Australian Government - Bureau of Meteorology Home | About Us | Contacts | Careers | Help | Feedback |

Global | Australia | NSW | Vic. | Qld | WA | SA | Tas. | ACT | NT | Ant. |

Weather & Warnings | Water | Climate | Numerical Prediction | About Services | Learn About Meteorology | Registered User Services |
Thursday, 1 June 2006

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - VICTORIA

Coolest May Since 1970 - Victoria in May 2006

Temperature Summary

Across Victoria maximum and minimum temperatures were generally below normal although in Gippsland minimum temperatures were slightly above average.

The beginning of the month saw frontal activity bringing lower temperatures while the second half of the month saw blocking high pressure systems with clear skies or high cloud leading to cool days and cold nights. Local frosts were evident towards the end of the month and the Horsham (Polkemmet) station recorded its lowest minimum on record , -6.5 degrees, on the 30th. Other cold places at the end of the month were Falls Creek (-6.1 degrees) and Mt Hotham (-5.8 degrees) on the 29th and Rutherglen (-4.7 degrees on the 30th.

Click here to view maps of temperature for Victoria, and long term climate trends for Victoria.

Rainfall Summary

Victoria had below average rainfall in parts of northern and western Victoria and well above average rainfall in East Gippsland during May. A low pressure system off the New South Wales coast at the end of the third week of the month caused widespread monthly totals of 200mm to 250mm in Far East Gippsland. The highest rainfall total was 259.8mm at Mallacoota and the lowest, 6.8mm (mean 27.4mm) at Mildura Airport.

Click here to view maps of rainfall for Victoria, and long term climate trends for Victoria.

Significant Weather Systems

A low pressure system off the east coast of Australia led to heavy rainfall in East Gippsland on the first of May.

A week later, on the 7th, a significant front moved across Victoria bringing rain to most areas. Strong winds accompanied the front with wind gusts up to 117 km/h recorded in the Alpine district.

Another low pressure system developed off the east coast between the 22nd and 26th, once again bringing significant rainfall to East Gippsland.

Melbourne Summary

Melbourne’s average maximum temperature was 16.5 degrees, slightly below normal (17.1 degrees). The average minimum temperature, 8.9 degrees, was also below normal (9.5 degrees), making it the coolest month since 1984 when the average minimum temperature was 8.1 degrees.

Melbourne’s rainfall for the month totalled to 66.4mm making it slightly below average (68mm) for the month. The highest recorded fall was 11.8mm on the 6th and rain fell on 12 days. This is the wettest May since 2000 when 91.0mm was recorded.

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

Please contact us for further information.

Victoria Climate Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Ms Monica Long (03) 9669 4949
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 AM on Thursday 1 June 2006 . Although every effort has been made to check them, it is possible that results may change as new information becomes available.

Extremes

Weather extremes during May 2006

Highest temperature
Hottest day
23.1 °C Mildura Airport on 16th
Highest mean daily maximum temperature
Warmest days on average
17.8 °C Mildura Airport
Lowest mean daily maximum temperature
Coolest days on average
2.9 °C Mt Hotham
Lowest daily maximum temperature
Coldest day
-2.3 °C Mt Hotham on 22nd
Lowest temperature
Coldest night
-6.5 °C Horsham (Polkemmet) on 30th
Lowest mean daily minimum temperature
Coldest nights on average
-1.5 °C Mt Hotham
Highest mean daily minimum temperature
Mildest nights on average
10.8 °C Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse
Highest daily minimum
Warmest night
14.4 °C Melbourne Regional Office on 5th
Highest total rainfall
Wettest overall
259.8 mm Mallacoota
Lowest total rainfall
Driest overall
6.8 mm Mildura Airport
Highest daily rainfall
Wettest day
83.0 mm Mallacoota on 1st

Records

Highest Total Rainfall for 20 or more years for May


Total rainfall
for May 2006 (mm)
Most recent higher
for May
Point Hicks 201.7 349.1
in 1978


Record Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for May


Mean daily maximum
temperature
for May 2006 (°C)
Previous lowest
for May
Years of
record
Wonthaggi 15.5 15.6
in 1979
36
Portland 14.5 14.6
in 1997
24
Hamilton Airport 13.5 14.2
in 1995
23
Morwell 15.6 15.9
in 2001
23
Noojee 13.9 14.2
in 1982
22


Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for 20 years or more for May


Mean daily maximum
temperature
for May 2006 (°C)
Most recent lower
for May
Nhill 15.7 15.6
in 1970
Ouyen 17.4 17.0
in 1970
Maryborough 15.0 14.9
in 1973
East Sale Airport 15.9 15.9
in 1979
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 14.1 13.9
in 1979


Record Lowest Mean Daily Minimum Temperature for May


Mean daily minimum
temperature
for May 2006 (°C)
Previous lowest
for May
Years of
record
Ballarat Aerodrome 3.6 3.8
in 1984
98
Portland 6.9 7.0
in 2003
24


Lowest Mean Minimum Temperature for 20 years or more for May


Mean daily minimum
temperature
for May 2006 (°C)
Most recent lower
for May
Echuca Aerodrome 4.3 3.6
in 1900
Hamilton Airport 5.6 4.9
in 1984
Maryborough 4.4 4.1
in 1984
Melbourne Regional Office 8.9 8.1
in 1984


Record Lowest Temperature for May


Lowest temperature
in May 2006 (°C)
Previous lowest
for May
Years of
record
Horsham -6.5
on 30th
-3.0
on 13th in 1994
94
Longerenong -4.4
on 30th
-3.0
on 31st in 1997
73
Mildura Airport -2.1
on 24th
-1.6
on 16th in 1999
60


Summaries

Summary statistics for May 2006


Maximum temperatures
for May
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
for May
(°C)
Rainfall
for May
(mm)
Mean for 2006 Difference from normal Highest for 2006 Mean for 2006 Difference from normal Lowest for 2006 Total for 2006 Normal total
Albury Airport 17.3 -0.3 22.1 3.9 -1.7 -2.0 8 67
Bairnsdale Airport 16.5 -0.8 22.6 7.4 +0.7 1.5 83 51
Ballarat Aerodrome 13.0 -0.7 17.2 3.6 -2.4 -3.2 39 70
Benalla 17.3 +0.1 21.5 3.8 -1.9 -1.0 20 71
Bendigo Airport 15.2 -0.9 19.1 3.9 -2.8 -2.3 30 60
Cape Otway Lighthouse 13.8 -1.6 16.4 9.7 -0.6 5.6 91 99
Castlemaine Prison 14.4 -1.3 19.0 4.2 -0.9 -1.5 33 63
Cerberus 15.6 -0.3 19.0 7.7 -2.8 2.0 93 78
Colac 13.1 -2.8 17.1 7.0 +0.7 3.6 42 81
Coldstream 15.2 -1.3 20.2 4.9 -0.4 -1.4 53 92
East Sale Airport 15.9 -0.8 20.8 7.1 +0.9 0.8 34 64
Echuca Aerodrome 17.1 -0.5 22.1 4.3 -2.5 -1.4 20 48
Geelong Airport 15.8 -1.1 19.6 7.5 -0.2 0.6 70 58
Hamilton Airport 13.5 -2.2 17.6 5.6 -0.9 0.2 43 53
Horsham 15.8 -1.3 20.2 4.7 -1.7 -6.5 24 51
Kerang 17.3 -0.6 22.8 5.4 -2.0 -0.2 10 41
Kilmore Gap 11.5 +0.1 16.7 5.7 +0.2 1.8 67 77
Lake Eildon 15.3 -0.7 19.4 4.6 -1.7 -1.0 45 89
Longerenong 15.7 -1.6 20.3 4.3 -2.2 -4.4 23 49
Mangalore Airport 15.7 -0.8 19.8 4.4 -1.8 -1.8 20 63
Maryborough 15.0 -1.1 19.4 4.4 -2.0 -1.2 18 59
Melbourne Regional Office 16.5 -0.6 21.4 8.9 -0.6 3.9 66 68
Mildura Airport 17.8 -1.1 23.1 5.4 -2.3 -2.1 7 27
Morwell 15.6 -1.2 20.2 7.0 +0.5 0.2 72 57
Mt Hotham 2.9 -2.2 9.5 -1.5 -0.9 -5.9 125 208
Nhill 15.7 -1.7 19.9 4.1 -2.2 -3.9 22 40
Noojee 13.9 -1.3 19.4 6.0 +0.4 -0.2 109 82
Orbost 16.4 -1.4 22.8 8.0 +0.8 3.2 115 92
Ouyen 17.4 -1.3 23.0 5.7 -1.7 -0.2 11 34
Point Hicks 15.9 -1.0 20.0 10.1 -0.9 6.4 202 110
Portland 14.5 -1.2 17.8 6.9 -1.5 0.5 65 79
Shepparton Airport 17.1 +0.1 21.1 4.3 -2.1 -1.3 17 55
Stawell Aerodrome 14.7 -1.2 19.5 5.0 -2.0 -1.2 26 62
Swan Hill Aerodrome 17.5 -0.8 22.9 4.8 -2.7 -2.2 11 38
Wangaratta Aero 17.1 -0.3 20.8 2.1 -2.6 -4.1 23 73
Warracknabeal Museum 16.1 -1.6 21.2 4.9 -1.8 -1.6 27 45
Warrnambool Airport Ndb 14.7 -1.5 18.1 6.5 -0.9 0.6 69 77
Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse 14.1 -0.9 17.4 10.8 -0.6 7.2 150 136
Wonthaggi 15.5 -1.3 18.0 8.4 -0.1 4.5 93 106
Yarrawonga 17.7 -0.3 22.6 4.1 -2.1 -1.6 10 48

Note

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 AM on Thursday 1 June 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 averages for Victoria localities are available here.
Please use the following localities to cover these regions: Coldstream for the Yarra Glen area; Ceberus for the Mornington Peninsula; Morwell for the Latrobe Valley; Mangalore for Seymour; Mt Hotham for the Alpine area.
Daily Weather Observations for selected Victoria localities are available here.

Please contact us for further information.

Victoria Climate Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Ms Monica Long (03) 9669 4949
Email climate.vic@bom.gov.au

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2010, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532)
Please note the Copyright Notice and Disclaimer statements relating to the use of the information on this site and our site Privacy and Accessibility statements. Users of these web pages are deemed to have read and accepted the conditions described in the Copyright, Disclaimer, and Privacy statements. Please also note the Acknowledgement notice relating to the use of information on this site. No unsolicited commercial email.