Tuesday, 1 September 2020 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Victoria - Product code IDCKGC26R0

Victoria in winter 2020: mostly dry with mild days in the east and south

Winter rainfall in Victoria was below average in most of the state, but above average in East Gippsland where several coastal lows brought heavy rainfall. Daytime temperatures were warmer than average in most of the eastern and southern Victoria. Night-time temperatures were cooler than average across much of the state's west and warmer than average in parts of Victoria's north-east and east.

Below average rainfall

• Winter was drier than average in most of the state, mostly due to the very dry July.
• Averaged across Victoria, rainfall was around 24% below the winter mean of 205 mm.
• It was wetter than average in East Gippsland where several coastal lows brought heavy rainfall.
• The state's highest daily rainfall total of 122 mm was recorded at Weeragua (Cann River) in East Gippsland, on 28 July.
• With 642.0 mm recorded during this winter, the wettest place in Victoria was Mount Baw Baw).
• Averaged across the state, the year-to-date rainfall total was around 455 mm, 5% above the long-term average.

Mild days in the east and south, cold nights in the west

• Daytime temperatures during winter were warmer than average in most of the eastern and southern Victoria, and close to average elsewhere.
• Averaged across the state, maximum temperature was 0.25 °C warmer than average.
• There were several periods with very low daytime temperatures, in a wake of vigorous cold fronts, notably 20-24 June, 2-5 July, 3-6 August and 22-24 August.
• The lowest daytime temperature during the winter, −5.0 °C, was recorded at Mount Hotham on 4 August.
• 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 8 July in the north-west Victoria; Mildura Airport and Ouyen had their coldest winter day on record on 8 July.
• Night time temperatures were cooler than average in most of western Victoria; elsewhere they were close to average, while in East Gippsland night time temperatures were much warmer than average.
• Some sites in western Victoria had their lowest winter mean daily minimum temperature on record, while Walpeup Research had its lowest winter temperature on record on 5 August.
• In contrast, Mallacoota in East Gippsland had its highest winter mean daily minimum temperature in two decades.
• Year-to-date mean maximum temperature was around 0.20 °C below average, the coldest such period since 1996.

Snow and frost

• Winter started with snow, and several very cold outbreaks brought more snow to the Victorian Alps; on 4 August, and again on 22 August, snow fell to low levels, covering the Dandenong and Yarra Ranges, and Mount Macedon.
• Many parts of Victoria experienced large areas of frost on 9 June and again on 16-17 July, when night-time temperatures plummeted due to clear skies and light winds under the strong high-pressure system.
• A tornado was observed near Woodend, north-west of Melbourne on 13 August; it uprooted trees and lifted hay bales into the air.
• Strong winds were recorded on number of days during the season; on 27 August, a cold front and associated trough rapidly crossed the state, resulting in squally westerly winds across southern and mountain districts; Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse reported 157 km/h, the strongest wind gust in Victoria this winter; the State Emergency Services received more than 1000 calls for help, mostly for downed trees and powerlines.

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

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* 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 lower value has gone unreported

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top