Monday, 3 August 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC16R0

Victoria in July 2020: below average rainfall, some cold days and nights

July rainfall was lower than average across the state away from Gippsland, with large areas recording very much below average rainfall. Daytime temperatures were generally warmer than average, while night-time temperatures were cooler than average in most of western Victoria, and much warmer than average in East Gippsland.

A dry July across much of the state

  • Statewide, rainfall was 35% below the long-term July mean of 70 mm, the driest July since 2002.
  • Much of western Victoria and large areas in the north-east had rainfall totals in the driest 10 % on record for July.
  • Most of Gippsland had above to very much above average July rainfall.
  • A pair of strong cold fronts crossed Victoria in the first three days of the month, bringing strong gusty winds, thunderstorms and showers to the south and the north-east of the state.
  • A cold front and a complex low pressure system resulted in widespread rainfall in Victoria, with daily totals to 9am on the 11th and 12th locally exceeding 30 mm, while a low pressure system that developed in the Tasman Sea brought welcome rain to eastern Victoria in the following few days.
  • Another low pressure system, located close to the NSW coast delivered heavy rainfall to Gippsland, with many sites recording daily totals to 9am on the 28th in excess of 40 mm and locally much higher.
  • The highest daily total in the state, 122.0 mm, was recorded at Weeragua (East Gippsland) on the 28th; this was also the wettest place in Victoria during the month, recording a July total of 314.4 mm.
  • Murderers Hill and Maffra had their highest July daily rainfall on record, while several sites had their highest total July rainfall on record.
  • The statewide year-to-date rainfall total was around 393 mm, 10% above average.

Some cold days and nights

  • Daytime temperatures were warmer than average across much of the state.
  • Averaged across Victoria, the mean maximum temperature was 0.50 °C warmer than average.
  • The highest daytime temperature in Victoria this month, 21.7 °C, was recorded at Mildura Airport on the 1st
  • It was a warm start to the month, followed by low daily maximum temperatures in a wake of cold fronts; however, for most of the month, Victoria was under the influence of high pressure systems, with generally dry and mild days.
  • Due to fog and low clouds, which prevented the ground and air above it from being warmed by the sun, low daytime temperatures were recorded on the 8th in the north-west of Victoria; Mildura Airport, Ouyen PO and Swan Hill Aerodrome had their coldest July day on record on the 8th.
  • Night-time temperatures were below average across most of western Victoria; in contrast, in East Gippsland and adjacent areas they were very much above average or highest on record.
  • Some sites had their lowest July mean daily minimum temperature on record or lowest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least two decades.
  • Gelantipy and Mallacoota had their highest July mean daily minimum temperature on record
  • The 4th saw cool night-time temperatures in a wake of a cold front, and many sites across Victoria had temperatures close to zero; the lowest night-time temperature recorded in the state during July was −5.8 °C at Falls Creek on the 4th.
  • A ridge of high pressure slowly moved over Victoria between the 13th and 18th, resulting in clear skies and light winds, which led to cold mornings, particularly on the 16th and 17th, when many sites across the state recorded daily minimum temperatures below 0 °C.
  • For the year-to-date, the mean maximum temperature was 0.24 °C below average, the coldest January to July period since 2011

Snow, frost and hail

  • 10-25 cm of snow fell in the Victorian Alps in a wake of cold fronts which crossed the state at the beginning of the month.
  • Frost and fog were observed across much of western and central Victoria on the 16th and 17th, due to the clear skies and light winds.
  • Showers of small hail were reported across parts of Melbourne and Gippsland, following the passage of a cold front on the 19th.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in July 2020
Hottest day 21.7 °C at Mildura Airport on the 1st
Warmest days on average 16.2 °C at Mildura Airport
Coolest days on average 2.6 °C at Falls Creek
Coldest day -2.0 °C at Falls Creek on the 3rd
Coldest night -5.8 °C at Falls Creek on the 4th
Coolest nights on average -1.9 °C at Falls Creek
Warmest nights on average 9.5 °C at Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Warmest night 12.1 °C at Mallacoota on the 28th
Warmest on average overall 11.9 °C at Gabo Island Lighthouse
Coolest on average overall 0.3 °C at Falls Creek
Wettest overall 314.4 mm at Weeragua (Cann River (East Branch) at Ch
Wettest day 122.0 mm at Weeragua (Cann River (East Branch) at Ch on the 28th
Strongest wind gust 128 km/h at Mount Buller on the 2nd

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures		 Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures		 Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

Record highest July daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Murderers Hill 67.6 on the 13th 61.6 on the 7th in 2016 29
Maffra 36.2 on the 13th 35.0 on the 7th in 2001 25


Record highest July total rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Murderers Hill 188.2 164.8 in 2016 29 75.3
Combienbar AWS 180.8 174.4 in 2001 25 80.1
Mitchell River @ Glenaladale 136.0 111.6 in 2016 20 48.7


Record lowest July daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Mildura Airport 7.6 on the 8th 7.9 on the 11th in 1956 74 15.5
Ouyen (Post Office) 7.2 on the 8th 8.1 on the 2nd in 1988 64 15.2
Yarrawonga 6.7 on the 7th 6.9 on the 8th in 1995 28 13.6
Swan Hill Aerodrome 7.4 on the 8th 8.2 on the 17th in 2007 24 14.8


Record highest July mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Hunters Hill 9.2 8.7 in 2013 27 7.3
Redesdale 13.3 = 13.3 in 2001 27 12.0
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 14.7 14.5 in 1999 24 13.8
Eildon Fire Tower 10.6 = 10.6 in 2001 24 9.2


Record highest July mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Gelantipy 3.5 3.4 in 2016 27 2.2
Mallacoota 8.0 7.8 in 2001 27 6.2


Record lowest July mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Mortlake Racecourse 2.2 2.5 in 1997 28 4.6
Port Fairy AWS 5.4 5.7 in 1998 28 7.0
Warrnambool Airport NDB 3.5 4.3 in 2008 21 5.6

Lowest July mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
July
Ouyen (Post Office) 2.6 1.0 in 1982 4.3
Walpeup Research 3.0 2.6 in 1982* 4.8
Mildura Airport 3.0 2.3 in 1997 4.4
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 4.9 =4.9 in 1997 6.3
Rutherglen Research 0.9 -1.2 in 1997 2.1
Swan Hill Aerodrome 1.7 1.3 in 1997 3.6
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 7.4 7.3 in 1998 8.4
Horsham Aerodrome 1.9 1.4 in 1998 3.3
Longerenong 2.3 0.3 in 1997* 3.4

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



Record highest July mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Hunters Hill 6.1 = 6.1 in 2013 27 4.6


Record lowest July mean temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
July
Warrnambool Airport NDB 8.3 8.5 in 2015 21 9.5

Lowest July mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)		 Most recent
lower		 Average for
July
Mortlake Racecourse 7.6 7.4 in 1997 8.8
Ouyen (Post Office) 8.9 8.7 in 1998 9.8


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for July 2020
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2020		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
July
2020		 Mean for
July
2020		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
July
2020		 Total for
July
2020		 Average
for
July		 Rank of
July
2020		 Fraction of
July
average
North Mallee (district 76)
Mildura Airport 16.2 +0.7 21.7 1st 3.0 -1.4 -2.2 23rd 6.2 24.5 low 25%
Ouyen (Post Office) 15.1 -0.1 21.0 1st 2.6 -1.7 0.1 9th 23.4 30.3 average 77%
Walpeup Research 14.8 +0.1 20.1 1st 3.0 -1.8 0.8 9th 16.0 31.6 low 51%
South Mallee (district 77)
Hopetoun Airport 14.7 -0.2 20.0 1st 0.9 -2.4 -3.9 16th 6.6 25.6 v low 26%
Swan Hill Aerodrome 14.9 +0.1 19.3 1st 1.7 -1.9 -2.4 23rd 7.4 26.6 v low 28%
North Wimmera (district 78)
Kellalac (Warracknabeal Airport) 14.2   19.3 1st 2.4   -1.7 16th 6.0
Nhill Aerodrome 13.9 -0.1 18.5 1st 3.0 -1.6 -0.9 16th 14.0 35.5 v low 39%
South Wimmera (district 79)
Edenhope Airport 13.4 0.0 18.1 1st 3.9 -1.1 -0.3 29th 38.0 65.4 v low 58%
Grampians (Mount William) 6.4 +1.5 11.9 26th 0.9 0.0 -1.8 24th 64.6 170.1 v low 38%
Horsham Aerodrome 13.8 +0.1 18.4 1st 1.9 -1.4 -2.1 15th 14.4 39.7 lowest 36%
Kanagulk 12.8 0.0 16.4 1st 3.0 -1.4 -2.0 17th 42.8 63.8 low 67%
Longerenong 14.0 +0.8 18.5 1st 2.3 -1.1 -1.9 31st 13.0 42.6 v low 31%
Pyrenees (Ben Nevis) 8.0 +0.8 13.3 26th 2.9 +0.3 0.3 24th 47.2 80.8 v low 58%
Stawell Aerodrome 12.7 +0.3 16.0 1st 3.1 -1.1 -1.6 17th 22.0 54.1 v low 41%
Lower North (district 80)
Charlton 14.3 +0.5 17.9 1st 1.8 -1.9 -2.5 16th 4.8 33.9 v low 14%
Echuca Aerodrome 14.2 +0.7 17.0 26th 2.6 -1.2 -3.4 24th 21.5 40.8 low 53%
Kerang 14.4 +0.3 18.2 1st 3.1 -0.9 -0.5 24th 10.4 34.7 v low 30%
Kyabram 14.0 +0.8 17.0 1st 3.2 +0.1 -1.4 24th 35.2 42.6 average 83%
Upper North (district 81)
Bendigo Airport 13.6 +1.0 18.1 26th 2.7 0.0 -2.7 24th 14.6 53.0 v low 28%
Shepparton Airport 13.7 +0.4 17.6 28th 3.4 0.0 -2.0 24th 41.6 41.4 average 100%
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag 13.5 +0.4 16.2 1st 3.5 +0.5 -1.7 24th 42.4 47.3 average 90%
Yarrawonga 13.8 +0.2 18.4 28th 2.7 -0.8 -2.2 23rd 40.8 46.1 average 89%
Lower Northeast (district 82)
Benalla Airport 14.1 +0.9 17.3 28th 2.0 -1.1 -3.1 23rd 35.4 65.1 v low 54%
Hunters Hill 9.2 +1.9 12.4 25th 3.1 +1.2 -0.9 4th 66.8 150.7 v low 44%
Rutherglen Research 13.7 +1.3 18.3 28th 0.9 -1.2 -3.4 18th 15.8 60.6 v low 26%
Strathbogie 11.7 +1.5 15.3 26th 1.7 -0.1 -3.9 18th 42.0 121.5 v low 35%
Wangaratta Aero 13.8 +0.8 18.5 28th 2.3 -0.3 -2.6 18th 36.6 63.6 low 58%
Upper Northeast (district 83)
Falls Creek 2.6 +1.5 7.0 31st -1.9 +1.0 -5.8 4th 103.0 93.4 average 110%
Mount Buller 3.6 +2.2 8.8 17th -1.2 +1.4 -4.3 4th 74.6 168.0 low 44%
Omeo 11.2 +0.6 14.1 29th 1.7 +0.8 -4.7 25th 84.8 54.6 high 155%
East Gippsland (district 84)
Combienbar AWS 10.6 -0.8 17.2 1st 5.7 +0.8 1.6 24th 180.8 80.1 highest 226%
Gabo Island Lighthouse 14.6 +0.5 19.5 1st 9.3 +1.1 5.4 24th 150.2 84.7 v high 177%
Gelantipy 9.5 -0.2 15.0 1st 3.5 +1.3 -1.7 24th 128.6 59.0 high 218%
Lakes Entrance (Eastern Beach Road) 14.2 -1.2 21.0 1st 6.8 +1.0 0.0 24th 82.8 49.7 high 167%
Mallacoota 14.5 -0.5 18.6 2nd 8.0 +1.8 2.1 24th 151.0 80.2 high 188%
Mount Nowa Nowa 12.0 -1.1 17.4 1st 6.7 +0.7 3.4 4th 145.4 63.5 high 229%
Orbost 14.3 -0.8 20.3 1st 6.5 +0.9 -0.2 25th 117.2 60.4 high 194%
West Gippsland (district 85)
Bairnsdale Airport 14.0 -0.6 20.0 1st 5.2 +1.2 -1.3 24th 90.4 48.2 high 188%
Corner Inlet (Yanakie) 13.4   16.1 1st 5.6   0.6 25th 50.2
East Sale 14.0 +0.1 20.2 1st 5.2 +1.9 -0.9 25th 72.4 41.2 high 176%
East Sale Airport 14.1   20.2 1st 4.9   -1.2 25th 77.0
Morwell (Latrobe Valley Airport) 13.7 0.0 18.6 1st 5.0 +1.3 -1.1 25th 34.2 64.3 low 53%
Mount Baw Baw 3.7 +1.5 9.8 17th -0.9 +0.7 -3.8 4th 255.4 162.9 high 157%
Nilma North (Warragul) 12.8   18.4 1st 4.9   -0.8 31st 49.6
Pound Creek 13.8 -0.2 17.8 1st 5.2 -0.8 0.2 17th 59.6 83.3 v low 72%
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 12.5 +0.2 17.6 1st 9.5 +1.1 7.1 4th 88.2 123.3 low 72%
Yarram Airport 14.3 -0.1 19.2 1st 5.1 +0.5 -1.8 25th 29.2 50.0 low 58%
East Central (district 86)
Cerberus 13.7 0.0 18.1 1st 5.2 -1.2 0.6 17th 39.6 70.8 low 56%
Coldstream 13.4 0.0 17.8 1st 4.5 +0.6 -1.3 18th 51.0 61.8 low 83%
Essendon Airport 13.4 +0.3 16.3 31st 6.4 +1.0 1.4 31st 32.0 42.9 average 75%
Ferny Creek 9.8   12.9 10th 5.4   2.5 4th
Frankston (Ballam Park) 13.3   16.2 9th 6.6   2.6 31st 35.4
Melbourne (Olympic Park) 14.0   17.4 1st 7.1   3.1 17th 30.0
Melbourne Airport 13.2 0.0 16.2 31st 5.5 0.0 1.1 17th 29.2 35.2 average 83%
Moorabbin Airport 13.7 0.0 18.3 1st 6.0 -0.2 1.2 17th 43.4 61.0 low 71%
Rhyll 13.5 +0.1 16.9 1st 8.1 -0.1 5.5 18th 45.0 68.9 low 65%
Scoresby Research Institute 13.6 +0.5 17.7 1st 5.9 0.0 0.4 17th 44.6 72.6 low 61%
Viewbank 13.6 -0.4 18.0 1st 5.9 -0.1 0.6 31st 34.2 47.2 low 72%
West Central (district 87)
Avalon Airport 14.1 -0.1 19.0 1st 4.2 -1.0 -0.6 25th 11.6 36.9 v low 31%
Breakwater (Geelong Racecourse) 14.0   19.1 1st 5.0   0.4 17th 18.8 42.2 v low 45%
Laverton RAAF 13.8 +0.1 17.1 1st 5.6 +0.5 0.7 17th 19.2 38.2 low 50%
Sheoaks 12.4 +0.1 16.7 1st 4.2 -1.0 -1.3 24th
North Central (district 88)
Castlemaine Prison 12.6 +0.8 18.0 26th     -2.0 17th 29.6 59.9 low 49%
Eildon Fire Tower 10.6 +1.4 14.7 26th 4.4 +0.5 2.0 4th 26.0 66.6 v low 39%
Lake Eildon 13.3 +1.3 16.8 28th 3.3 -0.4 -0.5 16th 33.4 93.1 v low 36%
Mangalore Airport 13.3 +0.8 16.4 29th 3.4 +0.2 -2.4 18th 43.0 56.7 average 76%
Maryborough 13.1 +0.8 17.5 26th 3.6 +0.2 -1.9 24th 28.4 53.7 low 53%
Puckapunyal Lyon Hill (Defence) 12.8   16.3 29th 5.4   0.6 18th 33.8
Puckapunyal West (Defence) 12.4   15.7 29th 4.8   -0.6 24th 34.2
Redesdale 13.3 +1.3 17.2 26th 2.6 -0.4 -1.8 31st 23.4 64.6 low 36%
Wallan (Kilmore Gap) 9.4 +0.3 13.2 29th 4.5 +0.5 1.6 24th 37.6 60.3 low 62%
Western Plains (district 89)
Ararat Prison 12.3 +0.5 16.5 29th 3.0 -0.4 -3.2 17th 59.8 63.0 average 95%
Ballarat Aerodrome 10.8 +0.7 13.4 29th 3.4 +0.2 -2.7 17th 41.8 66.2 low 63%
Westmere 11.9 -0.3 14.9 1st 2.5 -1.9 -3.1 17th 29.2 53.8 v low 54%
West Coast (district 90)
Aireys Inlet 13.7 +0.3 17.6 1st 7.3 0.0 4.2 24th 24.6 67.3 v low 37%
Cape Nelson Lighthouse 14.7 +0.9 17.6 28th 7.4 -1.0 4.0 26th 37.2 97.8 lowest 38%
Cape Otway Lighthouse 13.1 +0.1 17.2 1st 8.2 +0.6 4.3 24th 59.8 106.1 low 56%
Casterton 13.0 -0.1 17.3 1st 3.3 -1.7 -1.8 16th 45.2 82.9 v low 55%
Colac (Mount Gellibrand) 11.7 +0.1 15.5 1st 5.4 +0.1 2.1 17th 24.4 57.6 lowest 42%
Dartmoor 13.6 0.0 17.6 1st 3.3 -2.2 -0.9 26th 51.2 105.5 v low 49%
Hamilton Airport 12.1 0.0 15.6 1st 3.4 -1.0 -1.6 16th 38.4 70.2 low 55%
Mortlake Racecourse 13.0 0.0 16.4 1st 2.2 -2.4 -3.3 26th 27.2 62.2 v low 44%
Port Fairy AWS 14.1 -0.1 18.7 1st 5.4 -1.6 0.5 26th 51.2 88.8 low 58%
Portland (Cashmore Airport) 13.4 +0.3 16.9 1st 4.9 -1.4 0.0 26th 75.4 112.4 low 67%
Warrnambool Airport NDB 13.1 -0.4 17.3 1st 3.5 -2.1 -1.9 26th 54.8 84.3 low 65%

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, lists the main features of the weather in Victoria 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 statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Monday 3 August 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

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