RAINFALL
Poor rainfall totals right across the Geelong-Otways region came as no surprise. Geelong only received 32 mm which is 60% of the average for September. West Barwon Dam’s figure was 82mm which is around 60%. Geelong’s total rain for the year to date is only 250mm, which is 135mm below normal for this time of year. Barwon Water catchments are now at 30.4 % of capacity and the 3-month outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology is not optimistic, predicting only a 35% likelihood of above average rains for the October to December period.
TEMPERATURE
September was warmer than average by 0.65 degrees C. The average daily minimum was 6.6 C and the maximum 18.2 C. This compares with the long-term averages of 6.8C and 16.7C respectively.
Despite this there was one frost, on the 25th (1.8C) and this is about normal. The hottest day was the 19th when the maximum wwas 29.6C and the coldest was the 6th, wwith only 10.8C maximum.
The most recent 3-monthly outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates a very strong likelihood of warmer than normal temperatures for the rest of the year.
OTHER FEATURES
There were 7 windy days when the maximum gust exceeded 60 kph, and the windiest period was between the 19th and the 24th. Maximum wind gusts reached 113kph at Point Wilson and 85kph at Mt Duneed, both on the 19th.
Lightning was seen to the south of Geelong on the evening of the 24th, but there were no storms.
RAINFALL DATA