RAINFALL AND WIND
“The windiest September for many years”, was how Lindsay Smail, Director of Geelong Weather Services, described the month past. “There were 12 days on which the region had wind gusts exceeding gale force in strength,” he added. Maximum gust was 112 kph at Point Lonsdale on the 18th, and there were numerous occasions of severe storm force winds over 90 kph causing damage on the 16th at Leopold and on the 18th throughout the urban area.
Rainfall was very disappointing, totalling around only 60% of the normal for the month. Despite this, and the fact that El Nino is likely to continue, Geelong’s water storages are at 76% of capacity, generating no panic for the summer season. An interesting pattern emerged in that the westerly-dominated wind systems have created areas of well above average rainfalls for the Otways, decreasing the further east one goes. So while the Otways were well-watered, the totals fell away through Winchelsea (87% of normal), Inverleigh (80%), Bannockburn (71%), Geelong City (55%) and St Albans Park to Leopold (50%). Only the extreme east of the Bellarine Peninsula (Queenscliff to St Leonards) managed to rise above 60% of normal falls.
TEMPERATURE
Geelong’s temperatures were above the September normals. While the average daily minimum was 6.4 degrees (compared to 6.6 normal) the average maximum was 18.4 which is 1.6 above. Thus the month overall was 0.7 degrees warmer. The warmest day was the 15th (28.4C) and the coolest was the 28th (12.4C). Coldest overnight minimum was 1.5C on the 12th.
RAINFALL DATA
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