February 2005

RAINFALL

A record-making rain event occurred over the first three days of the month, when Geelong received between 120mm and 160mm over a 46-hour period. Geelong’s highest ever fall in a 24-hour period was received at Grovedale (130mm) on 2nd.

This was brought about by a slow-moving retrograding low pressure system over central Victoria. Severe flash flooding on the 2nd, together with considerable wind damage to trees and property was the result, and the Breakwater and several roads were cut for two days. Barwon River flooding at Geelong was only moderate because upper regions received less rain than the urban area.

The result of that downpour was that Geelong received one of its highest ever February totals, even although for the rest of the month only 2mm was recorded. Summer rainfall at Geelong was around 270mm, or well over double the expected normal total. In the first 5 weeks of the year some parts of the district had received half of their average rainfall for the whole year! The catchments are now at 72% of capacity.

TEMPERATURES and OTHER FEATURES

Lower than average daily minimums and maximums were recorded. Av daily minimum was 12.1 degrees (mean 14.1) and av daily maximum was 22.8 degrees (mean 25.6). Thus, February has been cooler than the long-term normal by approximately 2.4 degrees, and summer overall has been cooler by 1.2 degrees. The highest temperature was 34.1 degrees on the 7th, and on the coldest day (the 2nd) the thermometer only reached 13.2 at Mt Duneed. This is a daytime record low temperature for February (previously 15.0 degrees) but will probably not be recognised because by 9am on the following morning, the cut-off time, the temperature had risen to 16.5. Strong winds gusting over 60kph were recorded on 3 days at Mt Duneed, (1st, 3rd and 4th) and the maximum gust was 83kph on the 3rd. Thunder was heard on two days (3rd and 4th) but there were no severe storms as such.

RAINFALL DATA