TEMPERATURE
Geelong was fractionally warmer than normal in February. Daily minimums averaged degrees 14.9 C (0.7 degrees above the latest 30-year normal) and maximums averaged 25.0 degrees (0.2 below).
The hottest day was the 23rd when the maximum of 42.0 C was recorded and the warmest overnight minimum was 21.4 C on the 24th. Neither of these was a record.
It was a warmer summer than normal overall and the warmest since 1981. The mean temperature for summer in Geelong is 18.9 C, but this summer the mean was 20.2 C. The high temperatures of December contributed to this. The table below gives all the details of summer.
Indications are that autumn overall will be wetter and warmer than normal, but March still appears to be relatively warm and dry in the BoM’s predictions until the El Nino dies away completely.
| SUMMER 2015-16 | ||||||||
| MAX TEMPS | MIN TEMPS | AVERAGE TEMPS | PRECIPITATION | |||||
| 2015-16 | 30-yr av | 2015-16 | 30-yr av | 2015-16 | 30-yr av | 2015-16 | 30-yr av | |
| DEC | 26.9 | 23.2 | 13.3 | 11.8 | 20.10 | 17.50 | 25.0 | 43.6 |
| JAN | 25.6 | 25.1 | 15.5 | 13.6 | 20.55 | 19.35 | 70.0 | 39.4 |
| FEB | 25.0 | 25.2 | 14.9 | 14.2 | 19.95 | 19.70 | 9.0 | 36.9 |
| SUMMER | 25.83 | 24.50 | 14.57 | 13.20 | 20.20 | 18.85 | 104.0 | 119.9 |
RAINFALL
This was a disastrous rainfall month for the Geelong district, but an average one for most of the Otways. Most areas within 20-30 kilometres of the urban area recorded only between 6-10 mm for February, only one quarter of the 30-year average. Some places, such as Bacchus Marsh, Balliang East, You Yangs and Werribee South only measured 2-3 mm for the whole period.
As a result the totals for summer were also poor, despite a respite in January, with Geelong receiving about 20% less rainfall than normal. In spite of better falls in the Otways catchment, water supplies are now less than 40% of capacity, and consequently Barwon Water will be pumping from the aquifers shortly.
RAINFALL DATA
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