RAINFALL
“The seventh month in a row of below average rainfall for Geelong”, summed up February, according to Geelong Weather Services Director Lindsay Smail. With the urban area only averaging 20 mm for the month, Geelong’s rainfall since August last year has only been around 60% of normal. Despite a couple of good days recently, the region continues to suffer after a poor 2002 which followed a reasonably good 2001. The region’s water storages are down to 53% of capacity, after experiencing its fifth successive below average month, which is a worrying sign for Barwon Water as we are now into autumn. The main dam at West Barwon is only 18% full. Clearly, the drought-breaking rains which have drenched most of the country have not found their way here – yet.
TEMPERATURES
February was also cooler than the long-term average. Only two days exceeded 30 degrees C and, while average daily maximums were almost two degrees cooler, owing largely to a greater cloud cover, overnight minimums were about half a degree warmer. Preliminary figures show Geelong’s February 2003 average daily maximum to be 23.7 (mean 25.6) and minimum 14.6 (mean 14.1). There was one thunder day on the 6th and several days of high relative humidity, but no storms; a very mild, settled month for this time of year – not typical at all!
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION |
 Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Aireys Inlet |
20.4 |
38.9 |
| Anakie |
|
44.0 |
| Anglesea |
24.4 |
45.0 |
| Apollo Bay |
21.4 |
50.3 |
| Bacchus Marsh |
|
42.8 |
| Ballan |
38.0 |
48.7 |
| Ballarat |
26.6 |
44.7 |
| Bannockburn |
16.0 |
35.0 |
| Barwon Heads |
21.5 |
41.0 |
| Bellbrae |
|
30.4 |
| Bellbrae (2) |
|
30.4 |
| Beeac |
11.2 |
37.6 |
| Birregurra |
12.8 |
36.3 |
| Boonah |
47.6 |
40.0 |
| Cape Otway |
20.2 |
41.8 |
| Colac (Mt Gellibrand) |
16.6 |
43.8 |
| Clifton Springs |
20.5 |
39.4 |
| Cressy |
21.8 |
35.6 |
| Drysdale |
|
37.3 |
| Durdidwarrah |
28.0 |
48.3 |
| Forrest |
30.0 |
44.8 |
| Gellibrand |
20.4 |
46.0 |
| Gerangamete |
20.0 |
47.2 |
| Inverleigh |
17.0 |
42.9 |
| Laverton |
17.8 |
49.0 |
| Lal Lal |
36.0 |
49.8 |
| Lethbridge |
22.0 |
47.5 |
| Little River West |
16.0 |
32.0 |
| Melba Gully |
|
|
| Melbourne (City) |
19.4 |
48.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) |
26.2 |
47.2 |
| Meredith |
30.0 |
47.2 |
| Modewarre |
|
32.0 |
| Moriac |
|
35.0 |
| Morrisons |
34.0 |
45.8 |
| Mt Cowley |
35.0 |
49.6 |
| Mt Mercer |
37.0 |
43.8 |
| Mt Sabine |
38.0 |
48.8 |
| Pt Lonsdale |
18.8 |
38.1 |
| Portarlington |
|
41.9 |
| Queenscliff |
|
39.2 |
| Scotsburn |
40.6 |
34.0 |
| Shelford |
16.0 |
34.0 |
| Sheoaks |
27.4 |
34.0 |
| Skipton |
27.2 |
34.0 |
| St Leonards |
30.0 |
40.0 |
| Teesdale |
|
32.3 |
| Torquay |
|
44.0 |
| Weeaproinah |
44.0 |
87.5 |
| West Barwon |
37.8 |
44.8 |
| Winchelsea |
19.2 |
34.5 |
| Wurdi Boluc |
|
34.5 |
|
 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS |
| Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Avalon |
19.8 |
37.3 |
| Bell Park |
21.0 |
43.8 |
| Belmont |
23.0 |
39.0 |
| City |
20.0 |
36.1 |
| Cloverdale |
|
37.0 |
| Connewarre |
|
39.8 |
| Corio |
18.0 |
37.0 |
| East Belmont |
22.4 |
36.3 |
| Grovedale |
21.6 |
39.1 |
| Hamlyn Heights |
|
38.2 |
| Highton |
|
39.0 |
| Lara (1) |
|
37.6 |
| Lara (2) |
17.0 |
37.6 |
| Lara (Serendip) |
|
37.6 |
| Leopold East |
|
40.7 |
| Leopold South |
|
40.7 |
| Manifold Heights |
|
43.8 |
| Mt Duneed Airport |
29.0 |
36.6 |
| Mt Duneed West |
|
36.6 |
| St Albans Park |
25.0 |
36.1 |
| Whittington |
|
36.1 |
| Urban Area Average |
20.0 |
37.6 |
|
