WHILE much of Victoria has seen a wet November, Ballarat has largely missed out as the big dry continues heading in to what is predicted to be a dangerous summer.
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Parts of Victoria, including Melbourne, saw more than double the average rainfall throughout November including 45mm on Melbourne Cup day.
But despite various predictions of wild weather throughout the month and numerous warnings issued by the bureau, Ballarat’s weather proved to be an anti-climax.
One saving grace was the month still proved to be the wettest of spring with 42mm falling from the skies, still down on the average of 55.5mm.
But the lack of rainfall depended on where you lived in the region, with Smythes Creek residents copping 25mm in the space of 24 hours on November 23 as a storm front had a direct hit.
Officially though, it meant Ballarat’s total rainfall was just 87.2mm less than half the average of 194.1mm and after a slightly dryer than usual winter, it leaves dangerous fire conditions.
At it appears that abnormal, could become the new normal.
“Unfortunately, what’s considered normal is being turned upside down as a result of climate change,” Climate Council’s acting Chief executive Martin Rice said.
“Many Australians are asking about the link between the catastrophic bushfires currently burning in Queensland and climate change.
“We know climate change is increasing the incidence of extreme heat and making heatwaves longer and more frequent. This creates many challenges for us. We are going to need more resources to fight and manage fires.”
By while rainfall was low, temperatures were only slightly above average for the month.
Throughout November, the temperature averaged 20.4 degrees, just up on the usual 19.8 degrees. Nights also proved to be slightly up on averages at 8.3 degrees, up from 7.9 degrees.
Extremes throughout the month ranged from a high of 31.5 degrees back on November 1, to a bitterly cold 10.1 degrees on November 23.
The day proved to be one of the coldest days for the month on record, just up on 8.3 degrees recorded in 1983.
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