.5 low 18%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Edi Upper 33.6 +3.2 42.4 28th 15.3 +1.3 8.5 23rd 2.4 67.3 lowest 4%
Falls Creek 20.0 +2.1 30.5 28th 9.6 +0.7 0.4 22nd 46.2 117.2 low 39%
Mount Buller 20.5 +2.9 29.0 28th 10.8 +1.7 0.3 22nd 13.8 82.4 low 17%
Mount Hotham 18.9 +2.2 26.3 8th 9.6 +1.4 -0.4 22nd 32.4 106.3 v low 30%
Omeo 30.0 +2.8 40.5 27th 11.1 -0.4 2.3 23rd 14.6 64.2 lowest 23%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 26.9 +1.5 39.1 8th 13.6 -0.2 7.2 23rd 117.6 71.8 high 164%
Gabo Island Lighthouse 22.2 +0.8 32.1 8th 16.5 +0.6 12.8 12th 130.4 70.0 high 186%
Gelantipy 25.5 +1.5 37.0 27th 12.0 +0.1 3.3 23rd 34.0 65.8 low 52%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road) 23.6 -0.7 38.0 8th 14.2 -1.0 10.5 17th 36.4 48.1 average 76%
Mallacoota 23.8 -0.5 35.4 9th 15.4 -0.5 9.0 12th 93.4 66.0 high 142%
Mount Nowa Nowa 25.2 +0.3 41.6 8th 14.1 -0.3 9.5 22nd 57.2 62.8 average 91%
Orbost 26.0 -0.2 39.6 8th 14.1 -0.8 6.2 23rd 40.8 52.3 average 78%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 26.2 +0.3 41.2 7th 13.5 +0.3 5.9 23rd 43.4 50.8 average 85%
East Sale 25.9 +0.3 40.5 9th 14.2 +1.2 6.9 12th 43.0 45.5 average 94%
East Sale Airport 26.2 41.2 9th 14.0 7.1 12th 37.6
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) 27.9 +1.2 40.1 7th 13.7 +0.7 4.7 23rd 8.6 50.7 v low 17%
Mount Baw Baw 19.4 +1.8 30.8 27th 10.1 +1.3 1.3 22nd 66.2 97.6 average 68%
Mount Moornapa 26.0 +0.5 39.3 8th 13.4 0.0 9.0 12th 53.6 80.4 average 67%
Nilma North (Warragul) 27.8 +0.9 40.9 9th 13.8 -0.2 6.1 23rd 10.6 51.4 low 21%
Pound Creek 26.1 +0.8 41.8 9th 12.5 -0.6 3.7 2nd 6.6 41.8 low 16%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 20.5 +0.1 30.8 24th 16.0 +1.8 13.5 1st 15.8 51.6 low 31%
Yarram Airport 25.0 -0.7 41.2 9th 12.9 -0.2 3.9 23rd 52.4 47.5 average 110%
East Central (district 86)
Cerberus 26.4 +1.7 42.3 9th 14.7 +0.6 7.5 23rd 3.2 40.9 v low 8%
Coldstream 30.3 +2.2 42.7 27th 12.1 0.0 3.3 23rd 1.8 54.3 lowest 3%
Essendon Airport 28.6 +1.9 44.1 9th 15.6 +1.7 9.9 23rd 2.4 44.6 v low 5%
Ferny Creek 26.2 +1.9 38.7 27th 13.3 +0.1 6.7 12th 6.4 91.3 lowest 7%
Frankston (Ballam Park) 27.7 42.6 27th 14.8 9.8 23rd 3.6
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 27.5 +0.7 42.9 9th 16.2 -0.4 11.0 23rd 1.6 57.6 lowest 3%
Melbourne Airport 29.1 +2.4 44.4 9th 14.7 +0.8 8.6 23rd 1.0 43.2 lowest 2%
Moorabbin Airport 27.9 +1.9 44.0 9th 15.2 +0.8 8.4 23rd 4.0 46.2 v low 9%
Rhyll 25.8 +1.6 35.9 9th 16.0 +0.3 13.0 2nd 2.6 39.5 lowest 7%
Scoresby Research Institute 29.3 +2.8 42.4 9th 13.6 +0.1 7.7 12th 4.6 54.1 v low 8%
Viewbank 30.1 +1.9 44.3 9th 15.0 +0.3 9.3 23rd 1.4 48.2 v low 3%
Wonthaggi 27.9 +3.7 41.0 11th 13.8 +0.5 7.5 23rd 4.4 48.4 v low 9%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 27.4 +0.8 44.2 9th 14.8 +0.5 9.4 23rd 0.2 35.1 v low 1%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse) 26.4 +0.4 43.7 9th 15.0 +0.2 8.6 23rd 0.0 42.2 lowest 0%
Laverton RAAF 28.2 +2.4 45.6 27th 15.6 +1.6 9.9 23rd 2.6 41.3 v low 6%
Point Cook RAAF 26.8 45.3 27th 15.8 11.8 6th 1.4
She Oaks 27.5 +1.4 43.7 27th 12.8 +0.3 5.5 23rd 3.6 39.0 v low 9%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 31.5 +3.1 42.0 27th 14.6 +1.4 7.0 11th 0.6 42.2 v low 1%
Eildon Fire Tower 31.1 +3.7 39.5 27th 14.7 +1.0 8.3 23rd 5.4 46.2 v low 12%
Lake Eildon 32.6 +3.4 41.0 27th 14.6 +1.7 6.9 23rd 14.8 48.8 low 30%
Mangalore Airport 33.7 +3.8 44.1 9th 15.8 +1.5 10.1 23rd 0.0 43.3 lowest 0%
Maryborough 32.5 +3.6 44.4 27th 14.7 +1.7 7.7 23rd 5.6 32.0 low 18%
Puckapunyal Lyon Hill (Defence) 32.6 43.3 9th 16.2 10.2 23rd 5.8
Puckapunyal West (Defence) 31.4 42.5 9th 15.5 9.7 12th 23.6
Redesdale 33.9 +4.0 43.6 9th 14.4 +1.1 7.3 23rd 1.4 35.3 v low 4%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 27.4 +2.1 40.3 9th 12.9 +0.4 7.2 12th 4.8 54.6 v low 9%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 30.5 +3.2 44.0 27th 12.5 +1.1 5.8 23rd 2.0 40.8 v low 5%
Ballarat Aerodrome 28.6 +3.3 42.2 27th 13.0 +2.0 7.4 22nd 2.0 40.1 v low 5%
Westmere 29.2 +0.8 45.8 27th 11.2 -0.3 1.9 23rd 0.0 43.4 lowest 0%
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 23.8 +0.6 41.3 9th 14.6 +0.4 11.5 6th 28.2 41.9 average 67%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 21.1 -0.3 39.3 24th 14.9 +0.1 11.4 6th 13.8 30.6 low 45%
Cape Otway Lighthouse 21.1 -0.3 32.7 24th 14.7 +1.3 10.6 6th 23.4 44.2 low 53%
Casterton 28.4 +0.3 44.7 27th 13.0 +0.7 5.7 1st 0.0 30.3 lowest 0%
Colac (Mount Gellibrand) 27.7 +1.6 44.8 27th 12.7 -0.1 7.8 1st 3.0 33.7 v low 9%
Dartmoor 27.4 +0.4 45.0 27th 13.3 +0.7 6.3 23rd 2.0 33.0 v low 6%
Hamilton Airport 28.9 +2.1 45.0 27th 12.4 +1.1 4.7 1st 3.0 33.6 v low 9%
Mortlake Racecourse 28.6 +2.2 46.3 27th 11.4 +0.2 2.8 1st 0.2 36.2 lowest 1%
Port Fairy AWS 23.3 +0.6 41.7 24th 14.7 +0.5 9.8 23rd 0.6 31.2 lowest 2%
Portland Airport 22.6 +0.3 39.3 24th 13.5 +1.0 5.7 5th 20.0 35.2 average 57%
Warrnambool Airport NDB 25.4 +0.7 45.0 27th 12.5 +0.5 4.1 23rd 0.4 37.8 lowest 1%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following 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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available on Monday 2 February 2026. 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, excluding the current year. The length of record can vary widely from site to site. Averages are not shown for sites with fewer 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Creative Commons By Attribution logo Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

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