RAINFALL
Geelong now has had below average rainfall for 15 months out of the last 18. Forrest in our Otways water catchment is not doing much better, with a tally of 13 months during the same period. The Moorabool catchment is is the same situation, and the result is that our catchments are now down to 43% of capacity. To be in such a position at the beginning of June does not augur well for Geelong’s water supplies in the immediate future. To be assured of a reasonable supply over the coming summer period, and to protect our groundwater reserves, we should be instigating a few more water restrictions. It is not that the citizens of Geelong cannot cope with such restrictions, having lived with them quite commonly over the last six years.
TEMPERATURE
May turned out to be a very typical month in terms of temperatures. Although the average daily minimum was almost a degree below average (7.2 to 8.1) the daily maximums were the same amount above average (18.1 to 17.2). This averages out to be an exactly typical month.
OTHER FEATURES
A disappointing month meteorologically, the only really notable feature was the couple of extended spells of fine, settled weather under slowly moving high pressure ridges. Several fogs occurred and a couple of frosts in inland areas.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 19.6 | (55.6) |
| Anakie | na | (52.0) |
| Anglesea | 21.6 | (63.0) |
| Apollo Bay | 47.2 | (99.2) |
| Ballan | 19.8 | (47.5) |
| Ballarat | 33.2 | (68.1) |
| Bannockburn | 11.2 | (46.0) |
| Barwon Heads | 19.4 | (64.0) |
| Bellbrae | na | (65.1) |
| Beeac | na | (57.2) |
| Birregurra | 28.6 | (64.5) |
| Cape Otway | 33.4 | (91.7) |
| Colac | 26.2 | (71.9) |
| Drysdale | 13.5 | (64.5) |
| Durdidwarrah | 16.0 | (59.0) |
| Fiskville | 17.0 | (42.0) |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | 32.4 | (108.4) |
| Forrest | 30.8 | (108.4) |
| Gellibrand | 36.4 | (93.7) |
| Inverleigh | 16.4 | (56.6) |
| Lal Lal | 35.4 | (64.2) |
| Lethbridge | 17.4 | (53.3) |
| Melba Gully | na | (n.a.) |
| Meredith (Darra) | 19.8 | (60.2) |
| Moriac | 15.2 | (55.0) |
| Morrisons | 26.2 | () |
| Mt Cowley | 43.0 | () |
| Mt Mercer | 25.8 | () |
| Mt Sabine | 77.6 | () |
| Paraparap | na | () |
| Pollocksford | 18.2 | () |
| Point Lonsdale | 15.3 | (57.0) |
| Portarlington | na | (58.4) |
| Queenscliff | na | (58.1) |
| Scotsburn | 30.0 | () |
| Sheoaks | 14.2 | () |
| Shelford | 16.2 | (47.0) |
| Skipton | 22.3 | (44.0) |
| Teesdale | na | (45.2) |
| Torquay | na | (58.0) |
| Weeaproinah | 100.8 | (200.1) |
| Werribee | na | (43.4) |
| Winchelsea | 35.9 | (48.0) |
| Wurdi Boluc | na | () |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Avalon | 8.8 | (48.5) |
| Bell Park | 12.0 | (50.7) |
| Belmont | 12.2 | (47.1) |
| City | 13.0 | (49.8) |
| Cloverdale | na | (43.0) |
| Connewarre | 16.3 | (43.9) |
| Corio (1) | 10.3 | (43.0) |
| Corio (2) | 13.5 | (43.0) |
| East Belmont | 13.9 | (47.1) |
| Grovedale | 12.7 | (49.8) |
| Grovedale South | 14.2 | (49.8) |
| Hamlyn Heights | 10.0 | (53.5) |
| Highton | na | (49.8) |
| Lara | 6.0 | (39.4) |
| Lara (Serendip) | 8.0 | (39.4) |
| Leopold | na | (44.4) |
| Leopold East | 25.8 | (44.4) |
| Manifold Heights | 11.5 | (50.7) |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 14.4 | (49.0) |
| Mt Duneed West | na | (49.0) |
| St Albans Park | 18.6 | (49.8) |
| Whittington | 14.0 | (49.8) |
| Average across Urban Area | 18.0 | (47.2) |