RAINFALL What an amazing rainfall month! The whole region received well above average rain, much to the delight of farmers and water managers, but to the horror oflong-range forecasters whose expectations were that the whole region of southern Victoria should return to the drought of the previous decade. Geelong’s urban area received over double (104 mm) its normal June total…
Category: Articles
May 2012
RAINFALL Rainfall for most of the Geelong-Otways-Bellarine Region was well above average for May. A wrap-around cloud band caused by a strong low pressure system which crossed the state from the north on the 25th-26th was the cause of heavy rains which tipped the scale. Urban Geelong’s total was around 80 mm for the month (average 45 mm) and similar…
April 2012
RAINFALL Most of the Geelong urban area and the Bellarine Peninsula received average to above average rain in April. Breakwater Racecourse received the long-term average amount of 45.4 mm, an average derived from many years at the old Airport site. In contrast, most of the Otway Ranges, Golden Plains and Moorabool Catchment were below average. Despite this, the catchments remain…
March 2012
RAINFALL Geelong’s March rainfall was very close to average across the city. The suburbs ranged from just 23 mm at Belmont to 37 mm at Bell Post Hill. Averaged across the urban area we recorded 30 mm, compared to the average 32 mm. Drier areas were around the Golden Plains district of Bannockburn and Bellarine Peninsula, but the Otway Ranges…
February 2012
RAINFALL In a matter of just 8 days of rain Geelong’s February rainfall managed to get more than double the average, but there were wide variations. Most of the urban area received between 55 mm and 70 mm, but a Grovedale site and Mount Duneed West, near the old Airport site, both exceeded 86 mm. The urban average was therefore…
January 2012
RAINFALL Summer in Geelong continues to be drier than usual, but in January there was a wide variation in rainfall totals across the city. The Racecourse weather station recorded 32.6 mm, and this is below the 37.3 mm average at theold site at Mt Duneed. Most of the southern suburbs fared worse, with Belmont, Grovedale, Waurn Ponds and Mt Duneedonly…
Summary of 2011 Weather
(Most figures are from the Bureau of Meteorology station at Mount Duneed – called “Geelong AP AWS” until June 1st, then at Breakwater “Geelong Racecourse AWS” from June 2nd, with all temperature and rainfall averages from 1992-2010) Month Weather Conditions Temps (deg C) Rainfall (mm) Cumulative Rainfall Comments JAN Warmer than normal by 0.9C. 4 days >30C, top 39.0C…
December 2011
RAINFALL The whole of the Geelong-Bellarine-Otway Region had a below average rainfall in December, apart from a section of the Bellarine Peninsula which received some heavy falls in storms occurring on the 10th and 11th. Over those days, Clifton Springs recorded 42 mm, Curlewis 39 mm, Drysdale 33 mm, Point Lonsdale 27 mm, Whittington 20 mm and Leopold 19 mm.…
November 2011
RAINFALL After a dryish start to the month as well as to spring generally, the end came with a climactic boom, surprising many. November saw most of Geelong end up with over 120 mm, well over double the average. In a remarkable downpour, the 24 hours ending at 9 am on Sunday 27th saw over 100 mm fall in Geelong’s…
October 2011
RAINFALL Well above average falls were experienced across the region in October. Urban Geelong received between 60 and 90 mm, and Anakie had well over 100 mm. The average for October is 50 mm. Most of the rain fell at the start and the end of the month; the middle weeks were comparatively dry. An interesting period occurred between the…
September 2011
RAINFALL Although rainfall for September was below average virtually across the whole region from the Bellarine Peninsula to the Otways, there are few complaints. Geelong’s water catchments are at 90% of capacity and the year so far has been well above average. Average across urban Geelong was around 35 mm, compared to the long-term average of 49 mm. Normal totals…
August 2011
RAINFALL August was Geelong’s driest month for the year so far. The Breakwater Racecourse AWS recorded just 19.6 mm and the average for Geelong is around 49 mm. This means it falls within the lowest 10% of all recorded August rains since records began in 1871. The driest August was in 1982, when only 10 mm was received at North…
July 2011
RAINFALL A diverse rainfall pattern was the picture for July around Geelong. The Geelong urban area average for July is 49 mm. Many stations across the suburbs(eg, Bell Post Hill 47, Grovedale South 56, Drumcondra 50, to name just a few) were hovering around that long-term average. The new Breakwater Racecourse AWS however,has proven to be not representative of the…