As Melbourne approaches the end of January 2024, the city is on track to mark an unusual milestone: no days have been classified as “hot,” meaning temperatures have not exceeded 35°C this summer.
This is a stark contrast to the sweltering conditions experienced in other parts of Australia.
Data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) shows that the warmest temperatures recorded were 34°C on December 13 and 33.4°C on January 12, with the last occurrence of temperatures above 35°C dating back to March 18, 2023.
Interestingly, this summer’s pattern recalls 1984, the last time Melbourne experienced zero hot days in January. While previous years typically averaged several hot days during this month—three in 2023 and five in 2019—this season has proven exceptionally mild.
Despite a warmer global trend, Melbourne’s January temperatures stay unusually cool and mild.Dr. Linden Ashcroft, a climate scientist at the University of Melbourne, noted that while much of Australia has been engulfed in heat, southeastern Victoria has remained unusually cool.
Several factors contribute to this anomaly. The recent El Niño event was anticipated to bring warmer conditions, but instead, a positive southern annular mode (SAM) has influenced local weather patterns.
Cold fronts have swept through the region, accompanied by high-pressure systems that direct cooler southerly airflows across the state.
Despite the lack of hot days, Melbourne’s long-term temperature trend remains upward. The average temperatures for December 2023 and January 2024 are still below historical trends, yet the city continues to face challenges related to humidity.
Experts caution that, although fewer hot days may be recorded when heat does arrive, it can be intense and potentially detrimental to vulnerable populations.