Compared to the historical average for daytime temperatures recorded at the Shepparton Airport, March 2024 was a warm one.
Historically, March has had an average highest daytime temperature of 32℃, but 2024’s first month of autumn had a high of 37.4℃ on March 9.
In terms of the lowest maximum daytime temperature, this year’s figure of 20.7℃ was 2.3℃ warmer than last year’s 18.4℃.
The highest night-time minimum temperature was 21.5℃, which was warmer than last year’s 19.3℃.
The lowest night-time temperature this year was 5.7℃, which is only 0.1℃ warmer than the coldest ever recorded for March in Shepparton.
It was a dry month, with a rainfall total of 19.8mm, of which 19.4mm fell on March 20.
Historically, March has had an average of 34.5mm of rain.
Looking across the region, Echuca had the highest daytime temperature of 38.5℃ on March 9 and the lowest daytime maximum temperature of 22.3℃ on March 20.
It was a dry month for Echuca, with only 2.8mm recorded at the Echuca Aerodrome.
Kyabram had a similarly dry month, with 9.8mm of rain recorded at its weather station.
Tatura Inst Sustainable Ag recorded a highest daytime temperature of 36.6℃ during March and a lowest night-time temperature of 6.7℃.
Tatura had 10.4mm of rain, and Benalla had similar numbers, with 10.6mm recorded at the Benalla Airport.
Benalla had a highest daytime temperature of 36.6℃.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast shows most of Australia has at least an 80 per cent chance of above-average temperatures this autumn.
There is a 60 to 75 per cent chance of below-median rainfall for most of NSW — excluding some eastern areas — as well as most of Victoria, including Melbourne but excluding East Gippsland.
Most of the country is expected to have typical fire potential during autumn.
9°C