February 2001

RAINFALL

“Only about half of Geelong’s normal February rainfall was recorded this year,” Lindsay Smail, Director of Geelong Weather Services said today. “The urban area only received 20 millimetres in what has been a very dry summer,” he continued. A grand total of 52 mm fell in Geelong over the whole summer; this is only 45% of normal. The Otway and Moorabool catchments continued to suffer, with water supplies now having dropped to 56% of capacity.

Although two thunder days were heard in February this only resulted in between 12 and 20 mm across Geelong early in the month.

Across the district the main recipients of good rains in February were Winchelsea (50 mm) and Cressy (46 mm). Most other places were well below average.

TEMPERATURES

With eleven days over 30 degrees, including seven over 35 degrees, this has been one of Geelong’s hottest Februaries. The five hottest Geelong Februaries have all occurred since 1981 and this year was our third hottest ever recorded. The highest temperature reached was 40.5 degrees on the 3rd.

RAINFALL DATA