Press Release

Melbourne emerges from wettest spring in 18 years

30/11/2010: Melburnians are in search of a dry, warm day after having gone through their wettest spring in 18 years and coolest in seven years, according to weatherzone.com.au.

More than half of the days this spring had some rain, including each of the last six days, helping it become the wettest since 1992 and eighth wettest in 155 years of records.

A total of 305mm was recorded from 47 days of rain, the most number of rain days in spring in 18 years.

Almost half of spring's rain came in October, 145mm, the wettest October in 35 years.

"All of this rain contributed to this being the coolest spring in seven years despite being warmer than average," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

The city had an average maximum temperature of 20.1 degrees, almost a degree warmer than the long-term norm of 19.2. This made it the coolest spring in terms of daytime temperatures since 2003. In fact, there were only five days which warmed to 30 degrees, the fewest 30-degree days in spring in six years.

The average minimum was 11.1 degrees, about a degree above the long-term norm of 9.5. This made it the coldest in four years.

When both daytime and overnight temperatures were combined, Melbourne’s average temperature came in at 15.6 degrees. This made it the coolest spring in seven years, despite being more than a degree above the the long term norm of 14.4.

"The cold and wet wasn't restricted to Melbourne. Much of Victoria experienced its coolest and wettest in decades," Dutschke said.

Mildura had its coolest spring in 18 years in terms of daytime temperatures.

Rutherglen's 326mm of rain made it their wettest spring in 18 years and 2nd wettest in 98 years of records.

"Looking ahead to summer, rainfall is likely to be near or above the long-term average. Both daytime and overnight temperatures should also stay near or above the long-term seasonal norm. This will be largely driven by the current La Nina and a warmer than normal western Pacific Ocean," Dutschke said.

Media Inquiries:

Brett Dutschke
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9269

About Weatherzone:

Weatherzone is Australia's most popular commercial meteorological resource, supplying weather information to most of Australia's major television broadcasters and websites. www.weatherzone.com.au has been developed by a team of world class meteorologists and features user friendly, up-to-the minute access to weather across the country.

If you wish to opt out from future messages, send a reply email with the subject UNSUBSCRIBE, or click here.