(Most figures are from the Bureau of Meteorology station at Mount Duneed – called “Geelong AP AWS”, and averages from 1983-2009)
Month | Weather Conditions | Temps (deg C) | Rainfall (mm) | Cumulative Rainfall | Comments |
JAN | Warmer by 0.4C. New records: max 45.3 on 29th, min 4.5 on 3rd. 8 days >30, incl 3 >43C – worst heat wave since 1908 (4 > 43C). Power cuts, massive disruption to infrastructure. | Av max 26.7 Jan av max. is 24.3. Av min 11.3. Av is 12.9. | Mt Duneed 0.4 mm. Urban area averaged 1.0 mm.
January normal is 35.6 mm. |
Mt Duneed 0.4 mm.
Urban area 1 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (1 month) is 35.6 mm. |
Driest Jan since 1878. Catchments 25.1%. 4 strong wind days >60kph. No storms or thunder days. Slow-moving highs and only a few weak troughs/fronts. |
FEB | Warmer by 0.5C. New records: max 47.4 on 7th (any month), 3 days >30C. Vic’s worst bushfires on 7th (“Black Saturday”). No big local fires. | Av max 25.5 . Feb av max. is 24.9. Av min 13.9. Av is 13.5. | Mt Duneed 2.2 mm. Urban area averaged 2.0 mm. February normal is 31.1. | Mt Duneed 2.6 mm. Urban area 3 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (2 months) is 66.7 mm. | Driest Jan-Feb since 1891. Catchments 22%. 3 strong wind days. No severe storms but 2 thunder days. Smoke drift from fires in east over Geelong on 12 days. |
MAR | Cooler by 0.25C. 3 days >30C. Max 36.3C. Min 6.1C. 5 windy days >60kph. Max gust 91kph on 3rd. Dusty and hazy on 3rd. | Av max 22.9.
March av max. is 23.1. Av min 11.7. Av is 12.0. |
Mt Duneed 35.2 mm
Urban area averaged 30 mm. March normal is 29.8. |
Mt Duneed 37.8 mm.
Urban area 33 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (3 months) is 96.5 mm. |
Average to above rainfall. Catchments 20%. No storms or thunder days. 14 rain days. |
APR | Cooler by 0.3C. 1 day>30C. Lowest max 12.5 on 26th, equal to 1999 record. Lowest min 2.6C. One severe storm on 26th – Portarlington storm surge. | Av max 20.0
April av max. is 20.2. Av min 9.0. Av is 9.4. |
Mt Duneed 39.2 mm
Urban area averaged 40 mm. April normal is 46.4. |
Mt Duneed 77.0 mm.
Urban area 73 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (4 months) is 142.9 mm. |
Average rainfall generally but little runoff. Catchments 18%. 5 windy days >60 kph, incl 104 kph on 15th & 96 kph on 26th – severe storm with damage. 3 storms with thunder on 3rd, 15th, 26th. |
MAY | Almost exactly average mean temps. Max temps from 14.0 to 19.6C. Min temps from 3.8 to 15.2C. Several fogs, no frosts, no storms. | Av max 16.6
May av max is 17.1. Av min 8.2. Av is 7.8. |
Mt Duneed 20.2
Urban area averaged 20 mm May normal is 48.5. |
Mt Duneed 97.2 mm.
Urban area 93 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (5 months) is 191.4 mm. |
Around half of average cumulative rainfall. Autumn rainfall again below average. Catchments 18%. 3 very windy days >60kph – max gust 87kph at Mt Duneed on 15th. |
JUNE | Cooler by 0.45 deg. Warmest day 30th (20.3 deg max), coldest day 17th (9.8 deg max). Lowest minimum 0.5 deg on 17th. Fogs and 4 frosts. | Av max 14.5
June av max is 14.5. Av min 5.2. Av is 6.1. |
Mt Duneed 24.0.
Urban area averaged 30 mm. June normal is 44.4. |
Mt Duneed 121.2 mm.
Urban area 123 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (6 months) is 235.8 mm. |
Still well below rainfall average; within lowest 3% of 1st 6-monthly rainfalls. Pattern varied from 20 mm in City to 50 mm at Leopold East. No storms; 2 windy days (max gust 91 kph on 30th). Catchments 18.2%. |
JULY | Warmer by 0.6 degree. 20.5C on 21st, minus 1.4 lowest on 8th. 5 frosts, 2 days <0 deg. Several fogs. No storms, 9 windy days (max 87kph on 1st). | Av max 14.4
July av max is 13.9. Av min 6.1. Av is 5.4. |
Mt Duneed 32.8.
Urban area averaged 45 mm. July normal is 53.0. |
Mt Duneed 154 mm.
Urban area 168 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (7 months) is 289.0 mm. |
Urban area rainfall generally above av; from c. 30mm at Lara to >60mm in S & E suburbs. 7-monthly rainfall in lowest 10% of all years. West Barwon > average. Catchments 22%. |
AUG | Warmer by 1 degree. 21.4 on 15th; 0.5 on 8th. 1 frost; 15 very windy days incl 106kph on 21st when fatality due to flying branch near Queens Park. 128kph at Avalon on 25th. 3 severe wind storm days. Much damage caused to property. | Av max 15.8
Aug av max is 15.0. Av min 6.9 Av is 5.8. |
Mt Duneed 48.6.
Urban area averaged 60 mm. August normal is 48.1. |
Mt Duneed 198.6 mm.
Urban area 228 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (8 months) is 337.1 mm. |
Above average rain across most of region except northeast (Anakie & Golden Plains). Winter overall was above average. Otways well above average. Catchments 25%. |
SEPT | Warmer by 0.45C. Top 29.1 on 12th; min 1.5 on 15th. Lowest max 11.6 on 27th. One frost on 15th. 9 very windy days (max gusts 76kph on 4th & 13th. Train derailed at Stoneyford on 12th when winds blew trees onto track. | Av max 17.2
Sept av max is 16.5. Av min 6.8. Av is 6.6. |
Mt Duneed 54.0.
Urban area averaged 62. September normal is 48.7. |
Mt Duneed 252.6mm.
Urban area 290 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (9 months) is 385.8 mm. |
Above average rain for 3rd consec month across region. Rain on 16 days. Funnel cloud obs at Lara on 7th. One thunder day; no severe storms. Catchments 34%. |
OCT | Cooler by 0.7C. Top 29.8C on 20th. Lowest minimum 2.5C on 11th & 24th. High minimum 14.5C on 31st. 5 strong wind days with gusts >60kph (top 80kph at Mt Duneed on 13th). | Av max 18.0
Oct av max is 18.7 Av min 6.9. Av is 7.6. |
Mt Duneed 26.2.
Urban area averaged 30. October normal is 52.9 |
Mt Duneed 278.8 mm.
Urban area 320 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (10 months) is 438.7 mm. |
Below av rain but country very green & lush towards Otways. 12 rain days. Two thunder days with lightning displays 30th-31st. Light hail on 6th. No severe storms. Catchments 37%. |
NOV | Hottest Nov since 1902: Mean 18.1C. Hotter by 3.1 deg. 5 successive days >30C, total 7. Max 34.9C on 9th. 2 strong wind days. (81kph on 3rd). | Av max 25.0
Nov av max is 20.5. Av min 11.2. Av is 9.4. |
Mt Duneed 90.4.
Urban area averaged 95. November normal is 51.4. |
Mt Duneed 369.2 mm.
Urban area 415 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (11 months) is 490.1 mm. |
Well above average rain: Hamlyn Heights 130mm. Catchments 36%. Normal rains since June. 2 thunder days; 2 willy-willies (with local damage); 1 dust storm. No severe storms. |
DEC | Warmer by 0.9 deg. 5 days >30 deg. Hottest 40.4C on 16th. Warmest overnight 20.0C on 24th. Lowest max 18.0C on 8th. 4 very windy days, incl 74 kph on 3rd and 31st. | Av max 24.6
Dec av max is 22.6. Av min 10.7. Av is 10.9. |
Mt Duneed 32.6 .
Urban area averaged 30.0. December normal is 40.9. |
Mt Duneed 401.8 mm
Urban area 445 mm. Normal Geelong cumulative total (12 months) is 531.0 mm. |
Generally below av rain, Otways ridge above av. Heavy rain Christmas Eve in nthn subs. No severe storms, 1 thunder day (31st) with minor damage. 1 Total Fire Ban on 16th.
Catchments 36%. |
OVERALL: New records (extremes) set: 9 (see bold type above); Tornadoes: nil; Hottest Day: Feb 7th (47.4C); Warmest Night: 21.1C on 31st Jan; Coldest Day: 9.8C on 17th June; Coldest Night: Minus 1.4C on 8th July; Wettest Day: 28.6mm on 22nd Nov; Wettest Month: November (95mm); Driest Month: Jan (0.4mm); No of Days above 30°C: 22 (average 21); Number of “Thunder Days” in Urban area: 11 (9 in 2008); Number of severe storms: 4; Fatalities: 1(21st August); Strongest Wind Gust:106kph at Mt Duneed on 21st Aug; Number of frosts: 11 (av = 15); Number of windy days (gusts >60kph): 66 (55 in 2008).
Copyright Ó Geelong Weather Services, 2009