(Current figures are from the Bureau of Meteorology station at Breakwater “Geelong Racecourse AWS”, with all temperature and rainfall averages from several official Geelong BoM sites from 1903 to 2012) Month Weather Conditions Temps (deg C) Rainfall (mm) Cumulative Rainfall Comments JAN Warmer by 0.7 C. 5 days >30 deg. Hottest 42.2 on 4th. Lowest max 20.1 on 13th,…
Category: 2013
December 2013
RAINFALL Only 70-80% of Geelong’s normal December rainfall fell this month. Even the Bellarine Penisula and the Golden Plains were well down, but most of the Otway Ranges reported higher than average falls. This has ensured that the water catchments – now 89% of capacity – will see us through 2014 and into 2015. TEMPERATURE and OTHER FEATURES It was…
November 2013
RAINFALL In November Geelong had 42.4 mm at Breakwater and an average of 50 mm across the whole urban area, just below the long-term average. In contrast the Otways region received in some cases almost double the monthly average, but some Golden Plains areas received less than half the normal, a strange situation which reflects mainly the on-shore southeasterlies from…
October 2013
RAINFALL Most of the Geelong urban area enjoyed average to above average rain in October. On the Bellarine Peninsula however totals were generally 10% below average, but in the Moorabool and Otways catchments generally the situation was reversed with above average results. Rain in Geelong varied from over 70 mm in the southern and southwestern suburbs to little over 40…
September 2013
RAINFALL Very pleasing above average rainfalls were received across most of the region. Most of the urban area recorded over 50 mm (BoM average 49.7). Some areas such as Inverleigh (43 mm), Lara (30 mm) and Clifton Springs (41 mm) were slightly below average.The Otways Catchment received 140 mm at West Barwon Dam and 170 mm at Mt Sabine. Water…
August 2013
OVERALL August was a noteworthy month for several reasons, elaborated below; the warmer than average temperatures and the incredible Otways rainfalls. It was also the warmest winter we have recorded. RAINFALL While Geelong’s rainfall clearly surpassed the average for August (50 mm), much of the surrounding region exceeded averages by huge margins. Wyelangta on the Otway ridge, close to the…
July 2013
RAINFALL Another good rainfall month has seen average to above average falls right across the region. Breakwater (49.6 mm), West Barwon Dam (155 mm), Lara (51 mm) and most other places were above their July average. Geelong has now had above its normal winter rainfall with still another month to go. This result was a surprise to the Bureau of…
June 2013
RAINFALL After a dry summer and autumn, most of the Geelong region received around double the June average rainfall. Most Geelong suburbs, especially the southern ones, recorded around 95 mm compared to the average 42.2 mm. Some parts of the Otways received a little less than average but the encouraging news is that the water catchments did not suffer greatly…
May 2013
RAINFALL Another month of below average rain has created a dry spell which, if it had occurred in winter, would have been classed as a serious regional drought. The latest signs are that this has come to an end owing to the effects of a large northwest cloud band which brought heavy rain to most of Victoria on the last…
April 2013
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.…
March 2013
RAINFALL Disastrous rainfall totals were reported around Geelong in March. All areas were below average: Geelong urban area and the Bellarine received a little over 50% (eg, Breakwater 17 mm), the Golden Plains area and Anakie district around 10-20% (eg, Durdidwarrah 6 mm), Avalon 4 mm, the Colac to Cressy district less than 10 mm, and the Otways catchment below…
February 2013
RAINFALL There were several interesting features of the Geelong region’s February rainfall. Firstly, the urban area averaged 30 mm, close to the long-term February normal 31.5 mm. But the geographical distribution was far from uniform. Most of the Otways region received less than 80% of normal February rainfall, and some partsless than 50%. But north of Geelong, from Lara right…
January 2013
RAINFALL Dry spells are not uncommon in the Geelong region in January. In January 1878 no rain at all fell, and very small 1 to 3 or 4 mm totals have peppered the historical record ever since. This January Geelong had 4.2 mm which fell on two days. In 2009 we had 1.2 mm. So the only special feature of…