February 2002

RAINFALL

Above average rainfall across the region was caused entirely by the heavy downpours and thunderstorms in the early morning of the 8th, during which parts of the Beeac-Lismore district recorded around 150 mm in less than six hours. The Geelong urban area received an average of 40 mm at that time, and around 45 for the month. Surfcoast towns Torquay and Barwon Heads received over 90 mm in the heaviest summer downpour for many years. In an interesting month, three tornadic funnel clouds were reported (two were photographed) and one waterspout over Corio Bay was seen. Four thunder days were experienced as well as some spectacular lightning displays on the evening of the 7th, but only that one was associated with heavy rain. Lightning on the 20th however, started several small fires on the Bellarine Peninsula.

TEMPERATURES

February completed the coolest summer on record for Geelong. The month’s temperatures were about 1.4 degrees below the long-term average, but this was not as cool as the 3.1 below average in December and 2.0 in January. Altogether though it added up to the lowest summer average since modern records began in 1958. This February’s average daily maximum was 24.2 (long-term average 25.6) and minimum 12.9 (average 14.1). Only four days reached 30 degrees and the top was 36.6 on the 14th.

RAINFALL DATA

 

GEELONG REGION
Location Total for
Month
(mm)
Monthly
Average
(mm)
Aireys Inlet 97.4 38.9
Anakie 47.5 44.0
Anglesea Power Stn 80.6 45.0
Anglesea (Town) 72.5 45.0
Apollo Bay 58.8 50.3
Bacchus Marsh 32.8 42.8
Ballan 33.6 48.7
Ballarat 75.2 44.7
Bannockburn 49.2 35.0
Barwon Heads 94.5 41.0
Bellbrae 80.0 30.4
Bellbrae (2) 86.4 30.4
Beeac 118.8 37.6
Birregurra 70.2 36.3
Boonah 67.6 40.0
Cape Otway 97.0 41.8
Colac (Mt Gellibrand) 89.4 43.8
Clifton Springs 39.4
Cressy 135.0 35.6
Drysdale 23.0 37.3
Durdidwarrah 43.8 48.3
Forrest 45.4 44.8
Gellibrand 64.0 46.0
Gerangamete 47.6 47.2
Inverleigh 63.4 42.9
Laverton 50.0 49.0
Lal Lal 50.2 49.8
Lethbridge 39.6 47.5
Little River West 34.0 32.0
Melba Gully 144.0
Melbourne (City) 48.6 48.0
Meredith (Darra) 45.0 47.2
Meredith 54.8 47.2
Modewarre 32.0
Moriac 56.0 35.0
Morrisons 48.8 45.8
Mt Cowley 65.8 49.6
Mt Mercer 49.0 43.8
Mt Sabine 77.2 48.8
Mt Sabine 77.2 48.8
Pt Lonsdale 20.8 38.1
Portarlington 41.9
Queenscliff 25.5 39.2
Queenscliff Fort 39.2
Scotsburn 67.6 34.0
Shelford 47.0 34.0
Sheoaks 43.2 34.0
Skipton 127.0 34.0
St Leonards 23.0 40.0
Teesdale 54.2 32.3
Torquay 93.4 44.0
Wallington 41.7
Weeaproinah 110.6 87.5
Werribee 41.1
West Barwon 52.6 44.8
Winchelsea 85.6 34.5
Wooloomanata 40.0 47.2
Wurdi Boluc 76.0 34.5
GEELONG SUBURBS
Location Total for
Month
(mm)
Monthly
Average
(mm)
Avalon 35.6 37.3
Bell Park 41.0 43.8
Belmont 44.5 39.0
City 36.1
Cloverdale 37.0
Connewarre 44.9 39.8
Corio 55.0 37.0
East Belmont 44.2 36.3
Grovedale 44.8 39.1
Hamlyn Heights 48.0 38.2
Highton 39.0
Lara (1) 42.8 37.6
Lara (2) 30.0 37.6
Lara (Serendip) 41.2 37.6
Leopold East 39.7 40.7
Leopold South 40.7
Manifold Heights 48.5 43.8
Mt Duneed Airport 58.1 36.6
Mt Duneed West 53.9 36.6
Norlane 37.6
St Albans Park 50.6 36.1
Whittington 39.2 36.1
Urban Area Average 45.0 37.6