Melbourne has experienced its second hottest April in 169 years of records. Only 2005 was hotter in a long history that goes back to when observations began in 1856. While the end of April is delivering a crisp feeling, hinting that winter is just around the corner, much of this April has been significantly above average. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Temperatures are meant to peak at 20C at this time of year, but we had a day as high as 31.8C, 12 degrees above. 20 out of the 30 days were above average, most significantly above. In the end we averaged 23.2C across the month of April, ranking behind the warmest on record (24.1C in 2005), and well above the coldest (17.0C in 1900). Last year the average was only 19C. Melbourne has experienced its second hottest April in 169 years of records. Credit: Supplied The Victorian rainfall percentages for April 2025. Credit: Bureau of Meteorology Nearby, both Melbourne Airport and Moorabbin are having their warmest April on record, but these stations don’t have the history that the city does, both going back half a century. Rainfall has been very different from one part of Victoria to the other. In the far east, Combienbar up in the hills, recorded more than three times their average rain - including 200mm in just a few days. Swan Hill in the state’s northwest received a month and a half’s worth of rain, but look at the rest of Victoria where falls were very much below average. Australian rainfall percentages for April 2025. Credit: Bureau of Meteorology Rainfall deficiencies from February 1 to April 30, 2025. Credit: Bureau of Meteorology April follows a trend started earlier last year where cold fronts mostly miss Victoria (and much of southeastern Australia), and the other systems that bring rain didn’t swing by, bringing rain to other parts of the country instead. This has exacerbated the drought with an area in Severe Deficiency to Lowest on Record stretching across southern South Australia, southwestern Victoria and much of Tasmania. Is there rain on the way? No not much. Instead, we’re entering a period of cold nights as high pressure moves through late this week, followed by another warm stretch as the high sits to the east over the weekend and into early next week. Temperatures are likely to rise significantly above average for May.