TEMPERATURE
March was much warmer than normal with average minimums 2.6 C above the average 12.3 C and maximums 2.5 C above the average 23.3 C. This was therefore 2.6 C above the mean and Geelong’s fourth hottest March on record. The much warmer-than-normal nights of this month’s Indian summer were probably the most noticeable players in this result.
RAINFALL
A massive severe rainstorm struck most of the region on the 22nd bringing falls of 103 mm to Lorne, 101 mm to Aireys Inlet, 87 mm to Durdidwarrah and 77 mm to Clifton Springs-Drysdale. 33.4 mm fell at Breakwater, 66 mm at Lara and 58 mm at Corio in thunderstorms which covered much of southwestern Victoria in a system which only became certain to the BoM about two days prior. Flash flooding was the dominant feature of the event and the photo below shows Drysdale in the storm. [Photo by C.J. Teuma – Facebook]. 
As a result most of the Geelong Region, except the northern Otways, received more than the normal March rainfall, and in some cases more than double the month’s figures.
Highest rain in the region for the month was at Durdidwarrah (135.2 mm) followed by Aireys Inlet (124.0 mm) and Lorne (106.6 mm).
The water catchments stand at 66 % of capacity.
OTHER FEATURES
The severe thunderstorms of the 22nd generating flash flooding in places so widely separated as Wye River, Aireys Inlet, Lara and Clifton Springs-Drysdale. There was one strong wind day with a gust of 80 kmh on the 27th. Point Wilson recorded 95 kmh on that day.
RAINFALL DATA
GEELONG REGION |
||
Location |
Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 124.0 | 45.7 |
| Anakie West | 79.1 | 35.6 |
| Anglesea | na | 41.0 |
| Apollo Bay | 101.1 | 69.6 |
| Bacchus Marsh | 32.0 | 26.0 |
| Ballan | 41.6 | 34.0 |
| Ballarat | 44.4 | 44.4 |
| Bannockburn | 48.6 | 39.0 |
| Barwon Heads | 43.0 | 43.0 |
| Beech Forest | 64.2 | 100.6 |
| Bellbrae | na | 37.7 |
| Bells Beach | 46.0 | 37.7 |
| Beeac | na | 40.4 |
| Benwerrin | 98.4 | 65.0 |
| Birregurra | na | 41.4 |
| Boonah | 72.4 | 35.0 |
| Cape Otway | 56.4 | 55.8 |
| Clifton Springs | 91.4 | 59.0 |
| Colac | 38.0 | 44.2 |
| Cressy | na | 45.0 |
| Curlewis | na | 35.6 |
| Deans Marsh | na | 66.0 |
| Dereel | 42.0 | 46.0 |
| Drysdale | 88.0 | 59.4 |
| Durdidwarrah | 135.2 | 53.1 |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | 63.4 | 69.5 |
| Gellibrand | na | 60.2 |
| Inverleigh | 32.6 | 43.0 |
| Lal Lal | 30.6 | 54.4 |
| Lavers Hill | na | 110.0 |
| Laverton | 28.8 | 36.0 |
| Lorne | 106.0 | 36.0 |
| Melbourne (City) | 26.4 | 52.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) | 28.2 | 51.6 |
| Moriac | 63.7 | 35.0 |
| Morrisons | na | 50.8 |
| Mount Cowley | 105.0 | 66.1 |
| Mount Mercer | 30.0 | 50.5 |
| Mount Sabine | 53.0 | 110.2 |
| Ocean Grove | 53.2 | 43.0 |
| Point Lonsdale | 46.2 | 45.6 |
| Pollocksford | 31.8 | 40.6 |
| Portarlington | na | 45.7 |
| Queenscliff | 36.0 | 44.5 |
| Scotsburn | 36.0 | 58.0 |
| Shelford | 28.6 | 38.0 |
| Sheoaks | 53.0 | 38.0 |
| Skipton | na | 38.0 |
| St Leonards | 44.5 | 45.0 |
| Sutherlands Creek | 52.8 | 35.0 |
| Werribee | 40.6 | 36.0 |
| Winchelsea | 35.0 | 36.1 |
| You Yangs | na | 32.0 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) | Monthly Average (mm) |
| Avalon | 47.2 | 31.0 |
| Avalon South | na | 31.0 |
| Bell Post Hill | 41.6 | 37.4 |
| Belmont | 25.1 | 31.9 |
| Breakwater | 51.4 | 28.1 |
| Ceres | na | 34.0 |
| Connewarre | na | 27.0 |
| Corio | 77.0 | 35.0 |
| East Geelong | na | 32.0 |
| Grovedale | 55.5 | 31.7 |
| Grovedale South | 60.5 | 31.7 |
| Hamlyn Heights | 43.2 | 35.0 |
| Herne Hill | 56.0 | 32.0 |
| Highton | 50.4 | 32.0 |
| Lara | 78.4 | 36.6 |
| Lara (Serendip) | na | 36.6 |
| Leopold | 48.5 | 32.9 |
| Leopold East | na | 32.5 |
| Manifold Heights | 49.1 | 32.5 |
| Moolap | 40.0 | 32.5 |
| North Shore | 80.6 | 30.3 |
| Waurn Ponds | 53.6 | 32.0 |
| Whittington | 33.0 | 32.0 |
| Urban Area Average | 52.0 | 26.4 |