RAINFALL
After a depressing first 3 weeks of the month during which less than 10 mm fell over most of the Geelong area, the final weekend saw between 15 and 25mm rain recorded when a low pressure system crossed the state. Geelong averaged from 22mm at Lara to 35mm in just one part of Hamlyn Heights, but this was still well short of the April average of 42 mm. Although good falls were registered in the Otways catchment last weekend (20 mm at West Barwon Dam to over 30mm near Lorne) the monthly totals were still below normal. The catchments however, are now moist, and this augurs well for some runoff if follow-up rain arrives within a few days. The Geelong water system catchments are now at 14.7% of capacity and the city is drinking mainly ground water from the Otway aquifers.
Follow-up rain is now predicted for the first and third weeks of May and above average rain is being predicted by some models for the month.
TEMPERATURE
April was around 1 degree warmer than normal, as evidenced by the lack of rain and preponderance of high pressure conditions. Top temperature was 29.6 on the 10th and the lowest overnight minimum was 5.9 on the 26th. April averages of 20.1 (maximum) and 9.5 (minimum) were exceeded by 21.5 and 10.4 respectively, making the month overall 1.15 degrees warmer than the long-term normal.
OTHER
April was a very benign and settled month, not untypical of autumn in the region. On no day was there a storm, although thunder was heard in the northern suburbs on the 22nd. Neither were there any wind gusts reaching 60 kph. The strongest wind day occurred on the 15th with a gust of only 54 kph at Mt Duneed.
RAINFALL DATA
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