April 2003

RAINFALL

“Some good drenching rains over a 4-day period in the middle of the month helped create an above-average rainfall April for Geelong, the first such month since June last year” said Lindsay Smail of Geelong Weather Services. In the 16 months since January, 2002, Geelong has only had 511 mm, about 80% of its normal rainfall. The Otway catchments fared a little better than the Moorabool, but together the water supply system is only at 47% of capacity, which presents a worrying scenario for Barwon Water if winter rains fail.

The West Barwon Dam only registered 63 mm, well below its April average of 94 mm.For the month the Urban area received 55 mm, with larger falls in the northern suburbs. Following most of the mid-month rain, a 10-day period of settled, mainly sunny weather descended on the region courtesy of a slow-moving blocking high pressure system which prevented the possibility of further heavy falls.

TEMPERATURE

Temperatures were down about half a degree below the long-term normal for the month. Daily average minimum was 9.8 degrees C compared to the normal 10.3. Maximums averaged 19.7, compared to the April normal of 20.3 degrees.

OTHER

Two thunder days, along with some lightning and short power blackouts, several fogs and dews punctuated a fairly bland month otherwise. The only major surprise was the fairly unexpected 4-day rain period, referred to above, which originated when an upper air trough developed over the Great Australian Bight and began to move east.

RAINFALL DATA