June rainfall records dating back more than 100 years were broken across parts of Victoria last month due to heavy rain which caused flash flooding in parts of eastern Victoria.
Four weather stations with more than 120 years of data recorded their highest June daily rainfall event on record, while an additional 19 stations across the state recorded their highest June falls to date.
Toorourrong Reservoir, located on the southern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and west of Kinglake, recorded 65 millimetres of rain in 24 hours - setting a new June record with 130 years of data.
In the state's west, Cobden received 58.8mm in just 24 hours, making it the wettest June date on record dating back 128 years, while Terrang received 50mm - its wettest June day on record in 124 years.
In Gippsland, where most of the rain fell, Jindvick, which boasts 120 years of data, received 71mm, beating all previous records for the wettest day in June.
Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Jonathan Pollock said most of the rain fell on June 9 and 10.
"We had 23 stations record their highest June daily records, and while some of those stations might only have 20 years of data, four of them had more than 100 years of data," Mr Pollock said.
"That goes back a long time so it is quite a significant record for those stations to break."
BoM data shows overall it was Victoria's 99th wettest June on record when compared to 122 years of data.
"It was the wettest June for Victoria since 2014 and that rainfall event we had was probably the wettest event we've had in West and South Gippsland since at least June 2007," he said.
Mount Baw Baw recorded the wettest day for June 2021, receiving 280.6mm on June 10, receiving a total of 398.2mm for the month.
Mount Hotham recorded the coldest overnight temperature at -5.8°C, while Hopetoun Airport experienced the hottest day on June 7 at 21°C.
The BoM's Monthly Climate Summary for Victoria revealed June mornings were not as cold as they normally would be for this time of year.
"Minimum temperatures were in the warmest 10 per cent of records for large parts of the north-west and east Gippsland," Mr Pollock said.
The summary revealed Victoria's mean maximum temperature was 0.54 °C above the long-term June average.
Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
