RAINFALL
August’s rainfall across the region was generally well below the monthly average. The urban area received only around 27 mm compared to the long-term average 50 mm. The fairly regular falls of the first half of the month were replaced in the second fortnight by rain on only two days. The Otway catchments suffered as a result and the capacity has only risen to 29%, from 24% at the start of the month.
Despite the poor rainfalls in August, winter as a whole has resulted in well above average falls around the district. After good rains in June and July, the lower August figures did not result in an overall poor winter. Geelong’s winter rainfall was about 30% higher than normal, defying the 3-monthly outlook by the Bureau of Meteorology which had predicted only a 40-50% chance of average rain in the region.
TEMPERATURES
The warm and dry conditions of the fourth week have resulted in a warmer than normal August, with temperatures almost a full degree above the long-term average. The warmest day was the 27th, with 25.8 degrees C and the coldest day was the 3rd with 11.3 degrees maximum. There were 2 frosts and the lowest overnight minimum was 0.7 degrees C on the 15th.
The top of 25.8 represented Geelong’s warmest August day (and warmest winter day) since 1982.
Due to the monthly fluctuations, the overall winter temperatures were normal, with June and July just below, and August above the long-term average.
OTHER FEATURES
There were 8 very windy days in August, with the strongest gust of 119 kph at Mt Duneed on the 31st. A lot of damage was caused and 3 people were badly injured by a falling wall and trees. This was the strongest gust in the Geelong region since a blast of 130kph hit Lovely Banks in March, 2001, although an estimated gust of 120kph was experienced in Corio in October, 2006.
RAINFALL DATA
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