Record low rainfall was recorded at three sites and new average daily high temperatures were set at four south-west weather stations. Four other sites recorded their driest springs for at least 20 years. 

Portland, Hamilton and Port Fairy had record low spring rainfall, recording 96.8mm, 67.4mm and 82.2mm respectively. The previous record lows were set in 1987, 2006 and 1995. 

Penshurst, Hawkesdale, Casterton and Cavendish had their lowest spring rainfall in at least 20 years and all other south-west weather stations recorded low or very low rainfall for the three months.

Portland, Hamilton, Mortlake and Port Fairy all recorded new average daily high temperatures for the three-month period, although most temperatures only beat the previous average high by a few points of a degree. 

Warrnambool’s weather station at the Mailors Flat airport recorded just 90.4mm of rain for spring, the lowest spring total since 1927 when the driest spring on record produced just 74.5mm at the former Warrnambool post office weather station.

Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Lynette Bettio said the rainfall, which “turned off” in the western region during spring, puts the area in the bottom 5 to 10 per cent of rainfall in the state. 

Ms Bettio said the summer outlook for the region indicated close to average conditions. 

“There is nothing in the climate system that is influencing the western part of the state in any way. The odds haven’t shifted either way,” he said. 

Last spring was Australia’s warmest on record, with the average seasonal temperature 0.1 degrees higher than the previous record set last year. 

Temperatures were 1.67 degrees above the 1961-1990 average.