OVERNIGHT temperatures have been as much as two degrees higher than normal in central Victoria during July, while rainfall has been below average for much of the region.
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Key points:
- July in central Victoria, drier, warmer than normal
- Rainfall not enough to break drought pressure
- Bureau forecaster says dry, warm conditions likely to continue into the future
Castlemaine's mean minimum temperature was two degrees higher than average, while Bendigo's was 1.9 degrees higher, Redesdale's 1.6, Echuca 1.4 and Maryborough's 1.2.
July's high temperatures follow a warmer than average start to the year. Maximum temperatures between January and July have been the highest since records began.
A Bureau of Meteorology forecaster has said the warm conditions were consistent with the long-term warming trend across the globe.
Daytime temperatures have also been above the norm during July in central Victoria.
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The mean maximum temperatures for Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Redesdale and Echuca were all between 0.5 and 1.3 degrees higher than the July average.
Victoria's mean daytime temperature was 0.95 of a degree higher than average.
Rainfall was below average in most of central Victoria during July, with some exceptions.
Bendigo's rainfall of 34.8 millimetres was 64 per cent of its July average. Castlemaine has received 60 per cent of its average rainfall, with a total of 35.8 millimetres and Maryborough 70 per cent, with falls of 37.8 millimeters.
Redesdale received just 47 per cent of its normal July rainfall, with falls of 30.4 millimetres.
Wedderburn bucked the dry trend, with its highest total July rainfall in 20 years. A total of 76 millimetres fell on the town, an amount not exceeded since 1998.
Echuca received 53.9 millimetres, 131 per cent of its July average.
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A Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Chris Arvier said Victoria as a whole had received close to average rainfall during the year to date.
But was probably not enough the alleviate the drought pressure built up during the previous 24 months, he said.
Mr Arvier said the warmer conditions were partly to do with weather systems, but also consistent with long term-global trends towards a warming climate.
January to July was the second warmest on record across Australia.
"This is very consistent with climate change, certainly we would expect to see the climate continues to warm. It meets what scientists have been predicting," Mr Arvier said.
Mr Arvier said the higher temperatures, and drier weather, was likely to become the norm for central Victoria into the future.
He said BoM expected the above average temperatures and below average rainfall to continue into the rest of 2019.
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