July 1999

RAINFALL

July was another disappointing rainfall month, according to Lindsay Smail, manager of Geelong Weather Services. Much of the region only received between one third and two-thirds of the normal July totals. But there were some surprising local variations; from a low of 11 mm at Werribee to a high of 34.5 mm at Barwon Heads. The Geelong urban area varied from 14 mm at Lara to 32 mm at Hamlyn Heights, averaging around 23 mm, which is just over half the July normal of 41.9 mm.

Much of the problem has been due to the southward migration of high pressure systems, normally further north at this time of year. These have tended to direct more dry northerly airstreams across the region than is usual.

The Otways water catchment is now at an absolutely critical phase: unless copious rainfall is received creating above average runoff over the next few months, Geelong can look forward to worse water restrictions than those we already have.

TEMPERATURES

Average July temperatures were about a full degree higher than normal. On only five days in the month was the maximum below the average 13.9 degrees. And this was despite the lowest temperature for five years occurring on the 26th: minus 2.3 degrees.

RAINFALL DATA

 

GEELONG REGION
Location Total for
Month
(mm)
Monthly
Average
(mm)
Aireys Inlet 23.0 75.7
Anakie 21.0 49.0
Anglesea 18.0 64.0
Apollo Bay 48.4 116.8
Bacchus Marsh 15.0 34.3
Ballan 23.6 47.3
Ballarat 31.4 68.0
Bannockburn 20.0 43.0
Barwon Heads 34.5 59.0
Bellbrae 24.0 63.7
Beeac 23.6 63.2
Birregurra 30.2 71.4
Cape Otway 59.6 105.8
Colac 32.6 78.0
Drysdale 18.0 54.4
Forrest (West Barwon) 72.0 139.0
Gellibrand 40.0 106.2
Inverleigh 22.5 52.8
Laverton 11.0 42.0
Melbourne (City) 19.6 49.0
Meredith (Darra) 21.0 55.4
Modewarre 27.3 57.0
Portarlington 20.0 55.1
Queenscliff 29.8 56.0
Shelford 33.0 45.0
St Leonards 27.5 55.0
Teesdale 25.0 42.7
Torquay 14.2 59.0
Wallington 25.7 54.1
Warrnambool Airport 58.4 101.9
Weeaproinah 116.4 227.7
Werribee 11.0 39.9
Winchelsea 22.0 51.1
GEELONG SUBURBS
Location Total for
Month
(mm)
Monthly
Average
(mm)
Avalon 13.6 45.2
Bell Park 28.0 47.2
Belmont 24.5 37.5
City 20.0 49.5
Connewarre 25.0 41.4
Corio 29.3 40.0
East Belmont 17.5 37.5
Grovedale 26.8 49.2
Hamlyn Heights 32.0 50.9
Highton 24.1 49.2
Lara 14.0 38.6
Lara (Serendip) 15.2 38.6
Leopold 20.0 47.4
Manifold Heights 28.0 47.2
Manifold Heights North 28.3 47.2
Mt Duneed Airport 19.0 53.8
Mt Duneed West 25.2 53.8
Norlane 29.0 41.9
St Albans Park 21.3 49.5

 

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