Monday, 3 December 2018 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in spring 2018: dry with warm days

Victoria in spring 2018 was drier than average, with areas of very much below average rainfall totals covering large parts of the State. Daytime temperatures were warmer than average across most of Victoria, while night-time temperatures were mostly close to average, with areas of cooler than average nights in the Victoria's west and parts of the north, and warmer than average nights in isolated areas of the coast.

Below average rainfall

• Total rainfall for spring was below average across most of Victoria, and much below average in large parts of the State, owing to low September and October rainfall totals; spring in Victoria ended with November total rainfall close to average
• It was Victoria's ninth-driest spring on record
• Statewide, average rainfall was 42.7% below the long-term spring mean of 181 mm
• The State's highest daily rainfall total, 57.8 mm was recorded at Mount Baw Baw on 24 November
• The wettest place was Falls Creek with 321.8 mm recorded for the season
• The low rainfall throughout the season resulted in some locations reporting their driest spring since 1982, while Skipton Post Office had its lowest total spring rainfall on record

Above average daytime temperatures

• Daytime temperatures in spring were warmer than average across most the State
• Victoria's mean maximum temperature was 1.40 °C warmer than the long-term average for spring
• Mean daytime temperatures were close to average in September and November, but well above average in October
• The warmest temperature in the State during spring was 39.5 °C, recorded at both Hopetoun Airport and Ouyen on 1 November
• Victoria's mean minimum temperature in spring was 0.32 °C warmer than average
• Night time temperatures were cold in September (coldest September nights since 1994), but warm in October and close to average in November
• Parts of the southwest coast and East Gippsland had above average spring night time temperatures
• The coldest night time temperature in Victoria during spring was −8.0 °C, recorded at Mount Hotham on 16 September
• Several sites had their lowest spring temperature on record, while Sheoaks, in central Victoria, had its warmest spring night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record on 20 November

Strong winds, flash flooding and hail

• The strongest wind gust recorded in Victoria during spring was 131 km/h at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on 15 September
• Squally winds swept across Victoria on 2 November, with gusts exceeding 80 km/h at many sites; strong winds whipped up dust around Melbourne, reducing visibility locally
• The strongest wind gust during November, 130 km/h, was recorded at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse on the 2nd
• A slow moving low-pressure trough caused flash flooding in Melbourne on the 6th, as more than 30 mm of rain fell in 3 hours; this resulted in traffic delays and thousands of residents were left without power
• The SES has received more than 400 calls for help, mostly for flood related emergencies
• Mount Baw Baw recorded several centimeters of snow, while Lake Mountain and Mount Buller received a dusting of snow on the 7th

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top