The city’s rainfall was already slightly above the season average, with 221 millimetres fallen, ahead of the last day in winter. This was from 67 rainy days, clear above the Ballarat winter average of 58 wet days.

Rainfall for August up until the 31^st was 56.8mm a little down on the August average of 74.5. This follows three above average months for Ballarat but the year to date rainfall is still   12 percent down on the long term average.

Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said the wet weather, teamed with bursts of warm weather, created the region’s early blossom and signs of spring.

“It’s combination of a wetter than normal and warmer than normal season,” Mr Dutschke said. “The middle of August had a run of warmer weather, but even though it’s cooled down a bit since then, it was enough.”

Ballarat’s average season temperature has been 7.4C up on the 7.2C average. Mr Dutschke said it has been warmer than last winter and cooler than two winters ago.