February 2002

RAINFALL

Above average rainfall across the region was caused entirely by the heavy downpours and thunderstorms in the early morning of the 8th, during which parts of the Beeac-Lismore district recorded around 150 mm in less than six hours. The Geelong urban area received an average of 40 mm at that time, and around 45 for the month. Surfcoast towns Torquay and Barwon Heads received over 90 mm in the heaviest summer downpour for many years. In an interesting month, three tornadic funnel clouds were reported (two were photographed) and one waterspout over Corio Bay was seen. Four thunder days were experienced as well as some spectacular lightning displays on the evening of the 7th, but only that one was associated with heavy rain. Lightning on the 20th however, started several small fires on the Bellarine Peninsula.

TEMPERATURES

February completed the coolest summer on record for Geelong. The month’s temperatures were about 1.4 degrees below the long-term average, but this was not as cool as the 3.1 below average in December and 2.0 in January. Altogether though it added up to the lowest summer average since modern records began in 1958. This February’s average daily maximum was 24.2 (long-term average 25.6) and minimum 12.9 (average 14.1). Only four days reached 30 degrees and the top was 36.6 on the 14th.

RAINFALL DATA

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