RAINFALL Despite the official recent death notices for El Nino, its effect lives on around Geelong. In February we only received between 12 and 26mm despite the long term average being 36mm. The Otways catchment fared well with 88mm at West Barwon (average 44) after a similarly wet January, however the catchments still only contain 18.5% of capacity. Rain fell…
Author: Lindsay Smail
January 2007
RAINFALL In the last month rainfall has been below the January average for most of the immediate Geelong region. Geelong received around 85% of normal January totals, and the Moorabool catchment area was similar. Geelong suburbs received around 35 mm (average 41mm). Further afield, to the south and west, the situation was different. The Otways catchment received generally well above…
December 2006
RAINFALL The drought continues. Despite a few days of light rain in the last few days of the month, Geelong only received around 8 mm altogether. As a result of similarly low rain in the Otways catchment our water supplies are down to 22%. TEMPERATURE & OTHER FEATURES The coldest Christmas day on record saw a maximum of only 15.2…
October 2006
RAINFALL October was Geelong’s driest month since March, adding just 11 mm to the annual total. In what ought to be our wettest month, most areas within the districtonly registered between 10 to 30% of normal rainfall. It was Geelong’s driest October since 1967.In some suburbs, notably Hamlyn Heights, the 6 mm received was equal to Geelong’s lowest ever October…
September 2006
RAINFALL Poor rainfall totals right across the Geelong-Otways region came as no surprise. Geelong only received 32 mm which is 60% of the average for September. West Barwon Dam’s figure was 82mm which is around 60%. Geelong’s total rain for the year to date is only 250mm, which is 135mm below normal for this time of year. Barwon Water catchments…
August 2006
RAINFALL Another month of low rainfall has meant Geelong is in the grip of a widespread dry spell. Whether to call it drought or not is a moot point which won’t occur until certain technical requirements are met. Suffice to say however that this dry period, which has prevailed since last October, is not likely to break in a hurry.…
June 2006
RAINFALL Geelong had a very poor rainfall month, the ninth such below average month out of the last ten months. Both catchment areas (Otways and Moorabool) also suffered badly and water supplies are now at a disastrously low level of 25%.Mt Duneed airport received only 16 mm compared to the average 44 mm. It was Geelong’s driest June since 1984.…
March 2006
RAINFALL Geelong had a very poor rainfall month which resembled March last year where the driest autumn on record was experienced. Only 8 mm fell in the urban area, compared to the long-term average of 32 mm.The rainfall outlook for the autumn to spring period, according to Ian Holton, Adelaide-based forecaster, is for a drier than average growing season. A…
February 2006
RAINFALL In contrast to last February’s massive downpours the Geelong district has just completed a very poor rainfall month, with only around half of the average. Geelong received around 20mm for the month, only half of the average 37mm, with Belmont only receiving 16mm and Avalon 28mm. The total rain for the summer months has only been around 80% of…
January 2006
RAINFALL Most areas surrounding Geelong had above average falls in January, owing mainly to several thunderstorms. However Geelong’s southern suburbs generally did not benefit from those and only ended up with around 30mm, a strange anomaly in the midst of higher falls. In spite of this, relative humidity remained very high on several non-rain days.There were 2 thunder days, and…
December 2005
RAINFALL Most areas received below average rainfall for December. The average across the urban area was 33mm, ranging from 21mm at Hamlyn Heights to 50mm at Mt Duneed West. Rain fell on around 11 days and the heaviest falls were recorded at 9am on the 7th, associated with local thunderstorms. TEMPERATURE & OTHER FEATURES Geelong was 2.3 degrees hotter and…
October 2005
RAINFALL A disappointing rainfall month for Geelong saw an average of only 40mm deposited on the urban area, about two thirds of the normal for October. Rain fell on just 13 days, but there were large regional variations: the area from Colac down to Anglesea was more fortunate with above average falls, but both the Otways and Moorabool catchments only…
September 2005
RAINFALL A good rainfall month for the immediate Geelong district resulted in an average 63mm across the urban area and generally above average falls in the Bellarine Peninsula and Otways catchment. In contrast the Moorabool catchment once again suffered below average rains. Geelong had rain on 20 days, including 26.8mm on the 12th and 14.2mm on the 29th.Geelong’s water storages…