Monday, 1 December 2008 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in spring 2008
Wet end to spring.

A very dry September followed by a very dry October, meant that Spring rainfall totals, overall, were below the long-term (all years of record) normal in most Districts, notwithstanding the good rains during November, which were largely on account of the development of cloud bands ahead of cold fronts, and several east coast low developments later in the month. The development of the cloud bands was related to a sharp warming of the ocean to the north of Australia.  

Daytime temperatures were above average in most Districts, but overnight temperatures were close to average.

In the Melbourne CBD, the average minimum temperature was 11.3 deg C (1.8 deg C above the long-term average over all years of record), whilst the average maximum temperature has been 21.5 deg C (1.9 deg C above the long-term average). Total spring rainfall was 78.8 mm, well below the long-term average of 183.6 mm.

The Melbourne CBD is usually warmer than the suburbs on account of what is known as the "heat island effect", a feature of the inner areas of most major cities.  This effect occurs on account of the ability of the buildings and roads to absorb heat (and then to re-radiate it back into the atmosphere) more effectively than grassland and forest.

This point is effectively illustrated by the fact that, away from the city centre at Melbourne Airport, average temperatures were not as high. The average spring 2008 minimum temperature at the Airport was 8.9 deg C (0.3 deg C above the long-term average), whilst the average spring 2008 maximum temperature was 21.0 deg C (1.9 deg C above the long-term average).

An archive of previous seasonal summaries for Victoria is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.

Jump to:  Summaries  Notes  the top

Further information

Dr Harvey Stern
Climate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

Summaries

In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for spring 2008
Maximum temperatures
for spring
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for spring
(°C)		 Rainfall
for spring
(millimetres)
Mean for
spring
2008		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
spring
2008		 Mean for
spring
2008		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
spring
2008		 Total for
spring
2008		 Average
for
spring		 Rank of
spring
2008		 Fraction of
spring
average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 25.1 +1.3 38.9 30 Oct 10.2 +0.4 2.2 9 Sep 44.8 81.1 low 55%
Ouyen 24.8 +1.1 37.4 30 Oct 9.5 +0.5 1.8 9 Sep 66.0 94.1 average 70%
Walpeup Research 24.6 +1.5 38.2 13 Nov 9.4 +0.4 1.4 7 Oct 56.6 92.5 low 61%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 24.6   37.8 13 Nov 7.1   −1.8 24 Sep 36.4
Swan Hill Aerodrome 24.5 +0.7 36.7 30 Oct 8.6 +0.3 −0.7 10 Sep 60.4 91.1 low 66%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Nhill 22.4 +1.2 35.9 13 Nov 6.1 −1.1 −2.3 9 Oct 48.0 113.2 very low 42%
Nhill Aerodrome 22.7   37.1 13 Nov 7.3   −0.1 30 Sep 37.8
Warracknabeal Museum 23.3 +1.6 36.2 13 Nov 7.7 −0.1 −0.2 10 Sep 40.2 113.0 very low 36%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 20.5   36.5 12 Nov 7.6   0.2 9 Sep 78.0
Grampians 12.3   26.1 12 Nov 3.5   −2.0 16 Sep 190.0
Horsham Aerodrome 22.4 +0.7 36.7 13 Nov 5.7 −0.3 −2.0 24 Sep 38.6 96.9 very low 40%
Horsham Polkemmet Rd 22.4 +1.3 35.9 12 Nov 6.3 −1.1 −1.5 9 Sep 46.4 123.4 very low 38%
Kanagulk 20.4   35.1 12 Nov 6.6   −1.3 23 Oct 57.2
Longerenong 22.5 +1.7 36.8 12 Nov 6.0 −0.9 −2.3 9 Oct 38.8 112.7 very low 34%
Pyrenees 15.5   29.4 12 Nov 5.7   −0.1 16 Sep 97.2
Stawell Aerodrome 20.8 +1.0 33.8 12 Nov 7.6 +0.1 −0.5 9 Sep 52.4 132.8 very low 39%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 23.0   36.2 30 Oct 7.8   −0.7 10 Sep 76.6
Echuca Aerodrome 23.9 +1.8 35.0 13 Nov 7.9 −0.8 −0.4 17 Sep 83.2 114.1 average 73%
Kerang 24.3 +1.5 36.4 13 Nov 9.2 +0.3 0.5 10 Sep 76.8 102.2 average 75%
Kyabram DPI 23.0 +1.9 34.8 13 Nov 7.7 +0.1 −1.0 17 Sep 113.7 121.5 average 94%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 21.7 +1.5 34.1 12 Nov 6.7 0.0 −2.0 9 Sep 78.0 135.9 low 57%
Shepparton Airport 23.2 +1.4 34.4 13 Nov 7.2 −0.3 −1.3 17 Sep 138.6 123.9 average 112%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 22.5 +1.6 33.9 13 Nov 7.2 −0.5 −2.1 9 Sep 97.4 131.2 average 74%
Yarrawonga 23.8 +1.5 35.4 19 Oct 7.8 +0.1 −1.0 9 Sep 85.2 120.4 low 71%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport 22.7   33.9 13 Nov 6.5   −2.4 17 Sep 93.4
Corryong Airport 22.4   31.8 13 Nov 4.9   −3.4 9 Sep 139.9
Dartmouth Reservoir 21.2 +1.1 30.5 13 Nov 6.4 −0.5 −0.8 11 Sep 197.6 271.5 average 73%
Hunters Hill 16.7 +1.1 25.7 12 Nov 7.6 +0.7 −0.9 9 Sep 200.6 327.9 low 61%
Rutherglen Research 23.1 +2.0 34.9 19 Oct 5.9 −0.4 −3.7 9 Sep 105.6 157.1 low 67%
Strathbogie 18.6 +0.9 29.3 12 Nov 5.1 −0.3 −2.1 30 Sep 145.2 246.0 low 59%
Wangaratta Aero 22.8 +1.6 33.5 13 Nov 5.7 −1.1 −2.1 9 Sep 100.6 162.5 low 62%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Dinner Plain 15.0   24.1 12 Nov 2.5   −6.6 9 Sep 206.0
Edi Upper 21.2 +1.4 31.2 13 Nov 7.4 0.0 −1.2 10 Sep 176.6 275.3 low 64%
Falls Creek 9.5 +1.0 20.3 12 Nov 1.7 +0.3 −6.3 9 Sep 329.6 357.7 average 92%
Mount Buller 9.2 +0.8 19.0 13 Nov 1.9 +0.4 −6.0 17 Sep 341.8 448.3 low 76%
Mount Hotham 7.7 +0.6 17.8 26 Oct 0.7 −0.1 −6.7 7 Oct 323.2 339.2 average 95%
Omeo 19.4   30.3 12 Nov 5.1   −2.7 9 Oct 150.4
Omeo Comparison 19.3 +1.0 29.3 12 Nov 5.1 +0.5 −2.1 9 Oct 151.6 197.0 low 77%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 19.2 +1.2 32.2 13 Nov 8.2 +0.4 0.0 22 Oct 278.6 279.4 average 100%
Gabo Island Lighthouse 17.8 +0.7 26.4 14 Sep 11.6 +0.5 6.6 11 Sep 174.0 221.4 average 79%
Gelantipy 17.5 +1.3 29.8 13 Nov 6.6 +0.7 −2.2 9 Sep 283.8 219.8 high 129%
Lakes Entrance 19.5   35.9 13 Nov 9.8   3.0 1 Sep 208.2
Mallacoota 19.5 +0.8 34.7 27 Oct 9.6 −0.2 2.9 11 Sep 198.6 247.2 average 80%
Mount Nowa Nowa 19.4 +0.6 34.5 13 Nov 9.4 +0.4 2.7 9 Sep 331.6 224.8 very high 148%
Orbost 20.5   36.3 13 Nov 9.2   3.1 18 Sep 234.0
Orbost 20.9 +1.2 36.0 13 Nov 8.4 +0.2 1.5 11 Sep 237.2 220.4 average 108%
Point Hicks 19.6 +1.3 32.8 13 Nov 11.0 0.0 4.5 17 Sep 141.1 234.6 low 60%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 21.0 +1.5 37.3 13 Nov 7.6 +0.1 −0.2 18 Sep 169.0 197.2 average 86%
East Sale Airport 20.8 +1.7 35.8 13 Nov 7.1 −0.4 0.1 18 Sep 131.8 173.4 low 76%
Morwell 20.7 +1.5 33.8 12 Nov 7.0 −0.5 −0.3 1 Oct 119.0 224.3 very low 53%
Mount Baw Baw 8.8   20.6 12 Nov 1.7   −6.1 9 Sep 276.4
Mount Moornapa 19.5 +1.2 32.9 13 Nov 8.5 +0.4 3.2 4 Sep 292.0 258.3 average 113%
Noojee 18.5 +0.7 31.3 12 Nov 6.8 +0.1 −0.6 23 Oct 269.8 340.1 low 79%
Pound Creek 18.7   31.5 12 Nov 8.1   −0.9 23 Oct 136.6
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 16.7 +1.0 30.5 13 Nov 11.0 +1.0 6.8 16 Sep 190.2 262.0 low 73%
Yarram Airport 20.1   34.6 13 Nov 7.4   −0.8 23 Oct 156.2
East Central (district 86)
Bundoora 21.0 +1.6 36.0 12 Nov 9.2 +0.5 1.8 10 Sep 121.4 190.2 low 64%
Cerberus 19.4 +1.3 33.7 13 Nov 9.0 +0.2 1.4 5 Oct 86.6 187.6 very low 46%
Coldstream 20.4 +0.8 32.7 12 Nov 6.4 −0.3 −1.4 23 Oct 144.4 197.6 low 73%
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens 20.0 +1.5 33.5 12 Nov 8.8 −0.1 2.4 4 Sep 127.4 235.3 very low 54%
Essendon Airport 21.3 +2.3 34.5 13 Nov 9.4 +1.4 2.0 10 Sep 64.4 168.7 lowest 38%
Ferny Creek 16.1 +0.9 29.7 12 Nov 7.6 +0.2 1.4 23 Sep 231.6 276.9 low 84%
Frankston AWS 18.6 +1.1 32.5 12 Nov 11.0 +0.5 5.1 4 Sep
Melbourne Airport 21.0 +1.9 34.8 12 Nov 8.9 +0.3 1.5 23 Oct 72.8 158.9 very low 46%
Melbourne Regional Office 21.5 +1.9 35.4 12 Nov 11.3 +1.8 4.8 17 Sep 78.8 183.6 very low 43%
Moorabbin Airport 20.4 +1.4 34.1 12 Nov 9.9 +0.6 2.1 4 Sep 93.6 196.6 very low 48%
Rhyll 18.5 +0.8 28.4 13 Nov 11.0 +0.5 6.7 16 Sep 107.4 181.1 very low 59%
Scoresby Research Institute 20.3 +1.5 33.1 12 Nov 8.9 0.0 1.1 10 Sep 145.2 249.7 very low 58%
Viewbank 21.1   34.8 12 Nov 9.3   2.1 10 Sep 132.2
Wallan 17.2 +1.3 30.0 12 Nov 7.0 +0.1 0.3 23 Sep 103.0 162.4 low 63%
Wonthaggi 19.0 +1.1 31.5 13 Nov 9.2 +0.3 3.0 23 Oct 158.7 245.7 low 65%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 21.2 +1.5 35.4 13 Nov 8.3 0.0 0.8 17 Sep 51.2 140.3 lowest 36%
Grovedale 20.2 +1.7 35.6 13 Nov 7.8 −0.1 0.6 23 Oct 77.2 148.1 very low 52%
Laverton RAAF 21.0 +1.8 34.9 12 Nov 9.1 +0.8 1.3 4 Sep 63.2 157.5 very low 40%
Sheoaks 19.4 +1.6 33.5 12 Nov 7.4 +0.1 −0.5 23 Oct 69.8 161.8 very low 43%
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 20.1 +1.0 32.2 12 Nov 7.0 +0.2 −2.8 9 Sep 98.4 165.9 low 59%
Eildon Fire Tower 17.9 +1.1 30.8 12 Nov 7.6 +0.1 0.0 9 Sep 116.6 159.2 low 73%
Lake Eildon 21.3 +1.5 33.0 12 Nov 7.2 −0.1 −1.6 9 Sep 155.1 227.3 low 68%
Mangalore Airport 21.8 +1.4 34.1 13 Nov 7.3 −0.2 −1.2 23 Sep 104.8 149.0 average 70%
Maryborough 21.2 +1.1 33.5 12 Nov 7.2 −0.1 0.4 9 Sep 91.9 139.6 low 66%
Redesdale 20.4 +1.0 32.2 12 Nov 6.1 +0.2 −1.9 23 Sep 78.4 146.5 low 54%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 19.6 +1.6 33.0 12 Nov 5.9 −0.3 −3.8 23 Oct 80.4 164.7 very low 49%
Ballarat Aerodrome 18.2 +1.5 30.8 12 Nov 5.8 −0.5 −2.2 23 Oct 96.6 194.3 very low 50%
Westmere 19.6   34.0 12 Nov 5.6   −3.9 23 Oct 96.6
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 19.0 +1.4 33.8 13 Nov 9.5 +0.2 4.3 23 Oct 91.6 178.1 very low 51%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 17.6 +0.6 32.2 18 Oct 10.5 0.0 5.5 7 Sep 114.6 172.3 very low 67%
Cape Otway Lighthouse 16.7 −0.1 31.2 13 Nov 9.9 +0.3 5.7 10 Sep 131.8 235.1 very low 56%
Casterton 19.4   34.1 12 Nov 6.9   −1.7 9 Sep 108.0
Casterton Showgrounds 20.4 +1.4 35.1 12 Nov 7.0 −0.5 −1.8 9 Sep 89.6 179.3 very low 50%
Colac 18.1   33.7 12 Nov 7.5   2.4 23 Sep 77.2
Hamilton Airport 18.9 +1.2 34.5 12 Nov 6.5 −0.3 −0.5 3 Sep 95.0 177.6 very low 53%
Mortlake Racecourse 19.0 +1.2 34.2 13 Nov 6.4 0.0 −2.0 23 Oct 107.4 161.0 very low 67%
Port Fairy AWS 18.9 +0.8 33.6 13 Nov 9.3 −0.2 2.4 4 Sep 110.4 165.8 low 67%
Portland 17.2 +0.4 30.3 18 Oct 8.3 −0.1 0.5 4 Sep 122.6 200.9 very low 61%
Warrnambool Airport NDB 18.5   32.2 13 Nov 7.4   −0.6 23 Oct 120.0 189.6 low 63%
Weeaproinah 14.3 +0.6 27.8 13 Nov 6.6 −0.1 2.3 23 Sep 363.4 513.2 low 71%

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Notes

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Monday 1 December 2008. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages 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.

Further information

Dr Harvey Stern
Climate Meteorologist
Victoria Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 9669 4956
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au