31/07/2008: Although the average night time temperature for Melbourne in July 2008 has come in one degree above the long term average, it is still the coldest since 1998.

The average minimum for the city was seven degrees, compared to the long term normal of six degrees. Days were slightly warmer than average, coming in at 14 degrees - one above the long term mean, and the warmest in two years.

"The cooler nights this month, compared to recent years, were due to an increased frequency of drier northerly winds, as well as multiple high pressure cells lingering was close over the Melbourne region", said weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Jessica Trevena. "This led to still, clear nights that allowed heat to rapidly radiate away from the surface".

Elsewhere in Victoria, nights were also cold, with both Cerberus and Geelong recording their coldest average July minimum in 12 years, both with four degrees. Mt Hotham averaged below zero for both nights and days, averaging to minus five degrees and minus two degrees respectively. This is the coldest for July since records began in 1995.

When day and night time temperatures were combined for Melbourne, July averaged to 21 degrees, two above the long term normal of 19.

The highest maximum temperature this month was nearly 19 degrees on the 14th, the warmest July day in three years. The coldest was just last week on the 27th, with 10 degrees.

The drier northerly winds during the month are also reflected in the amount of rainfall received. Despite recording 93% of the average rainfall for July, or 44 millimetres, it was the driest July in three years for Melbourne.

Conversely, in western areas, including Mortlake and Port Fairy, it was the wettest July in 12 years. This was mainly due to a low pressure system that formed offshore near the South Australian and Victorian border on the seventh and eighth.

"The outlook for the next few months is unfortunately for rainfall to be below normal over most of Victoria", said Trevena. "There is also a fairly high probability of temperatures being higher than normal".

Media Inquiries:

Jessica Trevena
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9236

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