Bendigo has recorded its lowest December rainfall in 18 years, and its driest year since 2002.
Bureau of Meteorology data shows just 3.8 millimetres were logged last month - 12.1 per cent of the typical December rainfall of 31.4 millimetres.
Despite rain in some parts of Bendigo on Monday, none was recorded at the airport weather station.
The lowest December rainfall recorded at that weather station, which came into operation in 1991, was 0.4 millimetres in 1995.
The old weather station at Bendigo Prison registered a record December low of 0.3 millimetres in 1931.
Last year brought the highest December temperature on record for the city, when the mercury peaked at 44.8 degrees on December 20.
Prior to this, the highest recorded temperature for the month was 43.1, on December 31, 2005.
December 2019 saw much more hot days than usual.
On average, December sees 0.3 days above 40 degrees.
But last month, there were four days over 40 degrees - and 11 days above 35 degrees, compared to the average of 2.9.
But 2019 also delivered the coldest December day since 1969.
On the first day of the month, the temperature peaked at just 14 degrees.
The city had 318.8 millimetres of rainfall in 2019, while the city's average annual precipitation is 462.8 millimetres.
2019 was also a warmer than normal year for Bendigo, with minimum and maximum temperatures exceeding the long-term averages.
Maryborough and Castlemaine too experienced their hottest December days on record last month.
Maryborough hit 43.9 degrees on December 20 - 0.2 degrees warmer than its previous record in 2005 - while the temperature reached 43 degrees that same day in Castlemaine, one degree hotter than the previous hottest December day.
The month was drier than usual for the two towns.
Maryborough received 6.8 millimetres over the month and Castlemaine had 9.8 millimetres, down from the average 28.5 millimetres and 33.4 millimetres respectively.
Like Bendigo, Maryborough also saw less rain overall in 2019, receiving 348.6 millimetres.
Typically the Goldfields town would see about 535 millimetres in a year.
Meanwhile, Castlemaine recorded 460 millimetres, when on average it receives 600.5 millimetres a year.
But 2019 was a far cry from the town's driest year - in 1967, it saw just 251.3 millimetres of rain.
Average 2019 maximum and minimum temperatures were higher than the long-term averages for both towns.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
