SHOWERS and storms for much of south-eastern Australia this week have been forecast to bring more than 50 mm of rain across most of eastern Victoria over the coming days.
In December, 2021, rainfall was very much below average (in the driest 10 per cent of records for December) for large areas of western and southern Victoria.
In contrast, rainfall was higher than average across East Gippsland. Root zone soil moisture at the end of December was below average for the western half of Victoria and the Yarra Valley but above average further east and north-east.
December days were warmer than average across north-west Victoria.
Statewide, the mean maximum temperature was more than 1°C warmer than the December average. The month started with daytime temperatures in mid-high 30s across parts of the state with the warm temperatures returning on the 18th, 30th and 31st;.
The highest temperature recorded for the month was 41.5°C at Shepparton Airport on December 18.
Victoria is starting 2022 with a higher accessible volume of water compared with recent years.
Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin were 90.2pc full as of January 4 (32.7pc higher than the same time in 2021). Storage levels in the South East Coast (Victoria) division are 54.1pc full and Melbourne's storages levels are 89.8pc full.
While the latest outlook for January to March favours above average rainfall for parts of eastern Australia, for Victoria, most districts have no strong push towards wetter or drier than average conditions.
East Gippsland has slightly increased chances of above average three-month rainfall. The one-month and three-month outlooks are updated every Thursday on the Bureau of Meteorology's website.
La Nina conditions continue in the tropical Pacific. Climate models indicate La Nina thresholds are likely to be maintained at least until the end summer 2021-22. This is likely to be contributing to the wetter than median outlooks for parts of eastern Australia.
La Nina events typically increase the chances of above-average summer rainfall for northern and eastern Australia.
Days are likely to be warmer than average between January-March for most of Victoria tending to below average in East Gippsland.
Night-time temperatures are likely to be warmer than average across the state with a greater than 80pc chance for parts of the north-west.
