Thursday, 1 March 2018 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in summer 2017-18: Warm days and nights with a record wet start

Average daytime and night-time temperatures were very much above average across much of the State over summer. Nights were especially warm with Victoria's third warmest summer on record for minimum temperatures. After the record wet start the season ended with drier than average conditions in February when averaged over the State as a whole.

Wet in the east and dry in the west

• Rainfall was around 6 per cent above the mean when averaged across the State as a whole. Rainfall was average to above average in central Victoria and in the east and below average in the western parts of the State.
• Many sites, including seven with over 100 years of data, had their highest summer daily rainfall on record from the rain event at the start of December with most daily records broken on the 2nd.
• A few sites broke their daily rainfall record by more than 50 mm, this includes Lake Eildon and Strathbogie with over 100 years of observations.
• Some sites had their highest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years including Mansfield (Post Office) that had its wettest summer in over 50 years.
• Some sites in the southwestern part of the State had their lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years

Warm days and nights

• Maximum temperatures were fourth highest on record when averaged across the State as a whole. Minimum temperatures were especially warm, the third highest on record and the warmest since summer 2000/2001. All of the State was above average with most areas in the top ten per cent of all summers on record.
• Some sites had their highest summer mean daily maximum temperature on record including Walpeup Research in the northwest of the State with over 60 years of record.
• Rutherglen Research and Castlemaine Prison had their highest summer mean daily maximum temperature since 1980.
• The 29th of January saw high minimum temperatures across much of Victoria, especially the northwest of the state. The 31.4 °C observed at Mildura Airport is the second warmest daily minimum on record for Victoria behind 31.9 °C on the 20th December 2015, also at Mildura Airport.
• Some sites including Wonthaggi and Rhyll had or equalled their warmest summer night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record
• Some sites, including Wilson's Promontory Lighthouse, had or equalled their highest summer mean daily minimum temperature on record
• Some sites had their highest summer mean daily minimum temperature since 1980, except for East Sale which had its warmest since 1992.
• Some sites around the State had or equalled their highest summer mean temperature on record
• During the prolonged period of heat in northern Victoria in the second half of January, some sites sets records for the number of days in a row over 35 °
• A number of sites also set records for the number of days in a row over 35 °C. Walpeup Research saw 14 days over 35 °C, breaking the previous record set in March 2008. Other stations such as Bendigo Airport, Echuca, Kyabram and Shepparton all saw 12 days over 35 °C breaking their previous records, Bendigo Airport and Kyabram by 4 days.

A windy Valentine's Day

• The highest wind gust for the season was 133 km/h at Wilson's Promontory Lighthouse on the 14th February. Some sites with less than 20 years of wind observations set their February record on this day.

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 lower value has gone unreported

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

* 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