When Melbourne’s warmer weather will hit after ‘exceptional’ cold burst

After an “exceptional” cold burst brought downpours, floods, hail and gusty winds to Melbourne, here’s when we can finally expect warmer weather.

Warmer weather will eventually hit Melbourne after an “exceptional” cold burst swept the state over the past couple of months.

Victorians have battled through heavy downpours, floods, hail, thunderstorms and gusty winds, causing widespread devastation since June this year.

Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said higher temperatures were expected in January instead of December.

“Melbourne has seen three days below 14C and this hasn’t happened in November since 1965,” he said.

“December is likely to be colder than usual, but it will follow a general warming trend.

“January and February are more likely to be closer to average.”

Wild, cold weather has lashed Victoria this spring. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Sharpe said the reason for the “exceptional” cold burst was due to a strong polar vortex over Antarctica.

“The air over Antarctica is much colder than usual, particularly in the upper levels of the atmosphere,” he said.

“We’ve seen this cold make inroads on southeast Australia on three occasions.

“The polar vortex is set to stay strong through summer but typically, bouts of cold from a strong vortex only occasionally reach our shores, but when it does arrive it packs a punch with extreme temperatures.

“So, we may still see some remarkable summertime cold in the south of the country, but it should be rare.”

An elderly woman and her husband are rescued from their flooded Rochester home. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the wild weather will be a “challenge” across the state.

“There’s still a bit to go with the weather we’re seeing at the moment,” he said.

“La Nina might be with us for probably another six weeks so we’re seeing this sort of very, very unpredictable weather.

“It’s something that continues to challenge us here in Victoria.”

Mr Crisp said the fire season will begin later than usual.

“It doesn’t feel like it, because it is so cold at the moment, but the fire danger period starts up in the northwest of the state,” he said.

“It is early and we will have a somewhat of a later fire season, but there will be fires and it is important that people start to think about what their plan is.

“Sit down with your family, discuss your plan and importantly about when your going to put your plan into effect.”

The SES hase received more than 1000 requests for help in the past 24 hours in Melbourne including for fallen trees. Picture: Nicki Connolly

It comes as the wet weather has led to a spike in mosquito numbers as authorities issued a warning for mosquito-borne viruses.

Health authorities are particularly focused on the Ross River virus, which can cause fever, chills, headache, rash, joint swelling and pain and last for months.

But they also flagged other mosquito-linked viruses including the Barmah Forest virus and other rarer diseases such as the Japanese encephalitis virus, Kunjin virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus.

Victoria’s deputy chief health officer Associate Professor Deborah Friedman released an alert earlier this week, warning of “increased mosquito breeding both inland and in coastal areas” after heavy rainfall and floods.

“Recent mosquito breeding is forecast to further increase mosquito biting in the upcoming weeks,” the alert said.

“Taking measures to avoid mosquito bites is therefore a critical step to protect against diseases.”

Recommended measures include removing stagnant water; wearing long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing; ensuring you have mosquito netting or screens installed and wearing insect repellent.

Vaccines are only available for the Japanese encephalitis virus.