It was the wettest April in Terang for 37 years with 130mm recorded. Back in April 1980, 194mm of rain fell in the town.

Hamilton experienced its heaviest falls in more than two decades with 97mm falling in April compared to the monthly average of 41mm.

The total broke the previous record of 88mm set in 1992 and was more than double the amount of rain recorded last year when there was below average rainfalls of 39mm. 

Casterton’s rainfall of 88mm was the highest April rainfall since 1995 when 94mm was recorded.

Portland’s 104mm was 75 per cent above average and more than double last year’s total of just 42mm.

While Warrnambool’s 95mm was also 75 per cent above the average of 54.4mm, it didn’t break any significant records, according to Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Richard Carlyon.

Mortlake’s 117mm was three times more than last year’s April rainfall of 38mm and more than double the average of 45.4mm.

While many of the heaviest falls were recorded on April 25 – 25mm in Warrnambool and 36.6mm in Mortlake – Portland recorded its wettest day on April 21 when 43.6mm fell.

Port Fairy recorded above average rainfall of 69mm compared to the average of 51.4mm, and was more than double last year’s 25mm.

“It definitely has been a wet month,” Mr Carlyon said.

Across the state, the average April rainfall was up 51 per cent above average with the western and northern parts of the state experiencing the biggest departure from normal, he said.

However, he said it was not unusual for April to experience either wet conditions or an Indian summer.

Despite the wet April, Mr Carlyon said forecasters were now watching out for an El Nino weather pattern and, if that eventuated, the south-west would experience a drier winter, spring and summer.

“We do expect conditions to dry out,” he said.

“There is slightly more chance of below average rainfall rather than slightly above average.”