Climate

Victoria has a varied climate, ranging from semi-arid in the far north-west of the state, to temperate along the coast. The mountainous Great Dividing Range in the central and eastern parts of the state produces a cooler mountain climate.

The wettest parts of Victoria are the Otway Ranges in the south-west, the mountainous alpine areas of the north-east, and the southern and eastern parts of Gippsland.

The driest part of Victoria is the north-west area.

Temperature extremes

• Highest temperature: 48.8°C at Hopetoun (north-western Victoria) on 7th February 2009
• Lowest temperature: -11.7°C at Omeo on 13th June 1965 and Falls Creek (near Mount Beauty) on 3rd July 1970

Rainfall extremes

• Highest daily rainfall: 375 mm at Tanybryn (inland from Apollo Bay) in 1983
• Highest rainfall in a year: 3,738 mm at Falls Creek (near Mount Beauty) in 1956
• Greatest number of rainy days in a year: 275 days at Wyelangta (near Lavers Hill) in 1986

Snow

Normally snow only falls on the higher mountains within the Great Dividing Range. During some years, snow is occasionally observed at elevated areas in the Grampians, Macedon Ranges, Otway Ranges and Dandenong Ranges.

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