RAINFALL
Another disappointing rainfall month has resulted right across the region, with most places receiving well below average rainfall. Most of Geelong averaged 10-12 mm, ranging from 5 mm at the You Yangs to 23 mm at Leopold East. There were 11 rain days. Breakwater’s 9.6 mm falls within the lowest 10% of all Geelong’s historic April rains, since 1903. Geelong’s average April rain since records began (1870’s) is 42.6 mm.
Virtually the whole of Victoria suffered in April from low rainfalls, and the situation is now becoming concerning because autumn is looking to be drier than normal with not a great possibility of rain indicated for May. Local farmers are concerned that if good rains do not come soon the colder months will bring less chance of pasture and crop growth. In our present neutral ENSO (El Nino-La Nina) oscillation there are no clear signals for either drought or flood this autumn-winter.
Otways rainfall was also well down but the catchments are still satisfactory on 69%.
TEMPERATURE
A slightly warmer than normal April was experienced across the region. Daily maximums averaged 21.2C and minimums 10.4C. This equates to about 0.35 degree C when adjusted due to the station site change. There was one day over 30 degrees – it was 30.2 C on the 7th. The lowest overnight temperature was 4.0 C on the 21st. 18 days reached 20 degrees C or above, and 12 nights were below 10 degrees C, but none of these were records.
OTHER
It was a fairly uneventful month. There were no storms, no thunder-days and only one day when wind gusts exceeded 60 kph. (61 kph on 27th). Mild conditions predominated, and several forecasted frontal systems failed to deliver.
RAINFALL DATA
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