RAINFALL
Downpours on Boxing Day brought Geelong’s December rainfall almost up to the average category. Up until then urban Geelong had received only around 17 mm, but the additional 23 mm ensured a reasonable total. Within the urban area the totals ranged from 32.7 mm at Highton to 49.5 mm at Lara. In the wider region monthly falls varied from 23 mm at Birregurra to 56 mm at Queenscliff.
Annual totals across the region generally were just below average, and, despite last year’s drought being over, the soil moisture deficit remains. A small area around Queenscliff was the only above average place for the year.
TEMPERATURE
December in Geelong was about half a degree cooler than normal. Average maximum was 23.2 degrees (compared with 23.7) and average minimum was 11.6 (compared to 12.1).
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION | ||||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
Total for 1998 (mm) |
Usual Annual Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 28.8 | 40.1 | 501 | 669 |
| Anglesea | 29.8 | 48.0 | 557 | 662 |
| Apollo Bay | 50.0 | 63.6 | 877 | 1060 |
| Bacchus Marsh | 50.0 | 42.2 | n.a. | 505 |
| Ballan | 71.0 | 45.9 | 595 | 571 |
| Ballarat | 48.2 | 52.5 | 651 | 710 |
| Bannockburn | 33.0 | 42.0 | n.a. | 519 |
| Barwon Heads | 46.0 | 47.0 | 603 | 631 |
| Bellbrae | 42.0 | 42.7 | 630 | 665 |
| Beeac | 38.0 | 42.4 | 611 | 616 |
| Birregurra | 23.0 | 43.4 | 498 | 669 |
| Cape Otway | 40.4 | 52.7 | 779 | 899 |
| Colac (Elliminyt) | 29.2 | 46.6 | 820 | 1041 |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | 43.4 | 61.0 | 1005 | 1182 |
| Inverleigh | 34.0 | 45.5 | 539 | 570 |
| Laverton | 59.0 | 47.0 | 475 | 566 |
| Lavers Hill (Melba Gully) | n.a. | 108.7 | n.a. | n.a. |
| Melbourne (City) | 63.4 | 59.9 | 592 | 660 |
| Meredith (Darra) | 47.4 | 51.8 | 565 | 686 |
| Modewarre | 26.5 | 42.9 | 555 | 600 |
| Portarlington | 43.0 | 45.4 | 616 | 616 |
| Queenscliff | 55.7 | 43.4 | 657 | 610 |
| Shelford | n.a. | 45.0 | n.a. | 543 |
| St Leonards | 55.0 | 44.9 | 590 | 600 |
| Teesdale | 42.5 | 39.9 | 486 | 532 |
| Wallington | 47.5 | 55.6 | 553 | 623 |
| Warrnambool Airport | 34.2 | 69.4 | 804 | 934 |
| Weeaproinah | 85.0 | 112.9 | 1609 | 1946 |
| Werribee | 29.0 | 44.5 | n.a. | 515 |
| Winchelsea | 33.0 | 41.1 | 460 | 533 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
Total for 1998 (mm) |
Usual Annual Average (mm) |
| Avalon | 47.6 | 49.0 | 450 | 499 |
| Bell Park | 38.0 | 43.4 | n.a. | 550 |
| Belmont | 36.5 | 44.2 | 490 | 550 |
| City | 36.0 | 42.4 | 510 | 549 |
| Connewarre | 34.1 | 52.1 | 470 | 548 |
| Corio | 42.0 | 47.9 | 521 | 552 |
| Drysdale | 37.0 | 44.7 | 547 | 626 |
| Grovedale | 42.0 | 44.2 | 510 | 563 |
| Highton | 32.7 | 44.2 | 445 | 561 |
| Lara | 45.0 | 41.9 | 361 | 474 |
| Lara (Serendip) | 49.5 | 41.9 | 405 | 474 |
| Leopold South | 42.9 | 63.9 | 589 | 630 |
| Manifold Heights | 34.5 | 47.8 | 436 | 563 |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 34.2 | 42.9 | 494 | 553 |
| Mt Duneed West | 36.8 | 42.9 | 561 | 553 |
| Mt Moriac | n.a. | 42.9 | n.a. | 553 |
| Norlane | 42.0 | 47.9 | 521 | 552 |
| Whittington | 43.0 | 43.7 | 510 | 547 |