Greater Melbourne in February 2020: wet with below average daytime temperatures

Rainfall in February was generally above average across Greater Melbourne, due to moderate to heavy falls on several days. Daytime temperatures were below average, while night-time temperatures were above average.

Some wet days

  • February rainfall was above average at most sites across Greater Melbourne, ranging from 97% of average at Essendon Airport to 216% of average at Scoresby Research Institute
  • A cold front which crossed the city at the beginning of the month resulted in widespread moderate rainfall totals across the Melbourne metropolitan area, while low pressure troughs on the 14th and the 18th brought thunderstorms and some heavy falls, with hail recorded in some suburbs
  • The wettest place in Greater Melbourne in February was Ferny Creek, which received 140.2 mm during the month

Cool days and warm nights

  • Daytime temperatures were cooler than average with most sites reporting mean maximum temperatures more than 1 °C below the February average
  • The coldest day during the month was the 20th, which saw all sites reported daily maximum temperature below 20 °C; the lowest recorded temperature was 14.8 °C at Wallan (Kilmore Gap)
  • There were several warmer than average days scattered during the month and the warmest day for most sites was the 14th; the highest daytime temperature in Greater Melbourne, 35.4 °C, was recorded at Viewbank on this day
  • Nights were generally warmer than average, with most sites reporting mean minimum temperatures more than 1 °C above the February average

Melbourne (Olympic Park)

  • Total rainfall for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 76.2 mm
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 24.4 °C. The warmest day was 34.0 °C on the 23rd, and the coolest day was on the 3rd when the temperature reached 17.7 °C
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Melbourne (Olympic Park) was 15.9 °C. The coldest morning was 10.8 °C on the 5th, and the warmest morning was on the 1st when the minimum temperature was 23.5 °C

Smoke, thunderstorms and flash flooding

  • Widespread smoke haze has blanketed the city on the 7th, with visibility reduced significantly at Melbourne Airport
  • Powerful storms swept through eastern Melbourne on the 14th and again on the 18th, leading to flash flooding and fallen trees

Further information

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Extremes in February 2020
Hottest day 35.4 °C at Viewbank on the 14th
Warmest days on average 25.8 °C at Coldstream
Coolest days on average 21.5 °C at Ferny Creek
Coldest day 14.8 °C at Wallan (Kilmore Gap) on the 20th
Coldest night 3.5 °C at Coldstream on the 27th
Coolest nights on average 12.3 °C at Wallan (Kilmore Gap)
Warmest nights on average 15.9 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
Warmest night 23.9 °C at Essendon Airport on the 1st
Warmest on average overall 20.2 °C at Melbourne (Olympic Park)
20.2 °C at Viewbank
Coolest on average overall 17.2 °C at Ferny Creek
Wettest overall 140.2 mm at Ferny Creek
Wettest day 53.6 mm at Kinglake West (Wallaby Creek) on the 15th
Strongest wind gust 106 km/h at Fawkner Beacon on the 18th




Summary statistics for February 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
February
2020
Diff
from
average
Highest for
February
2020
Mean for
February
2020
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
February
2020
Total for
February
2020
Average
for
February
Rank of
February
2020
Fraction of
February
average
Cerberus 23.4 -1.7 31.7 14th 15.0 +0.7 7.7 22nd 52.4 37.7 high 139%
Coldstream 25.8 -2.0 33.1 14th 13.2 +1.2 3.5 27th 93.0 52.9 high 176%
Essendon Airport 25.0 -0.9 35.2 23rd 15.0 +1.0 9.2 27th 43.6 44.9 average 97%
Ferny Creek 21.5   30.2 14th 13.0   6.0 27th 140.2
Laverton RAAF 24.0 -1.6 34.0 23rd 15.4 +1.1 7.1 27th 49.8 45.1 high 110%
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 24.4   34.0 23rd 15.9   10.8 5th 76.2
Melbourne Airport 24.9 -1.8 34.5 23rd 14.4 +0.2 7.2 27th 56.8 41.5 high 137%
Moorabbin Airport 24.3 -1.8 34.6 14th 15.2 +0.8 9.3 4th 77.0 44.9 high 171%
Scoresby Research Institute 24.8 -1.8 33.6 14th 14.7 +0.8 7.4 27th 115.0 53.2 v high 216%
Viewbank 25.6 -2.1 35.4 14th 14.8 +0.2 7.7 27th 87.8 46.9 high 187%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 23.2 -1.6 32.0 1st 12.3 -0.4 6.4 4th 56.0 47.1 average 119%

Daily maximum temperatures for February 2020
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
Cerberus28.018.619.427.421.827.925.424.123.525.427.931.718.823.526.721.119.118.119.321.031.223.628.518.720.719.620.5
Coldstream30.224.418.321.523.130.628.329.027.226.928.028.931.833.120.426.130.523.519.019.621.325.632.231.131.419.520.420.125.6
Essendon Airport29.024.819.319.720.627.625.130.128.027.727.527.231.635.019.026.427.622.120.018.619.621.935.226.531.720.820.320.023.5
Ferny Creek16.918.026.523.423.822.022.322.723.927.130.217.221.225.422.215.114.915.920.928.425.825.815.815.217.1
Laverton RAAF29.024.718.218.920.326.324.028.526.626.826.825.329.733.718.824.026.521.619.618.219.221.134.022.131.719.719.819.722.1
Melbourne (Olympic Park)29.325.117.719.720.125.523.229.428.227.725.927.731.733.719.326.425.621.819.718.719.621.134.023.731.619.219.720.122.4
Melbourne Airport28.824.418.819.620.628.425.829.927.727.628.225.831.234.219.026.027.321.520.117.819.321.734.528.531.920.520.320.023.4
Moorabbin Airport29.323.617.920.121.627.323.529.026.226.325.327.430.934.619.324.528.022.219.519.020.322.331.824.931.618.719.219.421.2
Scoresby Research Institute28.823.917.520.121.929.028.426.526.426.627.931.733.619.325.128.122.119.419.424.232.127.229.218.918.920.623.4
Viewbank29.625.718.321.623.330.725.829.527.327.628.129.232.935.419.127.930.021.719.319.220.523.232.928.531.719.619.720.424.3
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)32.022.415.118.320.628.324.627.725.523.527.323.429.731.016.723.727.922.216.514.816.120.429.328.629.517.318.517.024.6
Values are the maximum temperature, usually in the 24 hours from 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred in the afternoon of that day.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily minimum temperatures for February 2020
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
Cerberus22.011.510.513.416.116.719.018.719.417.818.718.418.316.416.015.614.613.511.47.79.315.816.915.19.513.110.9
Coldstream22.114.010.74.45.710.713.614.618.917.615.918.416.216.218.015.911.513.813.013.311.66.39.014.318.414.73.510.310.2
Essendon Airport23.913.412.49.910.514.016.516.617.917.917.818.317.519.418.215.914.617.313.112.712.411.211.416.117.214.29.212.713.3
Ferny Creek21.18.09.815.015.814.914.415.915.816.018.716.213.111.715.29.59.29.28.911.215.016.411.76.08.910.1
Laverton RAAF23.713.512.012.413.915.216.818.619.218.217.518.219.519.418.416.213.417.113.213.112.513.211.715.617.214.57.112.612.4
Melbourne (Olympic Park)23.514.213.211.310.813.716.517.419.618.519.519.119.420.318.916.915.217.613.314.213.511.413.316.818.416.211.013.114.7
Melbourne Airport23.012.911.710.710.914.415.715.615.617.317.317.517.419.118.015.213.816.412.812.111.89.310.915.416.912.97.212.711.7
Moorabbin Airport23.213.912.59.39.511.515.818.718.918.118.118.219.319.518.716.413.415.814.214.012.910.712.716.617.816.610.412.812.6
Scoresby Research Institute23.113.412.19.210.014.616.418.617.917.617.818.518.318.416.013.315.713.513.511.98.612.015.717.715.87.411.911.4
Viewbank23.213.812.88.79.712.616.216.217.917.718.618.017.319.418.515.713.917.312.513.012.49.811.915.818.215.47.712.313.7
Wallan (Kilmore Gap)21.210.39.56.47.110.014.215.614.214.015.514.915.916.516.013.112.315.89.98.89.37.910.116.415.511.16.49.510.2
Values are the minimum temperature, usually in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated,
and typically occurred that morning.
Temperatures coloured according to their difference
from the long-term average for the period
-10.0 -9.0 -8.0 -7.0 -6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 +1.0 +2.0 +3.0 +4.0 +5.0 +6.0 +7.0 +8.0 +9.0 +10.0 °C Grey outline marks highest
and lowest for the period

Daily rainfall for February 2020
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
Bonbeach (Carrum) - 26.2 3.4 - - - - - 1.8 - - - - 14.8 - - - 31.0 - - - - - 3.4 8.0 2.0
Bullengarook East 0.6 23.4 - 0.6 - - 12.6 - - 3.6 0.4 4.6 0.8 - 10.4 9.8 - - 4.6 0.2 1.2 - 0.6 1.4 1.2 2.8 - 0.4 -
Burnside - 13.0 - - - - - - - 0.8 - 1.0 - - 11.0 2.0 - 1.0 8.3 3.0 - - - - 4.6 7.6 0.3 - -
Cape Schanck 2.2 18.0 3.4 - - - - - - 0.6 - 1.2 - - 17.6 2.0 - 1.2 26.0 1.6 - - - - 1.6 - 0.8 3.0
Cerberus 0.4 16.8 2.0 - - - - - - - 0.4 0.6 - - 4.0 0.6 - 1.2 18.4 0.8 1.6 - - - 3.8 0.2 1.0 0.6 -
Cheltenham Kingston Centre 1.0 10.6 0.8 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - 3.8 1.0 - 0.2 23.0 2.6 - - - - 0.8 7.0 1.0 - 0.2
Coldstream 2.2 30.6 - 1.4 - - - - - 4.4 - - - - 12.0 1.2 - - 36.4 2.8 - - - - - - 1.6 0.4 -
Essendon Airport 0.8 14.2 1.0 - - - - - - 0.6 - - 0.2 - 7.4 2.8 - 2.0 8.8 2.4 - 0.4 - - 0.4 2.4 0.2 - -
Ferny Creek 0.8


- - - - - 3.0 - 1.0 0.2 - 41.0 12.0 - - 53.4 4.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 - - 10.6 6.2 3.0 4.0
Greenvale Reservoir
15.8 -




- 0.6 - -
- 5.8

0.6 11.6 3.0

- -


0.8 -
Kinglake West 2.0 10.8 1.4 - - - - - - 3.8 0.4 0.6 - - 33.8 10.8 - 0.6 30.4 22.4 0.8 - - - - 3.2 4.4 0.4
Kinglake West (Wallaby Creek)
13.6 0.2




- 3.4 - 1.8
- 53.6

- 26.8 21.4

0.2 -


3.6 1.0
Lancefield - 16.6 - - - - 3.0 4.2 - - - - 12.8 0.6 - - 8.2 0.2 - - - - - 4.2


Laverton RAAF - 10.8 0.2 - - - - - - 0.6 - 0.4 - - 10.0 1.6 - 0.2 18.8 2.2 0.2 0.4 - - 3.0 0.8 0.6 - -
Main Ridge 16.0 - 3.0 - - - - - - 2.6 - 9.0 - - - 22.4 15.0 - - - - 6.4 - 11.4
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 0.8 14.8 - - - - - - - 0.6 - - - - 5.4 2.8 - - 38.0 3.2 2.8 - - - 3.6 4.0 0.2 - -
Melbourne Airport 2.2 15.8 - - - - - - - 0.8 - 0.4 0.2 - 11.2 3.2 0.2 0.8 9.6 1.8 0.2 - - - 0.2 9.8 0.2 0.2 -
Melbourne Botanical Gardens 1.0 16.2 0.2 - - - - - - 1.0 - - - - 6.2 2.6 - 0.2 38.4 - - 0.2 - 4.8 5.0



Mitcham
19.4 0.2




- 0.8 0.2 0.6
- 12.4

- 48.2 8.0

- -


0.2 0.2
Moorabbin Airport 0.8 17.6 0.4 - - - - - - 1.2 0.2 - - - 3.6 0.6 - 0.4 30.2 2.6 2.0 0.2 - - 1.2 12.4 2.6 0.6 0.4
Mount Waverley (Riversdale Golf Club) 1.5 25.5 - 2.0 - - - - - 1.2 0.4 0.2 - - 13.0 2.2 - - 38.2 3.2 2.4 - - - 2.5 2.0 0.4

Newham (Cobaw) 1.4 14.6 - - - - 13.6 - - 3.0 - - - - 11.0 - - - 2.8 - - - - - - 8.0


Oakleigh (Metropolitan Golf Club) 2.6 21.2 - - - - - - - - 2.6 - 15.0 1.5 - 0.2 31.8 2.6 1.8 - - - 2.4



Preston Reservoir
17.4 -




- 1.2 - 0.2
- 6.2

0.4 18.2 9.6

- -


0.4 -
Romsey - 16.8


























Rosebud (Country Club) 2.8 13.3 - - - - - - - 2.4 - - - - 14.4 0.8 - 1.4 35.2 - - - - - 3.4



Scoresby Research Institute 1.4 23.0 1.8 0.8 - - - - - 0.8 - 0.8 - - 29.0 4.6 - - 40.4 4.6 - - - - - 5.4 2.2 - 0.2
Springvale (Sandown) 22.6 2.6 2.2 - - - - - - 1.4 - 0.2 - 14.6 1.4 - - 26.6 8.6 - 1.2 - - 2.2 9.6 2.8


Springvale Necropolis 26.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 - - - - 23.0 0.8 33.0 3.1 - - - - - 14.0 4.0 -
Toolangi (Mount St Leonard DPI) 18.8 - - - - - - - 4.4 - 1.6 - 45.8 - 47.6 - 8.4 - - - - 1.6 - 3.4
Toorourrong Reservoir (Toorourrong)
20.2 -




- 3.2 - 1.0
- 18.6

- 18.0 9.8

- -


0.6 0.2
Upper Plenty 1.2 16.6 1.2 - - - - - - 3.6 0.2 1.2 - - 19.8 7.0 - 1.2 13.0 8.2 4.8 - - - 0.2 1.4 - 0.6
Viewbank 1.0 16.4 - 0.2 - - - - - 1.4 - 0.2 - - 3.6 1.6 - - 47.8 4.2 4.4 - - - 0.2 5.0 1.0 0.8 -
Wallan 0.4 19.4 - - - - - 5.0 1.6 - - - 9.4 4.6 - - 24.6 3.4 1.4 - - - 1.6 - - 0.4
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 0.2 15.8 - - - - - - - 4.2 0.6 1.4 0.2 - 7.0 4.0 0.2 - 16.8 2.8 1.0 0.4 - - - 1.4 - - -
Warburton (O'Shannassy Reservoir (Quarte
17.8 0.2




- 2.8 - -
- 39.0

- 40.0 9.6

- -


0.6 -
Willowmavin (Avalon Station) 0.6 12.4 - - - - 1.4 - - 2.8 0.8 - - - 14.2 - - 0.2 13.2 - - - - 0.2 - 5.4 0.2 - -
Woodend 0.8 20.2 0.4 0.2 - - 16.6 - - 3.8 0.4 2.4 0.4 0.1 8.5 2.0 0.2 - 2.8 0.8 0.8 - - 0.2




Yan Yean
20.6 -




- 2.6 0.2 1.0
- 16.8

- 26.6 12.2

0.2 -


0.6 0.2
Most values are the precipitation in the 24 hours to 9 am on the day indicated. Days marked with → are part of a longer accumulation, which is shown on the final day.
Values over 100 mm have been rounded to the nearest whole millimetre.
Days marked with - have a rainfall report of zero; days left blank have no rainfall report (which often indicates no rain fell).
Rainfalls coloured
according to the amount
0 1.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 25.0 50.0 100 150 200 300 400 600 millimetres

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Greater Melbourne using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This summary includes data from observing sites in or near the Greater Melbourne “Greater Capital City Statistical Area” (GCCSA). The Australian Bureau of Statistics designed the GCCSAs to “include the population within the urban area of the city, as well as people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, and live in small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. It is important to note that GCCSAs do not define the built up edge of the city. They provide a stable definition for these cities and are designed for the output of a range of social and economic survey data.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 2 March 2020. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites 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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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