Storages up as Nina steps out

By Geelong Story Updates
A reversal in storage levels and changing ocean temperatures off Chile promise brimming reservoirs before summer, according to a Geelong weatherman.
Lindsay Smail said the signs pointed to aboveaverage rain in winter and spring, maybe even doubletheaverage downpours needed to fill the region’s storages by December.
“There’s definitely a chance,” said the operator of Geelong Weather Services.
Barwon Water this week announced storage levels had turned the corner, rising for the first time since August.
Chief executive Dennis Brockenshire conceded storages had increased “only slightly” from 14.1 to 14.3 per cent but said they were at least headed in the right direction after months of steady decline.
He warned the region still had “a long way to go”
However, Mr Smail said locals could look to Chile for hope.
The head of the South American country’s meteorological department had noted signs of a developing La Nina weather phenomenon in changing ocean temperatures off Chile’s coast.
Mr Smail said La Nina was the opposite of the recently dominant El Nino pattern, which was linked to drought in Australia.
La Nina was instead thought to cause heavy rain in southern Australia.
“There are unmistakeable signs in Chile,” Mr Smail said.
“I wouldn’t stick my neck out as far as saying we’ll get floods but it’s clear the low rainfall we have experienced won’t last long.”
Mr Smail said Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology had this week made a longrange prediction of a 5050 chance of average rain but other private forecasters were more optimistic.
“They’re saying there’s a much better chance of aboveaverage rain this winter,” he said.