RAINFALL
A large area of the Geelong district received well below average rainfall for March – from only around 12 mm at Inverleigh and Lethbridge to little more than 20 mm across the Geelong Urban Area. Despite this gloomy pattern heavier falls than average were recorded at Queenscliff (56 mm) and the Otways ridge (Mt Sabine 174 mm) and the West Barwon at Forrest also did well. With the water storages now down to 50% of capacity, this pattern of above average rains in the Otways will have to be maintained throughout autumn and winter in order to avoid water restrictions.
TEMPERATURE
March was slightly cooler than normal in Geelong, despite having had four days over 30 degrees including two over 35. A new record was set on the 19th when the overnight minimum only fell to 23.2 degrees. This eclipsed the old record of 21.5 set in 1974, and was more than 10 degrees higher than normal for a March night. Average daily minimum for March 2003 was 12.7, compared to the normal 12.8, and average maximum was 22.8, compared to 23.5. The highest maximum was 35.7 on the 18th and the coldest day was the 21st (17.1).
OTHER FEATURES
There were three thunder days in March, and small hail on two of those days. Dust engulfed Geelong and the region on the 19th as strong northerly winds took their toll on drier areas of the state. Gusts over 80 kph were recorded at Point Wilson but no serious damage was reported. A widespread fog occurred on the morning of the 17th and began to disperse after 8.30 am.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION |
 Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Aireys Inlet |
39.0 |
45.7 |
| Anglesea |
43.6 |
41.0 |
| Apollo Bay |
78.2 |
69.6 |
| Bacchus Marsh |
|
44.8 |
| Ballan |
25.8 |
34.0 |
| Ballarat |
25.8 |
44.4 |
| Bannockburn |
18.2 |
39.0 |
| Barwon Heads |
29.0 |
43.0 |
| Bellbrae (1) |
|
37.7 |
| Bellbrae (2) |
|
37.7 |
| Beeac |
23.4 |
40.4 |
| Benwerrin |
45.0 |
65.0 |
| Birregurra |
34.8 |
41.4 |
| Boonah |
53.0 |
64.0 |
| Cape Otway |
60.4 |
55.8 |
| Clifton Springs |
20.0 |
59.0 |
| Colac |
23.4 |
44.2 |
| Cressy |
20.8 |
45.0 |
| Drysdale |
|
59.4 |
| Durdidwarrah |
37.4 |
53.1 |
| Forrest (West Barwon) |
67.6 |
62.8 |
| Forrest (Town) |
39.2 |
62.0 |
| Freshwater Creek |
26.0 |
38.0 |
| Gellibrand |
49.8 |
60.2 |
| Inverleigh |
12.2 |
43.0 |
| Lal Lal |
24.8 |
54.4 |
| Laverton |
21.0 |
36.0 |
| Lethbridge |
12.8 |
36.0 |
| Little River West |
|
32.0 |
| Melba Gully |
169.0 |
n.a. |
| Melbourne (City) |
22.6 |
52.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) |
35.2 |
51.6 |
| Moriac |
19.5 |
35.0 |
| Morrisons |
39.0 |
50.8 |
| Modewarre |
|
36.0 |
| Mount Cowley |
129.4 |
66.1 |
| Mount Mercer |
32.0 |
50.5 |
| Mount Sabine |
173.6 |
70.2 |
| Paraparap East |
32.9 |
36.0 |
| Pollocksford |
18.8 |
40.6 |
| Portarlington |
|
45.7 |
| Queenscliff |
55.5 |
44.5 |
| Scotsburn |
23.6 |
58.0 |
| Shelford |
16.6 |
38.0 |
| Sheoaks |
21.1 |
38.0 |
| Skipton |
24.0 |
38.0 |
| St Leonards |
41.0 |
45.0 |
| Teesdale |
14.2 |
45.7 |
| Torquay |
|
36.0 |
| Wallington |
|
51.0 |
| Weeaproinah |
185.0 |
112.8 |
| Werribee |
|
41.4 |
| Winchelsea |
23.3 |
36.1 |
| Wurdi Boluc |
|
38.0 |
|
 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS |
| Location |
Total for
Month
(mm) |
Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Avalon |
19.6 |
31.0 |
| Bell Park |
14.0 |
37.4 |
| Belmont |
18.1 |
31.9 |
| City |
13.0 |
42.0 |
| Cloverdale |
|
35.0 |
| Connewarre |
22.4 |
27.0 |
| Corio |
17.3 |
35.0 |
| East Belmont |
23.1 |
31.9 |
| Grovedale |
16.7 |
41.7 |
| Grovedale South |
20.0 |
41.7 |
| Hamlyn Heights |
12.0 |
35.0 |
| Highton |
|
40.3 |
| Lara |
|
36.6 |
| Lara (Serendip) |
25.2 |
36.6 |
| Leopold South |
|
32.5 |
| Leopold East |
29.6 |
32.5 |
| Manifold Heights |
14.0 |
37.4 |
| Mt Duneed Airport |
16.2 |
41.7 |
| Mt Duneed West |
|
28.1 |
| St Albans Park |
13.3 |
42.0 |
| Waurn Ponds |
17.3 |
42.0 |
| Whittington |
|
42.0 |
| Urban Area Average |
21.0 |
34.6 |
|
