Thursday, 1 March 2007 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in Summer 2006−07
Hot and dry

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Rainfall

The summer season rainfall for 2006/07 depicts a season of contrasts with respect to rainfall throughout Victoria. The season was generally dry apart from a 3 day widespread rainfall event in mid January that supplied over half the summer rainfall totals.

The Mallee, Upper North and West Coast Districts recorded average rainfall.  The Lower/Upper Northeast, West Gippsland and Central Districts recorded below average figures.  The wettest overall was 358.6 mm at Weeaproinah.  The driest overall was 29.4 mm at Echuca Aerodrome.  The wettest single day 114.0 mm at Casterton Showgrounds on 20 Jan 2007.

Some sites had their highest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years.

Some sites had their lowest total summer rainfall on record.

Some sites had their lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years.

Maximum temperature

Maximum temperatures were well above average across the whole State, with temperatures throughout Central Victoria 2 to 3 degrees above average.  The hottest day was 42.9°C at Kerang on 10 Dec 2006, followed by 42.9°C at Viewbank (Arpansa) on 10 Dec 2006.

The State’s lowest maximum temperature for the season was at Mt. Buller recording −0.8 degrees Celsius on the 25th December 2006. Mt. Baw Baw also recorded −0.4 degrees Celsius and Lookout Hill recorded 6.0 degrees Celsius on this day, making it a White Christmas for some.

Some sites had their coldest summer day (lowest maximum temperature) on record.

Some sites had their highest summer mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Some sites had their highest summer mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years.

Minimum temperature

Minimum temperatures were well above average across the whole State, with temperatures throughout Central and Western Victoria 1 to 2 degrees above average.  The coldest night was −5.0°C at Mt Hotham on 26 Dec 2006, and the warmest night was 29.1°C at Charlton on 17 Jan 2007.

Some sites had their lowest summer temperature on record.

Some sites had their warmest summer night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Some sites had their highest summer mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Melbourne Summary

The average maximum temperature for Summer was 27.4 deg C (25.3 deg C). The average minimum temperature for Summer was 16.3 deg C (14.8 deg C).

The total Summer rainfall of 64.6 mm was also well below the average of 152.8 mm.

Further information

Mr Neal Moodie
Climatologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

Extremes

Hottest day
Highest temperature		 42.9°C at Kerang on 10 Dec 2006
42.9°C at Viewbank (Arpansa) on 10 Dec 2006
Warmest days on average
Highest mean daily maximum temperature		 32.7°C at Corryong Airport
32.7°C at Mildura Airport
32.7°C at Yarrawonga
Coolest days on average
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature		 16.6°C at Mt Baw Baw
Coldest day
Lowest daily maximum temperature		 −0.8°C at Mount Buller on 25 Dec 2006
Coldest night
Lowest temperature		 −5.0°C at Mt Hotham on 26 Dec 2006
Coolest nights on average
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature		 7.5°C at Mt Hotham
Warmest nights on average
Highest mean daily minimum temperature		 17.1°C at Mildura Airport
Warmest night
Highest daily minimum temperature		 29.1°C at Charlton on 17 Jan 2007
Wettest overall
Highest total rainfall		 358.6 mm at Weeaproinah
Driest overall
Lowest total rainfall		 29.4 mm at Echuca Aerodrome
Wettest day
Highest daily rainfall		 114.0 mm at Casterton Showgrounds on 20 Jan 2007
Highest wind gust
 120 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on 27 Jan 2007

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Records

Record lowest total summer rainfall
Total rainfall
for summer 2006−07 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for summer		 Years of
record		 Normal for
summer
Scoresby Research Institute 84.2 85.2 in 1996 55 172.4


Highest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years
Total rainfall
for summer 2006−07 (mm) 		Most recent higher
for summer		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
summer
Casterton Showgrounds 177.0 184.6 in 1986 20 89.7


Lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years
Total rainfall
for summer 2006−07 (mm) 		Most recent lower
for summer		 Years since
lower		 Normal for
summer
Kyabram DPI 34.4 10.4 in 1984 22 89.2
Lake Eildon 84.4 68.0 in 1984 21 148.5


Record highest summer mean daily maximum temperature
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for summer 2006−07 (°C) 		Previous highest
for summer		 Years of
record		 Normal for
summer
Lake Eildon 30.7 30.5 in 1980 36 27.6
Dartmouth Reservoir 31.1 = 31.1 in 1982 26
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) 28.6 28.2 in 2000 22
Wangaratta Aero 32.6 = 32.6 in 2002 20

Highest summer mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for summer 2006−07 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for summer		 Years since
higher		 Normal for
summer
Echuca Aerodrome 32.5 33.0 in 1980 26 29.9
Essendon Airport 27.6 27.7 in 1950 25


Record lowest summer daily maximum temperature
Lowest daily maximum
temperature
in summer 2006−07 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for summer		 Years of
record		 Normal for
summer
Weeaproinah 8.5 on 25 Dec 2006 8.9 on 5 Dec 2002 26
Noojee (Slivar) 10.0 on 25 Dec 2006 11.9 on 26 Dec 2001 24


Record highest summer mean daily minimum temperature
Mean daily minimum
temperature
for summer 2006−07 (°C) 		Previous highest
for summer		 Years of
record		 Normal for
summer
Essendon Airport 14.6 14.1 in 1970 37


Record highest summer daily minimum temperature
Highest daily minimum
temperature
in summer 2006−07 (°C) 		Previous highest
for summer		 Years of
record		 Normal for
summer
Heywood Forestry 27.1 on 5 Jan 2007 25.0 on 20 Jan 1974 40 11.1
Bairnsdale Airport 24.1 on 7 Jan 2007 24.0 on 26 Jan 2003 26
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 25.5 on 5 Jan 2007 22.5 on 21 Jan 1997 25
Wangaratta Aero 26.6 on 17 Jan 2007 25.3 on 24 Jan 2001 20


Record lowest summer temperature
Lowest temperature
in summer 2006−07 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for summer		 Years of
record		 Normal for
summer
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 0.9 on 7 Dec 2006 3.0 on 5 Dec 1996 25


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Summaries

 In the following table, certain key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to identify.

Summary statistics for summer 2006−07
Maximum temperatures
for summer
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for summer
(°C)		 Rainfall
for summer
(millimetres)
Mean for
summer
2006−07		 Diff
from
normal		 Highest for
summer
2006−07		 Mean for
summer
2006−07		 Diff
from
normal		 Lowest for
summer
2006−07		 Total for
summer
2006−07		 Normal
for
summer		 Rank of
summer
2006−07		 Fraction of
summer
normal
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 32.7 +1.5 42.8 5 Feb 2007 17.1 +1.2 7.7 26 Dec 2006 63.2 62.5 normal 101%
Ouyen 32.5 +1.2 42.6 5 Feb 2007 15.7 +0.8 6.1 26 Dec 2006 90.9 71.6 high 127%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 32.3 42.7 5 Feb 2007 14.9 3.9 26 Dec 2006 72.8
Swan Hill Aerodrome 32.3 42.8 10 Dec 2006 15.6 5.5 26 Dec 2006 91.2
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill 30.4 +1.4 41.6 9 Dec 2006 12.8 +0.4 2.9 12 Dec 2006 118.6 69.3 high 171%
Nhill Aerodrome 31.2 42.5 9 Dec 2006 13.6 3.4 12 Dec 2006 90.4
Warracknabeal Museum 31.1 41.4 16 Jan 2007 14.6 5.6 26 Dec 2006 102.8 70.6 high 146%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 29.0 42.1 9 Dec 2006 12.7 2.4 12 Dec 2006 97.8
Grampians 20.2 32.3 16 Jan 2007 9.5 −0.5 25 Dec 2006 177.6
Horsham 30.6 +1.7 42.0 16 Jan 2007 13.0 0 3.8 16 Dec 2006 77.5 71.7 normal 108%
Horsham Aerodrome 30.6 41.0 16 Jan 2007 12.7 3.0 12 Dec 2006 94.4
Kanagulk 28.9 41.3 9 Dec 2006 12.6 2.9 7 Dec 2006 117.2
Longerenong 30.4 +1.6 41.2 16 Jan 2007 13.4 +0.8 3.1 12 Dec 2006 99.8 74.3 high 134%
Stawell Aerodrome 29.0 40.5 16 Jan 2007 13.3 4.7 17 Dec 2006 178.6
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 31.4 42.2 16 Jan 2007 14.9 5.1 26 Dec 2006 66.2
Echuca Aerodrome 32.5 +2.6 42.8 10 Dec 2006 4.4 17 Dec 2006 29.4 88.3 low 33%
Kerang 32.2 +1.6 42.9 10 Dec 2006 15.8 +1.0 7.1 26 Dec 2006 97.9 79.0 high 124%
Kyabram DPI 31.4 +2.3 41.9 10 Dec 2006 15.2 +1.7 5.8 26 Dec 2006 34.4 89.2 low 39%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 30.0 41.0 10 Dec 2006 14.1 4.7 26 Dec 2006 45.2
Shepparton Airport 31.9 42.4 10 Dec 2006 15.0 6.3 26 Dec 2006 35.8
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 30.8 +2.1 41.4 10 Dec 2006 14.5 +1.1 5.3 26 Dec 2006 56.8 95.5 low 59%
Yarrawonga 32.7 42.5 11 Jan 2007 15.9 8.0 25 Dec 2006 56.0
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Beechworth Woolshed 31.5 40.9 11 Jan 2007 13.4 0.8 26 Dec 2006 67.5
Benalla Airport 32.0 41.4 11 Jan 2007 15.2 7.4 14 Dec 2006 40.7
Corryong Airport 32.7 41.0 12 Jan 2007 13.8 3.2 26 Dec 2006 86.6
Dartmouth Reservoir 31.1 40.2 11 Jan 2007 14.0 1.8 26 Dec 2006 113.6
Hunters Hill 26.5 34.6 11 Jan 2007 14.4 0.8 26 Dec 2006 84.4
Rutherglen Research 32.2 +1.7 41.9 11 Jan 2007 14.6 +1.8 5.5 26 Dec 2006 38.4 116.7 low 33%
Strathbogie 28.1 37.5 10 Dec 2006 12.0 4.4 4 Dec 2006 81.6 160.3 low 51%
Wangaratta Aero 32.6 42.6 11 Jan 2007 13.9 5.5 26 Dec 2006 30.6
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Falls Creek 18.1 25.6 11 Jan 2007 −4.5 26 Dec 2006 224.0
Mount Buller 18.7 27.4 11 Jan 2007 9.1 −3.4 25 Dec 2006 157.6
Mt Hotham 16.9 24.9 11 Jan 2007 7.5 −5.0 26 Dec 2006 219.6
Mt Hotham Airport 22.6 32.1 11 Jan 2007 8.1 −3.9 12 Dec 2006 142.2
Omeo 26.8 37.4 11 Jan 2007 10.4 0.6 3 Dec 2006 123.6
Omeo Comparison 26.5 +1.7 37.1 11 Jan 2007 10.2 +1.2 0.9 3 Dec 2006 102.5 156.9 low 65%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 26.3 40.2 11 Jan 2007 13.2 4.0 25 Dec 2006 219.6
Gabo Island Lighthouse 21.4 +0.5 24.6 22 Feb 2007 15.5 −0.2 9.9 26 Dec 2006 141.2 212.3 low 67%
Gelantipy 24.2 36.3 11 Jan 2007 11.4 1.2 12 Dec 2006 149.4
Lakes Entrance 23.8 39.8 11 Jan 2007 13.7 5.9 13 Dec 2006 91.6
Mallacoota 23.9 35.2 20 Jan 2007 15.2 7.9 13 Dec 2006 132.2
Mt Nowa Nowa 25.0 41.5 10 Dec 2006 14.3 5.0 25 Dec 2006 143.6
Orbost 26.4 39.8 10 Dec 2006 14.0 5.6 13 Dec 2006 155.4
Orbost 26.6 +1.7 40.3 10 Dec 2006 13.3 +0.2 4.8 13 Dec 2006 148.9 198.5 low 75%
Point Hicks 24.8 +2.0 38.8 20 Jan 2007 15.8 +0.6 8.2 8 Jan 2007 115.1 196.9 low 58%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 26.2 41.2 11 Jan 2007 12.8 3.4 12 Dec 2006 130.4
East Sale Airport 26.6 +1.9 37.3 5 Feb 2007 12.8 +0.4 3.9 12 Dec 2006 130.4 138.3 normal 94%
Morwell 28.6 42.2 10 Dec 2006 12.9 2.0 12 Dec 2006 116.4
Mt Baw Baw 16.6 27.7 10 Dec 2006 8.0 −3.1 25 Dec 2006 244.6
Mt Moornapa 25.4 37.1 11 Jan 2007 13.2 4.8 26 Dec 2006 33.6
Noojee 26.4 38.8 10 Dec 2006 10.9 2.5 12 Dec 2006 143.6
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 20.5 +0.7 32.2 5 Jan 2007 14.9 +0.9 9.4 25 Dec 2006 141.2 157.3 normal 90%
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora 27.5 42.1 10 Dec 2006 14.5 6.8 13 Dec 2006 73.4
Cerberus 25.4 39.9 10 Dec 2006 13.7 4.7 4 Dec 2006 95.4
Coldstream 28.3 40.9 10 Dec 2006 11.5 1.1 17 Dec 2006 155.0
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 26.7 41.0 10 Dec 2006 13.5 6.4 7 Dec 2006 92.0
Dunns Hill 23.2 37.0 10 Dec 2006 12.1 2.2 26 Dec 2006 190.2
Essendon Airport 27.6 42.5 10 Dec 2006 14.6 6.3 26 Dec 2006 65.0 139.1 very low 47%
Frankston AWS 25.0 38.5 16 Jan 2007 15.3 8.0 25 Dec 2006
Kilmore Gap 25.7 38.4 10 Dec 2006 12.2 3.6 25 Dec 2006 74.6
Melbourne Airport 27.7 +2.1 42.2 10 Dec 2006 14.3 +1.4 6.4 25 Dec 2006 52.0 134.1 very low 39%
Melbourne Regional Office 27.4 +2.1 42.1 10 Dec 2006 16.3 +1.5 8.5 25 Dec 2006 64.6 152.8 lowest 42%
Moorabbin Airport 26.9 +1.7 41.9 10 Dec 2006 14.7 +1.2 7.2 13 Dec 2006 85.4 148.9 low 57%
Rhyll 24.3 36.1 10 Dec 2006 15.5 8.9 26 Dec 2006 74.6
Scoresby Research Institute 40.8 10 Dec 2006 13.7 +0.5 5.5 7 Dec 2006 84.2 172.4 lowest 49%
Viewbank 28.3 42.9 10 Dec 2006 14.4 6.3 13 Dec 2006 80.8
Wonthaggi 25.0 +1.7 38.8 18 Feb 2007 13.6 +1.3 5.5 7 Dec 2006 85.1 146.7 low 58%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 26.9 42.5 16 Jan 2007 14.2 6.4 17 Dec 2006 62.8
Geelong Airport 25.3 41.6 16 Jan 2007 13.6 5.4 7 Dec 2006 59.8
Laverton RAAF 26.8 +1.6 42.8 10 Dec 2006 14.6 +1.3 6.2 7 Dec 2006 64.4 138.8 very low 46%
Point Wilson 23.1 38.7 16 Jan 2007 15.7 6.6 25 Dec 2006
Sheoaks 26.5 41.1 10 Dec 2006 12.9 3.4 7 Dec 2006 56.6
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 28.5 +0.7 39.6 10 Dec 2006 13.5 +1.2 3.3 24 Dec 2006 129.1 112.8 normal 114%
Eildon Fire Tower 27.4 37.3 11 Jan 2007 13.4 2.6 25 Dec 2006 73.6
Lake Eildon 30.7 +3.1 40.3 11 Jan 2007 13.3 +1.5 4.5 3 Dec 2006 84.4 148.5 low 57%
Mangalore Airport 30.9 +2.5 42.2 10 Dec 2006 14.5 +1.1 4.5 25 Dec 2006 59.2 118.1 low 50%
Maryborough 29.1 +1.3 41.2 10 Dec 2006 13.4 +0.7 5.3 11 Feb 2007 155.8 107.4 high 145%
Redesdale 29.5 41.1 10 Dec 2006 13.1 3.1 3 Dec 2006 69.4 117.0 normal 59%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 27.7 +1.9 39.6 16 Jan 2007 12.0 +1.7 0.8 7 Dec 2006 125.4 107.7 normal 116%
Ballarat Aerodrome 26.7 +2.5 40.1 10 Dec 2006 11.9 +1.2 3.9 7 Dec 2006 123.6 128.1 normal 96%
Lookout Hill 22.1 34.1 10 Dec 2006 10.3 0.3 25 Dec 2006 165.4
Westmere 27.4 41.9 16 Jan 2007 11.7 0.3 7 Dec 2006 120.2
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 23.4 39.6 18 Feb 2007 14.0 6.1 25 Dec 2006 106.0
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 21.5 39.8 17 Feb 2007 14.5 5.8 7 Dec 2006 71.6
Cape Otway Lighthouse 20.7 +0.3 36.9 18 Feb 2007 14.1 +1.0 7.2 7 Dec 2006 131.4 142.5 normal 92%
Casterton 27.9 41.9 9 Dec 2006 12.1 0.7 7 Dec 2006 154.4
Casterton Showgrounds 27.8 +1.7 42.0 9 Dec 2006 12.6 +1.3 2.9 16 Dec 2006 177.0 89.7 very high 197%
Colac 25.5 40.9 16 Jan 2007 12.6 4.8 25 Dec 2006 79.4
Hamilton Airport 26.8 40.4 9 Dec 2006 11.5 1.6 16 Dec 2006 153.4
Mortlake Racecourse 26.5 41.9 16 Jan 2007 11.7 0.8 7 Dec 2006 103.4
Port Fairy AWS 23.0 39.8 10 Jan 2007 14.2 4.3 7 Dec 2006 130.4
Portland 23.0 39.9 9 Dec 2006 12.5 0.9 7 Dec 2006 102.8
Warrnambool Airport Ndb 25.0 41.0 9 Dec 2006 11.7 1.3 7 Dec 2006 133.0
Weeaproinah 20.5 35.7 16 Jan 2007 11.1 3.5 25 Dec 2006 358.6 289.7 high 124%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Thursday 1 March 2007. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Normals are long-term means based on observations from the years 1961 to 1990. They are not shown for sites with less than 20 years of record in that time, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median is sometimes more representative than the mean of "normal" 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, normal in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much rain has fallen this time as a percentage of the long-term mean.

Further information

Mr Neal Moodie
Climatologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au