RAINFALL
Totals generally above average were recorded across the region. In the closest areas to Geelong falls ranged from 95 mm at Queenscliff down to 41 at Lara. Across the urban area the average was around 65 mm, with the highest being 71 mm at Grovedale. At Forrest the West Barwon Dam is receiving good runoff after 178.4 mm of rain. In the twelve months up to the present, Geelong has received 478 mm, compared with its average of 549 mm. This does not mean a new drought is on the way, but that the region is just recovering from the last one.
TEMPERATURES
This has been a colder October than normal, with the average maximum being 17.8 degrees C (1.2 below normal) and average minimum being 6.9 degrees C (1.5 below normal). Apart from the fact that Geelong’s Octobers have been recently cooling anyway, the major reasons for it this year have been several very cold air masses pushing northwards from the Southern Ocean.
STORMS
Several storms were recorded around Geelong, including a short but vicious hail storm at Anglesea and Aireys Inlet on the 23rd, when hailstones up to 2.5 cm across were measured together with wind gusts of 100 kph. Thunder, lightning and strong winds characterised the evening of the 17th, and gusts of up to 85 kph shook Leopold on the 13th.
OTHER PHENOMENA
Mysterious lights were seen over Corio Bay and the Barrabool Hills on three occasions over the weekend of the 9th-10th, but no cause can be ascertained. Two funnel clouds were reported over the Marshall-Grovedale area on the 10th-11th, on one occasion causing a heavy local deluge but no wind damage.
RAINFALL DATA
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