Rainfall was down this summer. Picture: Peter Weaving
BENDIGO has endured one of its hottest summers on record, with mean temperatures well above average and rainfall down.
The mean temperature of 30.5 degrees is in the top 10 per cent of all summers, above the long-term average of 28 degrees over December, January and February.
Rainfall across the region was also significantly down on the average of 98.3 millimetres, with the 70.8 millimetres recorded over summer including 44.4 millimetres which fell in the last three days of February.
Bendigo’s hottest day of 41.3 degrees was reached on Thursday, January 17.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Richard Russell said Bendigo’s hot summer followed a trend right throughout Australia.
“It has been Australia’s hottest summer on record,” he said.
He said the warm weather was not going to ease up in March, with plus 30 degree days forecast for the next week.