(Temperature figures are from the Bureau of Meteorology station at Mount Duneed)
| Month | Weather Conditions | Temps (deg C) | Rainfall (mm) | Cumulative Rainfall | Comments |
| JAN | 7 days over 30 deg, incl 4 > 35 deg. New record: 44.8 (Geelong’s hottest day) on 25th. Smoky atmosphere on several days. 1 Thunder day. | Av max 25.4 Jan av max. is 25.2. Av min 12.4. Av is 13.6. | Mt Duneed 24.8 mm. Urban area averaged 24 mm.
January normal is 34.3 mm. |
Mt Duneed 24.8 mm.
Urban area 24 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (1 month) is 34.3 mm. |
Most rain fell after 9am on 31st Dec. One other rain event. SOI rising – end of El Nino predicted. Water catchments supplies at 58%.
Sundogs seen on 19th. |
| FEB | Warmer than normal by about 1.2 deg. 2 days >30 deg. 1 thunder day and several days of high humidity. Very settled weather. | Av max.23.7
Feb av max. is 25.6. Av min 14.6. Av is 14.1 deg. |
Mt Duneed 29.0 mm. Urban area averaged 20 mm. February normal is 37.6. | Mt Duneed 53.8 mm. Urban area 44 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (2 months) is 71.9 mm. | Below av rain for 7th month in a row. Since August 2002 rainfall has only been 60% of normal. Water storages 53%. |
| MAR | Slightly cooler than normal; 4 days >30 deg. New high min record on 19th: 23.2 deg. Highest 35.7 on 18th. 3 thunder days, incl 2 small hail. | Av max 22.8
March av max. is 23.5. Av min 12.7. Av is 12.8. |
Mt Duneed 16.2.
Urban area averaged 21 mm. March normal is 34.6. |
Mt Duneed 70.0 mm.
Urban area 65 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (3 months) is 116.2 mm. |
Below av rain in Geelong & Golden Plains; above av on Bell Pen & Otways. Dust storms & strong winds >80kph on 19th. Fog on 17th.
Water storages 49.4%. |
| APR | Slightly cooler than normal; 1 day > 30deg. Coldest morning 5.5 deg on 5th. 2 thunder days; some lightning & power blackouts. | Av max 19.7
April av max. is 20.3. Av min 9.8. Av is 10.2. |
Mt Duneed 55.8.
Urban area averaged 55 mm. April normal is 39.2. |
Mt Duneed 125.8 mm.
Urban area 120 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (4 months) is 155.4 mm. |
First above av rain month since June 2002. Most rain fell 10th – 13th, but Otway catchments received below av falls.
Water storages 47%. |
| MAY | Exactly typical in temperature, daily max 0.9 above av, min 0.9 below av. Warmest day 24.7 deg on 7th. Coldest overnight 2.1 on 29, 30th, 31st. | Av max 18.1
May av max is 17.2. Av min 7.2. Av is 8.1. |
Mt Duneed 14.4.
Urban area averaged 18 mm May normal is 47.2. |
Mt Duneed 140.2 mm.
Urban area 138 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (5 months) is 202.6 mm. |
Very poor rain. Geelong has now had below av rain in 15 of the last 18 months. Fine, settled weather dominated the month. Water storages 43.5%. |
| JUNE | Temps about 1 degree above normal. Warmest day 21.7 on 2nd; coldest morning -0.3 deg on 26th. Frosts on 3 days. | Av max 15.4
June av max is 14.3. Av min 6.5. Av is 5.9. |
Mt Duneed 22.6.
Urban area averaged 18 mm. June normal is 43.3. |
Mt Duneed 162.8 mm.
Urban area 156.0 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (6 months) is 245.9 mm. |
Another poor rainfall month for areas around Geelong and Moorabool catchment, but Otways above average. Water storages down to 41.6%. |
| JULY | Temps slightly above av. Coldest day 29th (10.8 deg). Frosts on 4 days. Light winter hail twice; strong winds twice, incl >80kph on 28th. | Av max 14.4
July av max is 13.9. Av min 5.0. Av is 5.1. |
Mt Duneed 82.0.
Urban area averaged 80.0. July normal is 41.9. |
Mt Duneed 244.8 mm.
Urban area 236.0 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (7 months) is 287.8 mm. |
Best rain month in Geelong since Oct 2001. 70mm fell in the final week when unstable air masses from SW combined with moist tropical. Water storages now 43.9%. |
| AUG | Temps slightly cooler, making winter overall very close to normal (10.2 deg cf 10.0 normal). Strong winds >70kph 4 times in final week. 4 frosts. | Av max 14.4
Aug av max is 15.1. Av min 5.5 Av is 5.7. |
Mt Duneed 70.0.
Urban area averaged 70.0. August normal is 47.3. |
Mt Duneed 314.8 mm.
Urban area 306.0 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (8 months) is 335.1 mm. |
Another good rain month results in above average winter, except in Moorabool catchment (now 28%).
Water storages now at 56.1%. 1 thunder day. |
| SEPT | Temps 0.5 degree below normal. Strong winds (gusts >60kph) on 18 days, incl 2 severe windstorms >90kph (18th & 24th) & damage*. | Av max 16.3
Sept av max is 16.7. Av min 6.1. Av is 6.8. |
Mt Duneed 37.4.
Urban area averaged 37. September normal is 53.2. |
Mt Duneed 352.2 mm.
Urban area 343 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (9 months) is 388.3 mm. |
Rain poor around Geelong & Moorabool, above av in Otways. 4 light hail, 3 thunder days. 3 frosts. Catchments 63%. Wind shear on 22nd caused plane crash B. Heads. |
| OCT | Temps 2.3 deg below normal. Only 4 days >20C. Lowest overnight 1.8C. Highest 27C.
Up to Oct 31 Geelong is 0.5C cooler than in a normal year. |
Av max 15.8
Oct av max is 19.0 Av min 7.0 Av is 8.5. |
Mt Duneed 90.2
Urban area averaged 88.0. October normal is 62.0. |
Mt Duneed 442.4 mm.
Urban area 431 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (10 months) is 451.7 mm. |
Best rainfall month since April 2001. 21 rain days, incl I hail day and 2 thunder days. Catchments 71%. Wettest day on 1st: urban area >30mm. |
| NOV | Temps 0.4 deg below normal.
6 days >30C. Max 33.8C on 29th. 3 thunder days incl hail on 30th (Anglesea bushfires 30th) Drifting smoke from NW Tas on 22-23rd. |
Av max 21.0
Nov av max is 21.2. Av min 9.6 Av is 10.2. |
Mt Duneed 25.6.
Urban area averaged 30. November normal is 51.9. |
Mt Duneed 468.0 mm.
Urban area 461 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (11 months) is 503.6 mm. |
Most areas <50% av rain. Wrap-around system brought 16-30mm to Glg on 23rd. Moorabool catchment only area above. Catchments 70%. 1 strong wind day >50kph. |
| DEC | Temps 0.5 deg above normal. 6 days >30C. Max 40.5C on 30th. 2 thunder days; suspected tornado near Inverleigh 21st. | Av max 25.1
Dec av max is 24.0. Av min 11.9 Av is 12.0. |
Mt Duneed 24.8.
Urban area averaged 25 mm. December normal is 44.9. |
Mt Duneed 492.5 mm
Urban area 486 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (12 months) is 548.5 mm. |
Below av rain in most areas. Wide variation (13-40mm) across urban area in t’storms on 21st. Clifton Springs 40mm. Catchments 64%. 1 strong wind day >80kph on 22nd. |
OVERALL: New records (extremes) set: 2; Slightly cooler year than normal: 0.3 degrees below long-term average;Drier year than normal: 493mm(normal 549mm); Hottest Day: 25th Jan 44.8C – hottest ever recorded; Warmest Night:19th Mar 23.2C – highest ever; Coldest Day: 29th July 10.8C; Coldest Night: 26th June -0.3C; Wettest Day: Dec 21st (>40mm at Clifton Springs); Wettest Month: October; Driest Month: May; No of Days above 30°C: 26 (average 24.5); Number of “Thunder Days” in Urban area: 17 (average 15) ; Number of severe storms: 3 (average 3); Strongest Wind Gust: 118kph Mt Gellibrand*; Number of frosts: 14; Number of windy days (>60kph): 27.
Copyright Ó Geelong Weather Services, 2003