THE Wimmera experienced a very dry and cold winter, with parts of the region recording their driest August in more than 30 years.
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Bureau of Meteorology data showed most of the Wimmera received average rainfall in June and July, but some places received only a quarter of their average rainfall in August.
Drung and Natimuk both had their driest August since 1982.
Drung received 11 millimetres of rain and Natimuk received 11.8 millimetres.
The August average for the towns is 49.8 millimetres and 49.2 millimetres respectively.
Horsham received 40.2 millimetres in June, 35.8 millimetres in July and 9.8 millimetres in August. The August average is 38.9 millimetres.
Warracknabeal was the driest part of the Wimmera for winter, receiving only 56 per cent of its average winter rainfall.
The town received 67.5 millimetres and the average is 121.5 millimetres.
Longerenong weather statistician Brett Allender said after a promising start on August 1, rain dried up.
“The meagre monthly total of 9.2 millimetres was barely one fifth of the long-term average and the driest August since 1982,” he said.
“In contrast, maximum temperatures stayed close to average for much August, but skyrocketed in the past week to reach 16 degrees, making it the warmest August since 2007.”
Mr Allender said 16 frosts were recorded at Longerenong and the minimum temperature went below zero degrees eight times.
He said it was the driest winter since 2007.
Longerenong and Warracknabeal both recorded their coldest days on record.
On August 2, the mercury dropped to -3.7 degrees at Longerenong and on August 3 it was -3 degrees at Warracknabeal.
Longerenong also recorded the lowest average minimum temperature in more than 60 years, with an August average minimum of 1.8 degrees.
The average winter temperature for Horsham was 14.5, Nhill 14.6 and Warracknabeal 15.1.
Horsham’s NewAg Consulting agronomist Andrew Newall said Wimmera farmers needed more rain soon because crops were quickly running out of soil moisture.
He said farmers were starting to raise concerns.
“If there is not decent rain in the next 10 days or so, they will be a bit nervous,” he said.