With a total fire ban in place and firefighters on high alert, news that summer, winter and spring have been the warmest on record means it’s likely 2013 will be the hottest we’ve ever had. 

Weatherzone meteorologist Max Gonzelez said the official results would be determined in early January, adding that 2013 would definitely be in the top three hottest years on record. 

“Australia-wide it has been warmer than average,” Mr Gonzelez said. 

Ballarat’s yearly statistics include an average maximum temperature of 17.6 degrees, an average minimum temperature of seven degrees and an average rainfall of 691.9mm.

In December alone temperatures have been about three degrees higher than average, while rainfall has been about half the December average. 

Mr Gonzelez said Ballarat usually received about 50mm of rain in December, yet so far had received only about 25mm. 

“We have seen about nine days of rain but those days haven’t included the amount of rain we usually see,” he said. 

December’s lowest temperature was 0.1 degrees on December 6 while the highest temperature was 36.9 degrees on December 19.

A cold front is expected to hit Ballarat this afternoon and drop temperatures to about 20 degrees tomorrow. 

The rest of 2013 is predicted to be cool with very low morning temperatures. 

Mr Gonzelez said Monday morning would drop as low as five degrees, while Tuesday morning would be about seven degrees before warming to a predicted top of 25 degrees. 

He said a tropical cyclone currently off the coast of Western Australia would bring patches of rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au