RAINFALL In what was a disappointing rainfall month, most of the region received only between half and three quarters of its normal totals for May. The latest 30-year average for May rainfall in Geelong is 41.5 mm, but this month we only received around 30 mm. Even the Otway towns from Beech Forest to Lavers Hill only recorded 75-80% of…
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April 2014
RAINFALL Above average rainfall characterised most of the region. Breakwater AWS received 47.4 mm and the urban area average was 50 mm. The latest 30-year average for April is 39.8 mm so this month was a welcome addition after a slow rainfall start to the year. On the wettest day 14 mm was recorded at 9 am on the 30th.…
March 2014
RAINFALL Geelong’s rain averaged 28 mm over the urban area and was higher in the southern and western suburbs than elsewhere (Grovedale South 38 mm). Both the Bellarine Peninsula and most of the Otways were below average for the month. When comparing rainfalls it is important to compare intelligently. Geelong’s 143-year history of recorded rainfalls shows that the long-term average…
February 2014
RAINFALL An extraordinarily severe localised thunderstorm on the 19th dropped 54 mm of rain on central Geelong. In less than half an hour, between 5.00 pm and 5.30 pm, a slow-moving thunderstorm cell gave Geelong one of the most intense rainfall events ever recorded here. Around 5.10 pm our recorder at Queens Park measured the equivalent of 433 mm per…
January 2014
RAINFALL January was well below average in rainfall with only around 50-60% of the long-term average being received. Breakwater received 24.6 mm compared to the long-term average 34.6 mm. Most of the Bellarine Peninsula was in the same dry position, and the Otway water catchment areas only slightly better. Low rainfalls in January are not unusual, and even a dry…
Summary of Geelong Weather, 2013
(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,…
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…