TEMPERATURE
Despite the record-breaking day on Saturday, 25th, where the mercury topped 44.8 degrees and eclipsed the previous 95-year record, January was fractionally cooler than the long-term average. Daily minimums averaged 12.5 degrees compared to 13.6 and maximums were almost identical: 25.3 over 25.2. Seven days reached 30 degrees compared with the January average of six.
There was smoke in the air from the fires to our north on at least three days, but only one thunder day. Despite this, an interesting sundog and unusual rainbow were observed on the 19th.
RAINFALL
Rainfall was very disappointing, with most parts of the urban area receiving around 25mm – one inch on the old scale. Rainfall varied from a maximum of 110mm at Melba Gully near Lavers Hill to less than 20mm around Lara. Rain fell in Geelong on five days.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 36.0 | 24.4 |
| Anakie | 40.0 | |
| Anglesea | 32.2 | 36.0 |
| Apollo Bay | 49.0 | 52.1 |
| Bacchus Marsh | 33.0 | |
| Ballan | 28.6 | 34.9 |
| Ballarat | 18.8 | 39.1 |
| Bannockburn | 23.4 | 30.0 |
| Barwon Heads | 37.0 | 33.0 |
| Bellbrae | 51.1 | |
| Beeac | 14.0 | 27.9 |
| Birregurra | 21.8 | 27.9 |
| Boonah | 38.8 | n.a. |
| Cape Otway | 67.8 | 43.9 |
| Clifton Springs | 43.9 | |
| Dereel | 35.5 | 43.0 |
| Drysdale | 41.4 | |
| Durdidwarrah | 19.6 | n.a. |
| Fiskville | 20.0 | 36.0 |
| Forrest | 32.4 | 54.8 |
| Gellibrand | 44.2 | n.a. |
| Gerangamete | 28.4 | n.a. |
| Inverleigh (BoM) | 27.4 | 36.0 |
| Inverleigh | 24.5 | 36.0 |
| Lake Colac | 25.4 | n.a. |
| Lal Lal | 25.4 | n.a. |
| Laverton | 9.4 | 40.0 |
| Lethbridge | 24.6 | 38.0 |
| Little River West | 31.0 | |
| Melba Gully | 110.0 | n.a. |
| Melbourne (City) | 10.6 | 48.0 |
| Meredith | 40.0 | |
| Meredith (Darra) | 21.4 | 40.9 |
| Modewarre | 36.6 | |
| Morrisons | 28.2 | 36.0 |
| Mt Buninyong | 23.8 | n.a. |
| Mt Cowley | 63.4 | n.a. |
| Mt Gellibrand | 21.6 | 36.4 |
| Mt Mercer | 23.8 | n.a. |
| Mt Sabine | 61.4 | n.a. |
| Paraparap | 28.0 | |
| Pollocksford | 21.6 | 36.0 |
| Portarlington | 33.8 | |
| Queenscliff | 35.6 | 35.0 |
| Shelford | 23.8 | 33.0 |
| Sheoaks | 24.4 | n.a. |
| St Leonards | 26.5 | 35.0 |
| Skipton | 18.8 | n.a. |
| Teesdale | 37.8 | |
| Torquay | 29.0 | |
| Wallington | 31.5 | |
| Weeaproinah | 102.4 | 87.0 |
| Werribee | 31.8 | |
| West Barwon | 49.2 | 36.0 |
| Winchelsea | 39.6 | 25.4 |
| Wooloomanata | 20.0 | n.a. |
| Wurdi Boluc | 36.0 | 29.4 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Avalon | 22.8 | 37.1 |
| Bell Park | 23.0 | 34.8 |
| Belmont | 34.2 | |
| City | 22.0 | 32.2 |
| Connewarre | 39.2 | |
| Corio | 25.0 | 35.0 |
| East Belmont | 25.8 | 34.2 |
| Grovedale | 25.0 | 34.3 |
| Hamlyn Heights | 22.5 | 45.8 |
| Highton | 34.2 | |
| Lara | 27.7 | |
| Lara (Serendip) | 27.7 | |
| Leopold East | 31.7 | 47.6 |
| Leopold North | 48.0 | |
| Leopold South | 49.2 | |
| Manifold Heights | 24.0 | 34.8 |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 25.0 | 38.1 |
| Mt Duneed West | 25.0 | 38.1 |
| St Albans Park | 25.6 | 32.2 |
| Whittington | 32.2 | |
| Urban Area Average | 25.0 | 34.3 |