TEMPERATURE
“This was a much cooler January than normal,” according to Lindsay Smail, Director of Geelong Weather Services. The average maximum of 23.1 degrees and minimum of 11.7 degrees were both around two degrees cooler than the long-term average for Geelong, making the average temperature 17.4 degrees. It was not our coldest ever; that was in 1957 when the average was only 17.1. It has followed the coolest December on record and this could lead to a record cool summer. Only on four days did the temperature exceed 30 degrees, with 37.4 degrees reached on the 26th. “But it is likely that February will be a good bit warmer,” said Mr Smail.
RAINFALL
Rainfall in the region was well below average. “Across the region it was as dry as last January”, said Mr Smail. Urban Geelong received only around 18 mm despite several thunderstorms passing in close proximity to the city. Funnel clouds were reported over Melbourne on the 2nd and 25th and the You Yangs district experienced a storm on the 26th – the rest of Geelong only received light rain and drizzle.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 20.2 | 24.4 |
| Anakie | 40.0 | |
| Anglesea | 25.5 | 36.0 |
| Anglesea (BoM) | 46.6 | 36.0 |
| Apollo Bay | 45.4 | 52.1 |
| Bacchus Marsh | 22.6 | 33.0 |
| Ballan | 35.8 | 34.9 |
| Ballarat | 25.0 | 39.1 |
| Bannockburn | 19.6 | 30.0 |
| Barwon Heads | 27.0 | 33.0 |
| Bellbrae | 15.0 | 51.1 |
| Beeac | 26.2 | 27.9 |
| Birregurra | 30.4 | 27.9 |
| Boonah | 49.8 | n.a. |
| Cape Otway | 54.6 | 43.9 |
| Clifton Springs | 43.9 | |
| Drysdale | 41.4 | |
| Durdidwarrah | 21.8 | n.a. |
| Fiskville | 22.0 | 36.0 |
| Forrest | 44.8 | 54.8 |
| Gellibrand | 54.0 | n.a. |
| Gerangamete | 32.6 | n.a.36.0 |
| Inverleigh (BoM) | 18.8 | 36.0 |
| Inverleigh | 17.0 | 36.0 |
| Lake Colac | 15.4 | n.a. |
| Lal Lal | 22.6 | n.a. |
| Laverton | 27.6 | 40.0 |
| Lethbridge | 18.6 | 38.0 |
| Little River West | 24.0 | 31.0 |
| Melba Gully | n.a. | |
| Melbourne (City) | 34.8 | 48.0 |
| Meredith | 11.8 | 40.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) | 20.0 | 40.9 |
| Modewarre | 36.6 | |
| Morrisons | 21.6 | 36.0 |
| Mt Buninyong | 24.2 | n.a. |
| Mt Cowley | 57.6 | n.a. |
| Mt Gellibrand | 21.0 | 36.4 |
| Mt Mercer | 15.8 | n.a. |
| Mt Sabine | 60.4 | n.a. |
| Paraparap | 28.0 | |
| Pollocksford | 19.4 | 36.0 |
| Portarlington | 33.8 | |
| Queenscliff | 19.1 | 35.0 |
| Shelford | 14.6 | 33.0 |
| Sheoaks | 19.8 | n.a. |
| St Leonards | 33.5 | 35.0 |
| Skipton | 21.0 | n.a. |
| Teesdale | 17.2 | 37.8 |
| Torquay | 26.8 | 29.0 |
| Wallington | 31.5 | |
| Weeaproinah | 92.2 | 87.0 |
| Werribee | 31.8 | |
| West Barwon | 41.0 | 36.0 |
| Winchelsea | 27.9 | 25.4 |
| Wooloomanata | 15.8 | n.a. |
| Wurdi Boluc | 22.0 | 29.4 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Avalon | 13.2 | 37.1 |
| Bell Park | 11.0 | 34.8 |
| Belmont | 18.0 | 34.2 |
| City | 32.2 | |
| Connewarre | 16.9 | 39.2 |
| Corio | 35.0 | |
| East Belmont | 19.0 | 34.2 |
| Grovedale | 13.6 | 34.3 |
| Hamlyn Heights | 45.8 | |
| Highton | 11.0 | 34.2 |
| Lara | 17.5 | 27.7 |
| Lara (Serendip) | 27.7 | |
| Leopold | 47.6 | |
| Leopold East | 25.0 | 47.6 |
| Leopold North | 11.0 | 48.0 |
| Leopold South | 49.2 | |
| Manifold Heights | 17.8 | 34.8 |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 17.0 | 38.1 |
| Mt Duneed West | 21.3 | 38.1 |
| St Albans Park | 25.2 | 32.2 |
| Whittington | 20.5 | 32.2 |
| Urban Area Average | 18.0 | 34.3 |