DESPITE 14 days over 30 degrees last month, it was only Ballarat’s hottest summer since 2006/07.
It was also the driest summer since 2010.
Rainfall for the three months was 150.6 millimetres, which is 16 millimetres above average.
However, most of it was dumped in just three days, with January only recording 1.8 millimetres and 33.6 millimetres falling in December.
It compares to 70 millimetres that fell on February 26 and 27 alone, with a further 31.6 millimetres coming down on February 15.
The highest summer temperature of 39 degrees was recorded on January 4, with the month recording seven days over 30 and 11 days over 25 degrees.
December’s maximum was 34.6 degrees two days before Christmas, with five days hitting the 30 degree mark.
But it was February that really sizzled, with 14 days over 30, including five in a row from February 21 to 25.
Minimums for the three months were 14.4 on December 4, 18.4 degrees on January 13 and 16.2 on February 1.
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said yesterday a monsoonal cloud had developed over northern Australia left central and southern Australia with very hot and dry conditions.
“There were very dry conditions across Victoria for much of summer,” Mr Domensino said.
“There was not a lot of contribution from the monsoon. There was not a lot of moisture being drawn down into Victoria.”
Mr Domensino said the heavy rain that fell over just two days helped bring the rainfall average up.
He said, overall, the maximum temperature was 26.2 degrees, which is two degrees above average, while the 11.2 overall minimum was half a degree above average.
The forecast is also for a drier than usual autumn.
“Below to average rainfall will continue into autumn but cold fronts become more active from March to May so rainfall will increase.”
fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au
