Strong spring season in dry 2017

The Warragul district appears to be getting drier.

The rainfall total for 2017 was 873mm.

As a result, last year was the 16th of the past 19 when total rainfall did not reach 1000mm (40 inches in the imperial scale), and fell short of the 115-year average of 1008.5mm.

The only years of the past 19 to top 1000mm were 2010, 2011 and 2012.

December finished off last year with an above average total for the month, 112mm, but it probably felt drier with 93.2mm of the month’s rain falling in the first nine days and an 18-day stretch from December 10 to 27 when no moisture was recorded.

But despite the lower annual total, there were some good features of last year’s rainfall pattern, especially for those on the land.

Above average falls across August, September and October, historically the wettest months, made for a good spring season for farmers after paddocks remained in reasonably good condition throughout winter with May, June and July rain well down on average.

In fact, the first half of the year accounted for more than the difference between the eventual annual total and the average.

Rain in the January to June period amounted to just 280mm, well down on the 435mm average for that period.

July also came in 25mm down on average.

At the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather station at Nilma North, slightly more rain was registered than in Warragul with 901mm for the year.

The bureau’s threemonth outlook is that the January to March period will be wetter than average for most of eastern Victoria.

The low winter rainfall combined with icy temperatures saw Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort report an impressive season.

After a few flutters of snow prior to the snow season opening in June, the resort still had 65cm of snow in early September.

It saw the season extend into the September school holidays with late snow even falling in early November.