January was wetter than average for Victoria, largely due to record daily rainfall at the end of the month.
State-wide, January rainfall was 68 per cent above the long-term average of 39.5 millimetres, the highest since 2011.
Rainfall totals for the month were above average across most of Victoria, tending to near-average in parts of Central Gippsland, the north and the Mallee.
Parts of western Victoria and scattered areas in the east received more than double their average January rainfall.
The highest daily totals were recorded in the state's north-east where severe thunderstorms produced heavy falls.
Another cold front, and a low pressure trough, which brought tropical moisture, crossed Victoria on 29th.
Daily rainfall totals exceeded 50mm at many sites in central and north-east Victoria.
Many sites had their highest January daily rainfall on record in the 24 hours to 9am on the 30th, including Lake Eildon and Highlands, which both have more than 100 years of observations.
Also, many sites had their highest total January rainfall on record, including Cape Otway Lighthouse where observations started in 1861, while other sites had their highest total January rainfall in two decades.
After a mild first few days, a cold front brought cool temperatures to most of the state on the 4th and 5th; this was followed by a period of warm temperatures and from the 9th a heatwave started to develop across Victoria.
Daytime temperatures peaked on the 10th and 11th and were 8-10 degrees above average across the state.
A cold front on the 15th brought mild daytime temperatures to Victoria and even a few centimetres of snow at Mount Buller.
Maximum temperatures gradually increased from the 21st, culminating in a heatwave on the 24th and 25th when many sites across the state recorded daytime temperatures in the high-30s to low-40s.
The highest daytime temperature recorded in Victoria this January was 43.9 degrees at Ouyen Post Office and Walpeup Research on the 24th, while the state's warmest night was recorded during the same event when Walpeup Research's minimum temperature only dipped to 28.3 degrees on the 25th.
Despite some hot days, the state-wide mean maximum temperature was only 0.28 degrees above the long-term average, the coolest January since 2015.
Night-time temperatures were above average in parts of the southern and eastern Victoria.
Have you signed up to Stock & Land's daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to Victorian agriculture.
