RAINFALL
November was looking like Geelong’s driest month for the year, until the final four days which produced over 27 mm. We had an average across the urban area of 34 mm, compared with the long-term average of 52 mm. There were only 7 rain days, compared to the average 10. Despite three thunder-days which accompanied the late rain, there were no reports of storm damage.
Across generally the whole region spring overall was below average in rainfall (104 mm compared to 154 mm).
TEMPERATURES AND WIND
Geelong’s temperatures were almost a degree higher than normal owing largely to two very hot days – 37.5 C on 29th and 35.3 C on 24th – and an equal record high minimum of 21.2 C on the 30th. Apart from these extremes the month was very close to normal when factoring in the Urban Heat Island effect. And despite the two very hot days, Geelong’s November was nowhere near our hottest, despite some announcements that this was Victoria’s hottest November. Geelong’s hottest occurred in 1982 when the average temperature was 18.0 C; this month’s average was 16.6 C.
The month was also fairly calm in that only two wind gusts over 60 kph were recorded. On the 12th a gust of 70 kph was recorded at Avalon.
THE OUTLOOK
The catchments are still at a healthy level of 93% of capacity and no problems are expected going into summer. Summer is always a dangerous period for bushfires, but, with average to above average rains expected, the region is no more vulnerable than in a normal summer, which this is expected to be, both in temperatures and rainfall.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION |
 Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Aireys Inlet |
38.8 |
59.7 |
| Anakie |
41.4 |
55.0 |
| Anglesea |
na |
55.0 |
| Apollo Bay |
32.4 |
81.7 |
| Bacchus Marsh |
na |
45.5 |
| Ballan |
35.4 |
59.0 |
| Ballarat |
33.6 |
56.0 |
| Bannockburn |
45.4 |
47.0 |
| Barwon Heads |
35.2 |
53.0 |
| Bellbrae |
39.8 |
51.2 |
| Beeac |
21.5 |
52.1 |
| Beech Forest |
57.6 |
na |
| Birregurra |
37.6 |
55.4 |
| Boonah |
na |
71.1 |
| Cape Otway |
31.6 |
64.1 |
| Clifton Springs |
30.0 |
41.9 |
| Colac |
36.1 |
57.7 |
| Cressy |
48.2 |
52.0 |
| Curlewis |
33.7 |
42.0 |
| Drysdale |
31.6 |
41.9 |
| Durdidwarrah |
41.4 |
58.9 |
| Fiskville |
49.2 |
45.0 |
| Forrest |
na |
78.0 |
| Gellibrand |
na |
74.0 |
| Gerangamete |
na |
57.7 |
| Inverleigh |
28.4 |
47.2 |
| Johanna Heights |
52.6 |
na |
| Lake Colac |
na |
57.7 |
| Lal Lal |
na |
61.7 |
| Laverton |
39.4 |
52.0 |
| Lavers Hill |
59.4 |
na |
| Little River West |
34.5 |
42.9 |
| Melbourne (City) |
36.6 |
60.0 |
| Melba Gully |
na |
140.0 |
| Meredith |
24.0 |
61.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) |
36.6 |
60.7 |
| Modewarre |
na |
48.0 |
| Moriac |
36.0 |
59.4 |
| Morrisons |
na |
n.a. |
| Mt Cowley |
42.4 |
n.a. |
| Mt Mercer |
39.8 |
50.8 |
| Mt Sabine |
52.8 |
n.a. |
| Point Lonsdale |
30.7 |
48.0 |
| Pollocksford |
na |
n.a. |
| Portarlington |
na |
48.0 |
| Queenscliff |
na |
49.0 |
| Scotsburn |
33.0 |
n.a. |
| Shelford |
42.0 |
48.5 |
| Sheoaks |
35.2 |
50.0 |
| Skipton |
30.2 |
n.a. |
| St Leonards |
30.5 |
50.0 |
| Torquay |
41.0 |
53.0 |
| Warncoort |
40.8 |
n.a. |
| Wyelangta |
68.4 |
140.2 |
| West Barwon Dam |
31.0 |
88.2 |
| Winchelsea |
34.3 |
45.5 |
| Wooloomanata |
31.6 |
42.9 |
 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS |
| Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Avalon |
27.0 |
39.9 |
| Breakwater |
34.8 |
51.0 |
| Bell Post Hill |
41.0 |
49.5 |
| Belmont |
34.0 |
50.6 |
| Connewarre |
30.2 |
52.4 |
| Corio |
30.3 |
45.0 |
| East Geelong |
37.3 |
50.6 |
| Grovedale |
34.5 |
50.6 |
| Grovedale South |
33.5 |
50.6 |
| Hamlyn Heights |
32.8 |
56.4 |
| Herne Hill |
29.0 |
56.4 |
| Highton |
45.0 |
50.4 |
| Lara |
29.2 |
40.9 |
| Lara (Serendip) |
na |
40.9 |
| Leopold |
32.0 |
66.6 |
| Leopold East |
35.5 |
66.6 |
| Manifold Heights |
37.0 |
48.8 |
| Moolap |
32.8 |
48.8 |
| Mt Duneed West |
34.0 |
45.0 |
| Waurn Ponds |
33.5 |
45.0 |
| Whittington |
na |
47.0 |
| Urban Area Average |
34.0 |
52.0 |
|
|
