RAINFALL
A very welcome return to heavy rainfalls was experienced especially in the first half of July. The region’s monthly average of 50mm was doubled with figures of 96mm at Mt Duneed, 94mm at Belmont, 127mm at Clifton Springs and 154mm at Ocean Grove.
It was Geelong’s wettest July since 1974 when 109mm was recorded. Most models are now predicting above average La Nina conditions to continue although a decrease may be likely in the short term.
The water catchments are now over 24%, with the West Barwon Dam almost one third full. This situation is still critical and much more runoff is required in the ensuing months.
TEMPERATURES
Cooler temperatures also defied some of the forecasters. July was about half a degree cooler than average, wwith the daily minimums plunging below two degrees (frost level) on five occasions. The coldest overnight minimum was minus 0.8 degrees C on the 22nd; this was part of a run of three frosty mornings in a row (21st, 22nd and 23rd).
The coldest day was the 17th when the mercury only reached 9.6 degrees C and the warmest day recorded 20.1 degrees C on the 25th.
OTHER FEATURES
There were six days of strong winds where gusts over 60 kph were recorded at Mt Duneed. The strongest gust was 74 kph from the south-southeast on the 7th.
On the 17th snow fell at Buninyong and there was one thunder day on the 26th.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION |
 Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Aireys Inlet |
102.6 |
75.7 |
| Anakie |
64.6 |
49.0 |
| Anakie West |
72.0 |
na |
| Anglesea |
na |
64.0 |
| Apollo Bay |
119.4 |
116.8 |
| Bacchus Marsh |
na |
34.3 |
| Ballan |
71.6 |
47.3 |
| Ballarat |
89.2 |
68.0 |
| Bannockburn |
77.4 |
43.0 |
| Barwon Heads |
121.2 |
59.0 |
| Bellbrae |
na |
63.7 |
| Bells Beach |
122.5 |
63.7 |
| Beeac |
na |
63.2 |
| Benwerrin |
na |
|
| Birregurra |
104.2 |
71.4 |
| Boonah |
162.8 |
|
| Cape Otway |
140.8 |
105.8 |
| Colac |
100.6 |
78.0 |
| Clifton Springs |
127.4 |
54.0 |
| Cressy |
87.4 |
78.0 |
| Curlewis |
na |
49.0 |
| Dereel |
114.7 |
52.0 |
| Durdidwarrah |
73.6 |
54.4 |
| Forrest |
103.0 |
120.0 |
| Forrest (West Barwon) |
na |
139.0 |
| Gellibrand |
145.2 |
106.2 |
| Inverleigh |
na |
52.8 |
| Lake Colac |
na |
52.8 |
| Lal Lal |
na |
70.0 |
| Laverton |
54.0 |
42.0 |
| Melba Gully |
na |
n.a. |
| Melbourne (City) |
62.8 |
49.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) |
71.0 |
55.4 |
| Moriac |
na |
57.0 |
| Morrisons |
74.8 |
57.0 |
| Mt Cowley |
na |
|
| Mt Mercer |
na |
|
| Mt Sabine |
na |
|
| Ocean Grove |
154.4 |
59.0 |
| Point Lonsdale |
133.8 |
56.0 |
| Pollocksford |
91.4 |
56.0 |
| Portarlington |
na |
55.1 |
| Queenscliff |
na |
56.6 |
| Scotsburn |
na |
56.6 |
| Shelford |
na |
45.0 |
| Sheoaks |
76.4 |
45.0 |
| Skipton |
54.5 |
n.a. |
| St Leonards |
142.5 |
55.0 |
| Teesdale |
na |
42.7 |
| Torquay |
125.5 |
59.0 |
| Weeaproinah |
na |
227.7 |
| Winchelsea |
na |
50.2 |
| You Yangs |
na |
36.8 |
|
 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS |
| Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Avalon |
90.8 |
45.2 |
| Bell Park |
na |
47.2 |
| Belmont South |
94.0 |
47.5 |
| Belmont |
na |
47.5 |
| City |
62.8 |
49.5 |
| Connewarre |
|
41.4 |
| Corio |
69.7 |
40.0 |
| Drumcondra |
na |
47.5 |
| Grovedale |
na |
49.2 |
| Grovedale South |
111.2 |
47.5 |
| Hamlyn Heights (1) |
83.0 |
47.5 |
| Hamlyn Heights (2) |
75.9 |
50.9 |
| Highton |
na |
49.2 |
| Lara |
na |
38.6 |
| Lara (Serendip) |
na |
38.6 |
| Leopold |
126.0 |
47.4 |
| Leopold East |
136.3 |
47.4 |
| Mt Duneed Airport |
96.4 |
43.0 |
| Mt Duneed West |
118.0 |
43.0 |
| Whittington |
na |
49.5 |
| Urban Area Average |
100.0 |
49.5 |
|
