March 2015

RAINFALL

A disappointing feature of March’s weather was the low rainfall in the immediate Geelong district.  Totals varied from 30% to 70% of average, although in parts of the Otway and Moorabool catchments the results were better than normal, with Mt Sabine at the head of the Barwon catchment recording well above average (117 mm).  Otherwise the Bellarine Peninsula and the Golden Plains were below normal expectations.  The Geelong urban area received around 20 mm which is only 70% of normal for March.

In recent years Geelong’s March rainfall has shown a decline and it is now the driest month of the year.  But this has been balanced by increases in winter and spring (see www.geelongweatherservices.com.au).  Nevertheless the BoM has predicted a 65% likelihood of a wetter than average late autumn this year, the highest odds for a long time.

Barwon Water reports that the catchments are around 61% of capacity, close to normal for this time of year.

TEMPERATURE

March this year was cooler than normal.  Average daily minimums were 11.5 degrees (latest 30-year figure is 12.3 C) and average maximums 23.3 degrees (30-year figure 23.3 C).  The mean temperature was therefore 17.4 C which is 0.4 C lower than average.  There were two days over 30 C and the highest was 34.0 C on the 19th. (Average is 4 days over 30 in March).

Warmest overnight temperature was 16.9 C on the 17th-18th and the lowest minimum reached 7.1 C on the 20th-21st.  All these figures are very close to the long-term averages for March.  The BoM outlook for the rest of autumn is for warmer than average temperatures.

OTHER FEATURES

There were three days of strong wind gusts, 5th, 25th and 26th and the highest gust reached 69 kph on the 26th, but there were no severe storms, although 1 thunder day on the 19th.

RAINFALL DATA