RAINFALL
For just the third time in the last 15 months Geelong has recorded above average rain. March is normally Geelong’s driest month with an average of 30 mm but this time we managed to get 35.2mm, said Lindsay Smail of Geelong Weather Services. It was a welcome return after our driest January-February since 1891.
Rain fell on 14 days in March and the heaviest recorded was 8.8mm at 9am on the 15th.
The Otway catchments generally had below average rain and the long prior drought has suppressed runoff; consequently Geelong’s water capacity is still only at 20%.
TEMPERATURE
Temperatures were slightly cooler (0.25ºC) than the long-term average. Daily maximums averaged 22.9ºC compared to 23.1ºC and minimums averaged 11.7ºC compared to 12.0ºC.
There were three days over 30 degrees maximum and the hottest day was the 21st (36.3ºC).Lowest overnight minimum was 6.1ºC on the 28th.
OTHER FEATURES
Strong wind gusts over 60kph were experienced on five days and the strongest was 91 kph at Mt Duneed (Geelong AP AWS) on the 3rd. On that day the temperature rose to 32.4ºC and dust and haze filled the atmosphere for much of the day.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 27.6 | 45.7 |
| Anakie | 32.2 | 35.6 |
| Anglesea | na | 41.0 |
| Apollo Bay | 89.4 | 69.6 |
| Ballan | 49.6 | 34.0 |
| Ballarat | 40.2 | 44.4 |
| Bannockburn | 27.4 | 39.0 |
| Barwon Heads | 23.4 | 43.0 |
| Bellbrae | na | 37.7 |
| Bell’s Beach | na | 37.7 |
| Beeac | 39.2 | 40.4 |
| Benwerrin | na | 65.0 |
| Birregurra | 35.4 | 41.4 |
| Boonah | 46.4 | 64.0 |
| Cape Otway | 71.0 | 55.8 |
| Clifton Springs | 36.4 | 59.0 |
| Colac | 31.0 | 44.2 |
| Cressy | 25.2 | 45.0 |
| Drysdale | na | 59.4 |
| Durdidwarrah | 24.0 | 53.1 |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | 46.8 | 62.8 |
| Gellibrand | 41.0 | 60.2 |
| Inverleigh | na | 43.0 |
| Johanna | 116.0 | 110.0 |
| Lal Lal | na | 54.4 |
| Lavers Hill | 117.0 | 110.0 |
| Laverton | 38.6 | 36.0 |
| Lethbridge | na | 36.0 |
| Melba Gully | 115.0 | n.a. |
| Melbourne (City) | 47.6 | 52.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) | 39.6 | 51.6 |
| Moriac | na | 35.0 |
| Morrisons | 28.8 | 50.8 |
| Mount Cowley | 42.0 | 66.1 |
| Mount Mercer | 21.0 | 50.5 |
| Mount Sabine | 36.6 | 70.2 |
| Ocean Grove | 38.8 | 43.0 |
| Point Lonsdale | 30.5 | 45.6 |
| Pollocksford | na | 40.6 |
| Portarlington | na | 45.7 |
| Queenscliff | na | 44.5 |
| Scotsburn | 24.0 | 58.0 |
| Shelford | na | 38.0 |
| Sheoaks | 27.4 | 38.0 |
| Skipton | 26.2 | 38.0 |
| St Leonards | 41.0 | 45.0 |
| Teesdale | na | 45.7 |
| Torquay | 43.5 | 36.0 |
| Weeaproinah | 135.2 | 112.8 |
| Winchelsea | na | 36.1 |
| You Yangs | na | 32.0 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS | ||
| Location | Total for Month (mm) |
Monthly Average (mm) |
| Avalon | 32.8 | 31.0 |
| Bell Park | 29.5 | 37.4 |
| Belmont | na | 31.9 |
| Ceres | na | 34.0 |
| City | 23.8 | 30.2 |
| Connewarre | na | 27.0 |
| Corio | 36.4 | 35.0 |
| Drumcondra | na | 35.0 |
| Grovedale | na | 31.7 |
| Grovedale South | 30.8 | 31.7 |
| Hamlyn Heights (1) | na | 35.0 |
| Hamlyn Heights (2) | na | 31.9 |
| Lara | 25.5 | 36.6 |
| Lara (Serendip) | na | 36.6 |
| Leopold | 33.0 | 32.9 |
| Leopold East | 33.0 | 32.5 |
| Manifold Heights | 34.7 | 32.5 |
| Moolap | 22.2 | 32.5 |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 35.2 | 30.3 |
| Mt Duneed West | 35.9 | 30.3 |
| Waurn Ponds | 31.2 | 28.1 |
| Whittington | na | 32.0 |
| Urban Area Average | 30.0 | 34.6 |