Melbourne Weather

When Summer does arrive it’s usually warm and sunny with a freshening sea breeze in the afternoon. The average maximum daily temperature is 25.9C although it can regularly climb into the 30s - and beyond. Two or three days of hot weather are followed by a southerly wind and temperatures can drop by as much as 10 degrees in 30 minutes.

Autumn will normally see temperatures cool - although early March has been known to see highs in the mid-30s centigrade.

The mild and sunny weather brings to an end Summer as nights become noticeably cooler with maximum daytime temperatures dropping below 20C. As Autumn sets in temperatures drop to below 10C at night, although March and April are fairly dry. Fog is also common at this of year as Melburnians prepare for the onset of Winter.

When Winter does arrive the city’s weather patterns turn to regular cold and foggy mornings with occasional frosts in outer suburbs. Many days are cloudy and there is little real sunshine and rain falls increase. although the city rarely experiences heavy downpours at this time of year. The record minimum for this time of year is minus 2.8C, on July 4, 1901.

The windiest time of year in Melbourne is July and August, with strong, cold north to northwest winds. Southerlies often bring snow to higher ground - the hills within 35km of the CBD. In July 1986 it snowed - albeit very lightly - in the city centre.

After the darkness of winter, Melbourne comes alive in September with the arrival of Spring, but the winds usually still persist and it can be cold with showery, miserable days. Temperatures steadily climb back in to the 20s and the fog disappears at last.

By October it is not uncommon to see temperatures reaching 25C and whilst winds continue into November they steadily turn to northerlies as a false Summer appears. The record temperature for this time of year is 34C, although it can also get as low as 16C.

November and early December can see severe storms and gales and by late December thunderstorms are not uncommon.