Ceres 3-9-21. Photo courtesy Phil Thomson.
Storm approaching Barrabool Hills on 5th. Photo courtesy Phil Thomson.
SUMMARY
Geelong was wetter than the 30-year average by just a few mm and slightly warmer by about 0.6 degrees C. See the details below.
TEMPERATURE
Geelong’s daily maximum temperatures averaged 17.8 C compared to the 30-year figure of 17.0 C and the daily minimum temperatures averaged 7.5 C compared to the 30-year figure of 7.2 C. The result means an average warmer period of 0.6 C for the month. The warmest day was 26.7 C on the 2nd and the coldest day was 12.3 C on the 25th. The coldest overnight temperature was 1.8 C on the 27th (the only frost for the month) and warmest was 14.5 C on the 3rd.
RAINFALL
Above average rain fell across the urban area – 51.0 mm fell at Marshall and 52.8 mm at Breakwater. Most of the local area was above average, except for parts of the immediate western area of the Golden Plains.
The wettest 24-hour period in Geelong was 23.2 mm in the 24 hours by 9 am on the 4th, and there were 13 rain days and two days (the 3rd and 18th) with lightning and thunder. Despite heavy rain was predicted for the 29th and 30th, most of that fell later than 9 am on the 30th and was therefore measured for October.
OTHER FEATURES
Hail occurred on the 12th at Hamlyn Heights and some other suburbs on the 18th. A very windy month was typical of the season. A total of six days exceeded gusts of 60 km/h and another 2 days exceeded 54 km/h. The worst day was the 9th with a gust of 76 km/h and 3 successive days from the 18th to the 20th had gusts from 65 to 70 km/h. Snow fell on Mt Buninyong on the 20th.
An earthquake near Mt Buller occurred on the 22nd and sent shock waves through Geelong and most of Victoria. The Richter scale measurement of 5.9 created Australia’s second strongest quake and Victoria’s strongest. If the depth of 10 km had been closer to the surface more damage would have been experienced in Melbourne and possibly Geelong, but only minor damage was the result and no injuries occurred.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION | ||
 Location |
Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 57.2 | (71.9) |
| Anakie | 32.0 | (n.a.) |
| Anglesea | 55.8 | (70.5) |
| Bacchus Marsh | 40.6 | (41.5) |
| Ballarat | 67.2 | (73.0) |
| Bannockburn | na | (52.0) |
| Beeac | na | (59.9) |
| Beech Forest (Otway Fly) | 177.2 | (180.8) |
| Boonah | 111.2 | (n.a.) |
| Benwerrin | 187.6 | (n.a.) |
| Cape Otway | 110.2 | (89.6) |
| Colac | 79.0 | (68.0) |
| Curlewis | na | (68.6) |
| Dereel | 64.3 | (68.6) |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | na | (118.0) |
| Inverleigh | 41.8 | (51.6) |
| Lorne | 129.4 | (102.2) |
| Lal Lal | 51.6 | (82.0) |
| Laverton | 56.8 | (53.0) |
| Melbourne (City) | 65.2 | (59.4) |
| Meredith (Darra) | 48.2 | (70.4) |
| Moriac | 52.5 | (56.0) |
| Mt Buninyong | 59.7 | (n.a.) |
| Mt Gellibrand | 31.6 | (n.a.) |
| Mt Cowley | 230.4 | (n.a.) |
| Mt Mercer | 43.2 | (n.a.) |
| Mt Sabine | 215.8 | (n.a.) |
| Ocean Grove | 69.6 | (n.a.) |
| Point Lonsdale | 52.0 | (59.2) |
| Portarlington | 71.5 | (59.2) |
| Shelford | 43.2 | (54.6) |
| Sheoaks | 40.2 | (n.a.) |
| Skipton | 51.6 | (n.a.) |
| St Leonards | na | (58.0) |
| Sutherlands Creek | 30.8 | (47.7) |
| Wallington | na | (n.a.) |
| Wensleydale | 70.8 | (53.0) |
| Werribee | 46.2 | (44.4) |
| Wooloomanata | 27.8 | (46.0) |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||
| Location |
Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Armstrong Creek | 51.8 | (45.9) |
| Avalon | 44.6 | (45.9) |
| Belmont | 50.0 | (50.2) |
| Bell Post Hill | 69.2 | (50.0) |
| Breakwater | 52.8 | (49.7) |
| Charlemont | na | (60.3) |
| Corio | 46.2 | (46.6) |
| Grovedale | 55.5 | (51.0) |
| Grovedale South | 53.5 | (51.0) |
| Hamlyn Heights | 50.4 | (51.9) |
| Herne Hill | 39.0 | (51.9) |
| Highton | 59.0 | (51.8) |
| Lara | 38.0 | (47.5) |
| Leopold | 58.5 | (50.8) |
| Leopold East | 61.0 | (50.8) |
| Manifold Heights | na | (51.9) |
| Marshall | 50.0 | (51.0) |
| Moolap | 48.0 | (52.0) |
| Mt Duneed | 51.8 | (49.7) |
| Queens Park | 47.0 | (51.0) |
| Waurn Ponds | 58.8 | (49.7) |
| Whittington | 54.8 | (50.3) |
| Urban Area Average | 50.0 | (49.7) |