Wednesday, 4 January 2006

Annual Climate Summary – Victoria

Warm with mostly average rainfall

Rainfall Summary

Rainfall was slightly below normal across most of Victoria durring 2005, but there were two notable exceptions. Along the Murray River Valley, rainfall was up to 25% above normal, whilst in the southwest of the State, rainfall was more than 25% below normal. The year's wettest day occurred in early February, when an intense low pressure system moved in an uncharacteristic westwards direction across Victoria, dropping over 100 mm of rain at many places.

Maps of rainfall for Victoria, and long term climate trends for Victoria.

Temperature Summary

Night-time temperatures averaged close to normal at most places, whilst day-time temperatures were mostly about one degree above normal. An exceptional cold outbreak brought snow down to many sea level locations on August 10. By contrast, the culmination of a heat-wave on the last day of the year saw record high December temperatures at several places.

Maps of temperature for Victoria, and long term climate trends for Victoria.

Melbourne Summary

Melbourne's maximum and minimum temperatures for 2005 were both above average, the mean maximum for the year of 21.4 °C being the equal highest on record (normal 19.9 °C) ... 21.4 °C also occurred in 1961. The mean minimum for the year was 11.8 °C (normal 11.0 °C). Meanwhile rainfall was slightly below normal with 589.8 mm compared to the average of 638.8 mm.

Included in this summary are a table of State extremes, some new records, and summaries for locations across the State. Maps of rainfall and temperatures for this month

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 PM on Tuesday 3 January 2006 . Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

Weather extremes during 2005
Highest temperature
Hottest day		 45.8 °C Swan Hill Aerodrome on 31st Dec
Highest mean daily maximum temperature
Warmest days on average		 24.6 °C Mildura Airport
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature
Coolest days on average		 8.0 °C Mt Hotham
Lowest daily maximum temperature
Coldest day		 -6.7 °C Mt Hotham on 10th Aug
Lowest temperature
Coldest night		 -8.8 °C Mt Hotham on 11th Aug
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature
Coldest nights on average		 2.0 °C Mt Hotham
Highest mean daily minimum temperature
Mildest nights on average		 12.6 °C Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Highest daily minimum
Warmest night		 25.8 °C Ouyen (Post Office) on 31st Dec
Highest total rainfall
Wettest overall		 1601.1 mm Mt Hotham
Lowest total rainfall
Driest overall		 277.6 mm Mildura Airport
Highest daily rainfall
Wettest day		 138.6 mm Noojee (Slivar) on 3rd Feb

Records

Record Lowest Total Rainfall


Total rainfall
for 2005 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for 		Years of
record
Hamilton Airport 427.4 486.2
in 1997
 21


Record Highest Mean Maximum Temperature


 Mean daily maximum
temperature
for 2005 (°C) 		Previous highest
for 		Years of
record
Melbourne Regional Office 21.4 = 21.4
in 1961
 150
East Sale Airport 20.7 = 20.7
in 1972
 60
Point Hicks 19.9 19.8
in 2004
 31
Portland 18.2 = 18.2
in 2000
 23
Bairnsdale Airport 21.0 20.9
in 1999
 22
Morwell 20.9 20.6
in 1988
 20
Noojee 19.1 19.0
in 1999
 20


Highest Mean Maximum Temperature for 20 years or more


 Mean daily maximum
temperature
for 2005 (°C) 		Most recent higher
for
East Sale Airport 20.7 20.7
in 1972

Record Highest Temperature


 Highest temperature
in 2005 (°C) 		Previous highest
for 		Years of
record
Maryborough 43.7
on 31st Dec
 43.3
on 25th Jan 2003
 91
Hamilton Airport 43.3
on 31st Dec
 42.6
on 25th Jan 2003
 21

Record Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature


 Lowest daily maximum
temperature
in 2005 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for 		Years of
record
Wonthaggi 7.8
on 10th Aug
 = 7.8
on 10th Aug 2005
 33

Record Highest Mean Daily Minimum Temperature


 Mean daily minimum
temperature
for 2005 (°C) 		Previous highest
for 		Years of
record
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 12.6 = 12.6
in 1988
 118


Record Lowest Temperature


 Lowest temperature
in 2005 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for 		Years of
record
Portland -2.3
on 21st Jul
 = -2.3
on 21st Jul 2005
 23


Summary statistics for 2005

Maximum temperatures
for
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for
(°C)		 Rainfall
for
(mm)
Mean for 2005 Difference from normal Highest for 2005 Mean for 2005 Difference from normal Lowest for 2005 Total for 2005 Normal total
Ballarat Aerodrome 18.3 +1.0 40.6 6.9 -0.3 -3.1 590 684
Benalla 22.3 +0.5 41.8 8.7 +0.3 -1.7 742 690
Cape Otway Lighthouse 17.5 +0.6 37.6 11.4 +0.7 4.0 809 959
Castlemaine Prison 20.1 +0.1 42.0 7.8
-2.3 621 611
East Sale Airport 20.7 +1.1 38.3 8.1 -0.1 -3.2 449 612
Echuca Aerodrome 22.8 +0.6 44.6 8.5 -0.7 -2.4 456 437
Horsham 22.3 +0.8 45.5 7.5 -1.0 -1.5 384 446
Kerang 23.4 +0.7 45.0 9.3 -0.4 -1.2 430 409
Lake Eildon 21.0 +0.9 40.4 8.0 +0.2 -1.1 897 882
Longerenong 22.0 +0.8 45.6 7.5 -0.6 -2.2 407 429
Mangalore Airport 21.4 +0.5 38.9 8.1 -0.3 -2.6 581 585
Maryborough 20.9 +0.7 43.7 8.0 -0.3 -2.0 457 568
Melbourne Regional Office 21.4 +1.5 42.9 11.9 +0.9 2.5 590 639
Mildura Airport 24.6 +1.0 45.1 10.4 0 -1.5 278 287
Nhill 22.3 +0.7 45.0 7.6 -0.5 -2.7 405 421
Ouyen 24.3 +0.7 45.2 10.1 +0.4 0.0 304 343
Point Hicks 19.9 +1.3
 35.7 12.4 +0.5 3.0 898 998
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 17.6 +1.3 37.1 12.6 +0.9 4.5 867 1073
Wonthaggi 19.5 +1.0 34.9 10.3 +0.9 0.7 974 916

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 1 PM on Tuesday 3 January 2006 . Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.
Long term averages are calculated using the WMO standard of 1961 to 1990.

Climate