Mount Hotham

{{About|the mountain|the alpine resort|Mount Hotham Alpine Resort}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Mount Hotham

| other_name =

| photo = Mt Hotham from the summit 2007.jpg

| photo_size =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Mount Hotham, view from the summit in 2007

| elevation = {{convert|1862|m}} {{AHD}}

| elevation_m =

| elevation_ref =

| prominence = {{convert|242|m}} {{AHD}}

| prominence_m =

| prominence_ref = {{cite peakbagger |pid=11638 |name=Mount Hotham, Australia}}

| listing =

| range = Victorian Alps, Great Dividing Range

| parent_peak =

| location = Victoria, Australia

| map = Australia Victoria Alpine Shire

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location near Alpine Shire

| map_relief = yes

| map_size = 275

| label =

| label_position = right

| coordinates = {{coord|36|58|31|S|147|7|58|E|region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}}{{Gazetteer of Australia |name=Mount Hotham |feature=VIC17722 }}

| topo =

| type =

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route =

| child =

| embedded =

}}

File:Mt hotham summer scenery.jpg

Mount Hotham is a mountain located in the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, in the Australian state of Victoria. The mountain is located approximately {{convert|357|km}} north east of Melbourne, {{convert|746|km}} from Sydney, and {{convert|997|km}} from Adelaide by road. The nearest major road to the mountain is the Great Alpine Road. The mountain is named after Charles Hotham, Governor of Victoria from 1854 to 1855.

Mount Hotham's summit rises to an altitude of {{convert|1862|m}} {{small|AHD.}}

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort, a commercial alpine resort, is located on the slopes of Mount Hotham summit and nearby mountains.

Administratively, the mountain is within Mount Hotham Alpine Resort unincorporated area, land which is managed by Alpine Resorts Victoria. This unincorporated area is surrounded by Alpine Shire

Climate

As with most of the Australian Alps, Mount Hotham's climate is, compared to the bulk of Australia, cold throughout the year; with particularly cold maximum temperatures, and Mount Hotham is one of very few areas in Australia that frequently records maximum temperatures below freezing. Mount Hotham is also one of the only places in Australia to have never recorded a temperature above {{convert|30|C|F}}; during the early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave, whilst most of the state sweltered above {{convert|45|C|F}}, the mountain's peak temperature was a mild {{convert|28.1|C|F}}.{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs17d.pdf |title = Special Climate Statement 17 |access-date = 21 March 2013 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology }}

Snow occurs frequently and heavily, and sub-freezing maximum temperatures can be recorded throughout the year—even in high summer. However, due to frequent winter cloud and the mountain's exposed position, a temperature below {{convert|-10|C|F}} has only once-occurred since records began in 1990.{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_083085_All|site_name=Mount Hotham|access-date=21 March 2013|date=March 2013}} Mount Hotham receives an average of 66.1 snowy days annually.{{ cite web | url=http://www.australianweathernews.com/snow/Snow%20days%20descending.htm| title=Annual Snow Days (66.1)|website=australianweathernews.com|access-date=2021-04-03}} It is the coldest weather station on mainland Australia by maximum temperatures.

Owing to its short, cool summers and long, cold winters, Mount Hotham has a Subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) bordering on a Subarctic climate (Dfc).

{{Weather box

|location = Mount Hotham (1990–2022); 1,849 m AMSL; 36.98° S, 147.13° E

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan record high C = 28.2

|Feb record high C = 28.1

|Mar record high C = 24.4

|Apr record high C = 26.7

|May record high C = 19.8

|Jun record high C = 11.6

|Jul record high C = 8.7

|Aug record high C = 10.7

|Sep record high C = 13.7

|Oct record high C = 19.0

|Nov record high C = 32.5

|Dec record high C = 26.3

|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 16.6

|Feb high C = 15.8

|Mar high C = 13.0

|Apr high C = 8.5

|May high C = 4.6

|Jun high C = 1.4

|Jul high C = -0.1

|Aug high C = 0.5

|Sep high C = 3.6

|Oct high C = 7.6

|Nov high C = 11.3

|Dec high C = 14.0

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 12.4

|Feb mean C = 11.9

|Mar mean C = 9.4

|Apr mean C = 5.6

|May mean C = 2.3

|Jun mean C = -0.5

|Jul mean C = -1.9

|Aug mean C = -1.5

|Sep mean C = 1.0

|Oct mean C = 4.2

|Nov mean C = 7.5

|Dec mean C = 9.9

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 8.2

|Feb low C = 7.9

|Mar low C = 5.8

|Apr low C = 2.7

|May low C = -0.1

|Jun low C = -2.4

|Jul low C = -3.7

|Aug low C = -3.5

|Sep low C = -1.6

|Oct low C = 0.8

|Nov low C = 3.7

|Dec low C = 5.8

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = -3.7

|Feb record low C = -3.8

|Mar record low C = -4.3

|Apr record low C = -8.2

|May record low C = -7.4

|Jun record low C = -9.1

|Jul record low C = -8.8

|Aug record low C = -10.4

|Sep record low C = -9.2

|Oct record low C = -8.4

|Nov record low C = -7.0

|Dec record low C = -5.4

|year record low C =

|Jan precipitation mm = 105.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 99.7

|Mar precipitation mm = 117.2

|Apr precipitation mm = 103.4

|May precipitation mm = 138.4

|Jun precipitation mm = 124.0

|Jul precipitation mm = 128.7

|Aug precipitation mm = 120.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 129.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 139.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 150.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 123.2

|year precipitation mm = 1489.4

|Jan precipitation days = 11.0

|Feb precipitation days = 10.9

|Mar precipitation days = 12.6

|Apr precipitation days = 12.9

|May precipitation days = 14.7

|Jun precipitation days = 14.6

|Jul precipitation days = 18.6

|Aug precipitation days = 16.4

|Sep precipitation days = 15.2

|Oct precipitation days = 13.5

|Nov precipitation days = 13.0

|Dec precipitation days = 11.5

|year precipitation days =

|Jan afthumidity = 63

|Feb afthumidity = 65

|Mar afthumidity = 67

|Apr afthumidity = 76

|May afthumidity = 82

|Jun afthumidity = 89

|Jul afthumidity = 89

|Aug afthumidity = 88

|Sep afthumidity = 84

|Oct afthumidity = 76

|Nov afthumidity = 69

|Dec afthumidity = 64

|year afthumidity =

|source 1 = [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_083085_All.shtml Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Mount Hotham]

}}

Visiting in winter

During the declared snow season (usually from the King's Birthday long weekend in June till the first weekend in October), it is a legal requirement to carry diamond pattern wheel chains{{cite web|url=https://www.mthotham.com.au/discover/getting-here/chains|title=Chains|publisher=Hotham Alpine Resort|access-date=2025-03-14}} and fit them if directed. There are penalties for not doing so. The steep and exposed portions of the Great Alpine Road between Harrietville and Hotham Heights means that in some conditions, vehicles (particularly two wheel drive vehicles) are not able to travel safely without these wheel chains.

Visitors need to purchase an entry permit{{cite web|url=https://www.mthotham.com.au/discover/getting-here/resort-entry-permits|title=Resort Entry Permits|publisher=Hotham Alpine Resort|access-date=2025-03-14}} to enter the resort during winter. The resort entry fee contributes to essential services for guests around the mountain, including ski patrol, the free village buses, snow clearing of car parks in the village, waste management and environmental initiatives.

Gallery

{{wide image|Mount Hotham summit panorama.jpg|1000 px|Mount Hotham summit panorama to the north}}

References

External links

{{official website|www.mthotham.com.au}}

Category:Mountains of Victoria (state)

Category:Victorian Alps

Category:Unincorporated areas of Victoria (state)